Testing leads to failure, and failure leads to understanding.

A prototype is an essential tool for the development and success of any product. The creation of a prototype is not a final statement of what will be, but more a measure of how the product as it currently exists functions in the real world.

How many prototypes?

The number of prototypes required to perfect a solution could be infinite, but realistically perfection must be compromised for the sake of budgets and timescales available, so proper design development through a limited number of prototypes will achieve what is required to create a highly competitive product.

Ty-Ni Design has a basic 2 prototype approach when it comes to prototyping for product development, ALPHA and BETA prototypes.

There are other types of prototypes, but these 2 types are part of the foundations of a successful product.

ALPHA prototype

An ALPHA prototype may not look very nice, but it proves an idea works..or not.

It's a low-cost method to prove an idea using off the shelf parts and taking existing components and modifying them. Quite often the materials holding it all together is Duct Tape and Hot glue.

BETA prototype

BACK

A BETA prototype is a developed prototype as close to a finished product as possible using the correct material if available and bespoke parts as required. The purpose of a BETA is to gather information prior to producing data for manufacturing. This information could be from Focus groups, independent testing and Internal evaluation by both you and Ty-Ni Design.

“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”

Sir Ken Robinson