What's prototyping?

Creating a model of an object

with materials in hand

In a short amount of time 

Quickly test and validate assumptions

Communicate design intent with others

Assess form, materials, ergonomics

Collect feedback from end users

WHY DO WE PROTOTYPE?

Why do we prototype?

    Test the functionality of an idea & Validate Assumptions 

Communicate a concept quickly & Get Feedback

Visualize form & Materials

         Avoid too much detail 

        Invite improvement

         Refine & Iterate 

What to consider when prototyping?

Steps Of Protyping

LOW-FIDELITY

HIGH-FIDELITY

vs

LOW-FI VS HIGH-FI

Low-Fi

High-Fi

James Dyson, founder of the Dyson Vacuum company, spent 5 years developing 5,127 prototypes for the G-Force vacuum, the world’s first vacuum to utilize cyclonic separation.

NUVU STUDENT EXAMPLE

Low-Cost Mask Testing Device

Low-Fidelity

High-Fidelity

NUVU STUDENT EXAMPLE

"Mindfulness Eating Kit"

Low-Fidelity

High-Fidelity

NUVU STUDENT EXAMPLE

"DNA Discovery"

Low-Fidelity

High-Fidelity

NUVU STUDENT EXAMPLE

"Extendable Garage"

Low-Fidelity

High-Fidelity

Low-Fidelity Prototypes

High-Fidelity Prototypes

Easy and fast to make

Low Cost

No special equipment needed

Can look rough-and-ready

Harder to simulate functionality

Hard to visualize aesthetics

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Great-Looking

Good for showcasing a finalized concept

Helps with "buy-in" from stakeholders

Harder/slower to produce

Higher cost

Specialty equipment / materials may be needed

VS

CONVERGENT

THINKING

DIVERGENT

THINKING

vs

CONVERGENT VS DIVERGENT THINKING

Prompt:

Design a cow mug...

CONVERGENT PROTOTYPING

"GloFlo"

Convergent Thinking

Divergent Thinking

Leads to more feasible solutions

Allows students to go "deeper" into making

Seeks to answer questions

Risk of confirmation bias

Limited creativity and innovation

Can miss out on alternative solutions

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Encourages "Out-of-the-box" ideas

Creates more opportunity for discovery

Helps students overcome bias towards "favorite" ideas

Not all ideas will be feasible

Can be overwhelming

Takes time to produce several prototypes

VS

DIVERGENT PROTOTYPING

"Patch"

MATERIALS

Materials

 Tools 

 Connectors

Cardboard

Metal Ruler

Pencil 

Markers 

Cutting Blade

Masking Tape

Hot Glue Gun

String

Fasteners 

Paper

   Start with sketching

1st Iteration: Messy + Quick

2nd iteration: More precision+intention

3rd Iteration: Final Product 

Programs 

1st Iteration: Messy + Quick

2nd iteration: More precision+intention

Electronics

Ask for help and training if you are going to use a tool that is new to you. 

If you can’t receive training from someone in your household, find a different means to work.

Read labels and instructions on any product (adhesives, paints, etc.) before use. Toxicity or fumes, means choosing a different material.

Avoid melting and burning material like plastics and foams that may create unpredictable toxic fumes.

Power tools should only be used with supervision and proper protection.

“Never work alone”  & Unplug when not in use!

Hair up, sleeves, jewelry out of the way and safety glasses always.

Tips

Take things slowly. Pause frequently. Think ahead.

If you find yourself making silly mistakes take a break, clear everything off your desk and only put back what you need. Then take a stroll around the space/ yard before getting back to it.

CARDBOARD

• Readily available
• Easy to manipulate
• Strong

Corrugation

CARDBOARD



Structural in one direction and bendable in the other

Bendable one direction

TOOLS

CUTTING TECHNIQUES

Cutting

Straight

Cutting

Curves

SHAPING TECHNIQUES

Shaping:

Bending

Shaping:

Faceting

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Straight

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Curve

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Shaping:

Layering

JOINERY

Joining:

Hinge

Joining:

Hinge

Joining:

Braces

Joining:

Tabs

Joining:

Tabs

Joining:

Slotting

Joining:

Slotting

Joining:

Tabs/

Notching

Joining:

Tabs/

Notching

Joining:

Butt Joint

Joining:

Brads

Joining:

Skewer

Joining:

Skewer

Joining:

Flange

Joining:

Strap

COOL CARDBOARD PROTOTYPES

Deep Sea Bots Studio

COOL CARDBOARD PROTOTYPES

Responsive Architecture Studio

Deep Sea is an underwater train, that transport people between city faster than ships.

It moves inside a tube that has magnets to help it move faster than a normal train.

It is a futuristic way of travelling where you can enjoy the ocean from another view.

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

The Aqua Adventurer is an underwater car, it is designed for ocean exploration. It was inspired by the Narwhal, this is why it has a triangular shape in the front.

It uses the fans to move in the ocean, and it has a camera to film the deep ocean.

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

LuffyDeliveries is a futuristic delivery drone that flies delivery packages to people.

It avoids traffic as well as uses GPS to deliver packages to your doorstep perfectly without any human communication.

It has an adjustable strap that can accommodate any size package.

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

Aqua Train is a futuristic train made for people who live in the deep ocean. It moves inside a tube with a hyperloop system, there will be many stations in the ocean. In the future people will live underwater because of overpopulation and they will move with the Aqua Train.

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

Pods are futuristic, rocket-shaped vehicles that navigate the city through underwater tubes. They can separate into three cars to serve different destinations and later reconnect into a full pod before returning passengers to the surface.

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

Hyperloop under the sea

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

STUDENTS PAST PROJECTS:

Thesis

I envisioned that the world won't change much in the near future, our lifestyle won't change much. However, due to climate change, I wanted to design a vehicle that relies on full electricity to reduce carbon emission. Another major function is to have it being capable of getting into collisions, so that the number of car accidents will be reduced as well.

Problem Statement:

Inspiration

• Inspired by red blood cells
• Flow through our body fast
• Have great oxygen capacity
• Super efficient
• Malleable

Aren't they the best example for future transit!!?

Map of the City

City of Taichung!!

• It’s divided into the center and the suburbs
• The center is full of commercial buildings
• People’s houses, schools, grocery stores… etc. are in the suburbs

Drawings of the Red Cells V1

Description: 

• Looks like a red blood cell
• Private-owned
• Fully automated
• Electric
• Malleable/buoyant
• Four seaters
• Seats face each other

Drawings of the Red Cells V2

Storyboard based on my first idea

Modification:

• Instead of the boxy look, it’s going to look like rbcs

Modification:

• Instead of being driven on open roads, there’ll be transparent tunnels/tubes

Prototype FINAL

Thank You for Listening!

Any Questions?

Prototype FINAL

Previous Prototypes

INSPIRATION

Bullet train

City of Xandar

Map of my city

This is a map of the city of Typhris. It has 4 different islands that all connect with Pods transportation. The Pods move people from one island to another. There is one main island that has buildings and multiple Pod drop-off and pick-up locations. The other islands have houses, apartments, grocery stores, hospital, schools, and hotels

My Storyboard

My Prototype #1

This is the prototype of pods. The pods separate into 3 different cars, that holds 4 people. The line in the middle shows that the top part is glass and bottom is metal.

My Prototype #2

My Prototype #3

Drawings of Pods

THANK YOU!

Drawings of Pods

Pods are a bullet train, rocket ship looking vehicle that takes you around the city, they navigate under the sea through tubes. Pods separate into 3 different cars, depending on where you are going. Before arriving to your destination they reconnect with different cars to make a full pod, then bring you back up.

My Vehicle is named Pods

It's the main transportation system in my city of Typhris, that is floating on water.