Creating a prototype is a crucial step om the product development process. It allows designers, engineers and other stakeholders to test and evaluate a product’s functionality, usability and aesthetics before moving on to full-scale production. By creating a prototype, you can identify potential design issues early on and reduce the risk of costly mistakes or failures down the line.

To create a prototype of a product, follow these steps:

Define your goal and requirements:

Identify the problems your product solves, your target audience and the features and functionality you want to include in your prototype. This will help guide the prototyping process, ensuring that you create a product that meets your users’ needs.

Sketch your design:

Create rough sketches of your products form, features and overall layout. This will help you visualize your product and identify any potential design issues early on.

Create a digital model:

Using software such as CAD (Computer-Aided Design) to create a digital model of your design. This will allow you to refine your design and make any necessary modifications before moving on to prototyping.

We use CAD in-house to create and adapt product designs, whether it’s from scratch or basic design ideas.

Build your prototype:

Use a combination of tools and materials, such as a 3D printer, foam board, metal or wood to build your prototype.

We house technology for prototyping, including 3D Printers that can print in metal, wax and plastics.

Remember, your prototype doesn’t need to be perfect – It’s meant to be a working model that allows you to test and evaluate your products functionality.

Test and refine your prototype:

Conduct user testing, make design modifications, and identify areas that need improvement. The goal is to create a prototype that accurately represents your final product and appeals to your users needs.

We have the facilities including microscopy and X-ray, that can be used to investigate products for faults internally or verify artefacts to eliminate forgery and view tiny objects invisible to the naked eye. Find out more here.

By following these steps and working closely with your design and engineering team, you can create a prototype that sets your product up for success. Creating a prototype takes time and effort but worth it in the end.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the 3M BIC product designer or one of our technology team. Book a free consultation and one of our team of experts will guide you through this process and help you turn your vision into a reality.