If you have an idea for a product or structure, then developing that sketch into a completed design is a careful process that often has a number of steps. One of the most important steps on the pathway to a finished design is the prototype. These are a working, 3D model of the design, created in order to help the inventor to finalise their plans, and spot small problems with the initial design before it is manufactured.
Prototypes help to reveal flaws
Although you may have worked hard to create a product without flaws, you can never really know how effective your plans are until you have a 3D model of your design. Once the design is ‘in the flesh’, it may be obvious that something needs changing or altering, or that the design won’t work with that particular style. Without the prototype, the problems would never have been obvious until the product was in production, and then it would be costly and time-consuming to make the change.
Prototypes help to illuminate the design
Even if the product really has no obvious flaws, the prototype can be used to create a perfect image of the full design, so that you can see your idea full size. This can help you to imagine more ways of working with the design, more ways of finishing the image, and overall gives you a better idea of the potential of the product.
Helps designers sell their idea
A working prototype is a must if you want to sell your product, get sponsorship, or even make a copyright claim to the design. Working prototypes can be shown to audiences in presentations, can be filmed and put online, and can be used as demonstrations of your idea when applying for copyright.
