For this reading assignment we were tasked to read the design paper entitled "What do Prototypes Prototype?" and write a response to it.
This design study illustrates several examples of appropriate uses of prototyping in design. Additionally, the paper argues a change in how designers think about interactive artifacts and prototypes. The paper clarifies how differences in fidelity of a prototype can and should change depending on one's use and desired feedback of the prototype based on 1. Look and Feel, 2. Role and 3. Implementation. These 3 elements should be factored when creating a prototype and understanding your goal with that prototype.
Firstly, it is important to define the "prototype" in a broad sense, and to factor the most important questions one is trying to solve. For example, the article tries to design a prototype for an architect who needs to bring a computer to a site. The prototype is simply a weighted pizza box - The designers thus observed how the architect held and carried the box - this was used to design a computer case for example - and the testing prototype was efficient and good enough to obtain feedback.
Additionally, it is important to build multiple prototypes, all at different stages in your design process. Make sure you don't under - or over design your prototypes and only do so enough to get the design decisions you are after. It is ok if prototypes get discarded or changed.
I thought this theory was quite useful and informative as I now better understand the different levels of prototyping and fidelity and how it can change the end product.
