A LENS ON FUTURE PRODUCTS: AN EXPANDED NOTION OF PROTOTYPING PRACTICE

Abstract

Designers engage with prototyping already at the early phases of design process, implying a variety of techniques and with diversity of scopes. The classic definition of prototyping is currently debated in the design research community, to achieve one more inclusive of emerging approaches. With this paper, we propose a definition of prototypes as lenses through which designers can frame the product-to-be, raising design questions and construct answers to them. A model and a framework for prototyping decisions are also discussed in the context of other scholars' perspectives.