PROTOTYPING CLASSIFICATION FOR NOVICE DESIGNERS PARTICIPATING IN DESIGN PROJECT

Abstract

In order to encourage the understanding of values and wide use of prototyping (PT), there are previous studies which indicate the classification of PT. While PT is essential to the development of products and solutions, novice designers can only select PT from a narrow understanding and recognition of it. Therefore, it is difficult for them to decide which kind of PT to create and they might select an ineffective one.
In this paper, we divided the 74 implemented PT into groups according to the novice designer's depth of understanding of values that derived solutions have. PTs were implemented by novice designers at an example project, such as the Design Project (D-Pro) at a graduate school. Based on a review of submitted materials and interviews, implemented PTs were divided into three groups, namely "Exploratory PT", "Externalize PT", and "Needs Confirmatory PT". Through interviews with novice designers, we indicate that the proposed classification supports them to select an effective PT.
In addition, by comparing the result of the performed PT when the classification is exhibited to the novice designers or not, we indicate that the ratio of PT in the earlier phase increases, and the average number of total PT slightly increases by exhibiting the classification.