Did you know that only 64% of the projects meet their goals? The rest are epic failures because the manufacturers don’t test them before launching!
So, if you are unsure whether your product idea will be successful, it’s better to test it out using a functional prototype instead of launching it in the market. A functional prototype is a working model of your product that lets you analyze its core features before moving on to the development phase.
This guide will help you understand what a functional prototype is, how it differs from visual prototypes, its benefits, and how it can be a game-changer for you.
What Is a Functional Prototype?
A functional prototype is quite a useful concept! Think of it as a working model of a product that shows its basic functionalities, and lets you interact with the key features and understand how the final product will perform.
It is a great way to bring your product idea to life in a basic but operational form. By testing the main features early on, you can identify any issues and improve your design before investing heavily in development.
In short, it is like a bridge between your initial concept and the actual product.
What Is Visual vs Functional Prototype?
Two variations of prototypes need to be distinguished: visual prototypes and functional prototypes. In product development, they are two sides of the same coin, each serving a distinct purpose.
Let’s see how they differ from each other:
| Visual Prototype | Functional Prototype |
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♦ A visual prototype focuses on the product's aesthetics. |
♦ A functional prototype is a basic yet working version of the final product. |
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♦ It gives you a rough idea of how your final product looks and feels. |
♦ It gives you a rough idea of how your final product functions. |
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♦ As the name suggests, a visual prototype is static. This means that you cannot interact with it. |
♦ It is a physical product that allows you to test its basic functionalities to see if they work as intended. |
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♦ It is a drawing that shows the shape, style, and material of a product.
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♦ It’s a rough mockup of the product to test how it works but it may not be perfect or visually appealing. |
Now that you know the difference between visual and functional prototypes, let’s see how the latter can benefit us.
Advantages of a Functional Prototype
Creating a functional prototype can be helpful during the product development process. Here are some of the key advantages it offers:
●Early Feedback
The first benefit of a functional prototype is that it lets real users test your product, who then give you feedback on its usability, functionality, and overall user experience.
●Identify Issues
Testing a functional prototype in the initial stages of the product development cycle can identify problems with the design or functionality, helping you fix potential issues early on.
●Validate Your Idea
A functional prototype helps you see whether your design's basic features solve the problem for which you created it. If they don’t, you can avoid wasting time and money on something that might not fit the market well.
●Save Time and Money
Identifying and addressing issues early on can save a great deal of time and money during development.
How to Get Your Functional Prototype Done?
Creating a functional prototype is a step-by-step process to make a working model of your product to test its functionality before full-scale development.
Let’s have a look at all the steps involved in this process:
Step 1: Research & Analyze
Start by researching similar products. This will help you see if your idea is innovative and understand how existing products function.
Step 2: Sketch it Out
Before you start building your model, grab a pen and paper and draw it out. Sketching your design helps shape your vision and explore different possibilities.
Step 3: Go Digital
Consider creating a 3D model using any software for a more realistic representation. The file format can be CAD, STP, STEP, IGS, or X_T.
Step 4: Seek Help
Building your prototype may require specialized skills or equipment. Therefore, it is a good idea to seek help from engineers or prototype developers.
Step 5: Craft Your Prototype
Now, it is time to combine your design ideas with functionality. The techniques to build your prototype are usually 3D printing, CNC machining, vacuum casting, and sheet metal fabrication.
You may need to turn to professional prototyping vendors. Then you can get your first tangible model!
Step 6: Test & Refine
Let users interact with your prototype and identify areas for improvement. Be prepared to revisit your sketches and models to make adjustments.
And that’s how your functional prototype comes to life!
Functional Prototype Examples
Here are 2 examples of a functional prototype:
●iPhone
The first-ever iPhone functional prototype was developed to test the idea of a touchscreen mobile phone with an easy-to-use interface. By testing it, Apple was able to find potential performance, design, and usage issues, after which, it made the necessary changes before launching the iPhone in 2007.
●Juicer
For the second example, let’s take a juicer. A functional prototype of a juicer will be a physical model that focuses on how well it extracts juice, rather than how it looks.
This prototype might be in rough plastic, not painted, or have any fancy features. But it will have all the core mechanisms needed for juicing, like a motor, a spinning blade, and a compartment to hold the juice. The primary focus will be on testing if the blade design effectively cuts fruit if the motor is powerful enough for juicing, and if the design extracts enough juice with minimal pulp.
Conclusion
Whether you are making a product or contemplating whether to pursue the idea, creating a functional prototype will help you make an informed decision. In this guide, we covered everything from the basics of a functional prototype to its benefits and process.
Let’s turn your “maybes” into a confident yes while saving you time, money, and frustration with functional prototypes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the difference between a functional model and a prototype?
A functional model is a type of prototype that focuses on demonstrating the core functionality and behavior of a product, rather than its visual appearance. On the other hand, a prototype is a broader concept. It includes all types of prototypes as well as the functional prototype.
Q. How many types of prototypes are there?
There are generally 4 types of prototypes:
●Visual prototypes
●Functional prototypes
●Low-Fidelity Prototypes
●High-fidelity user prototypes
Q. How can you test a functional prototype?
To test a functional prototype, get users to interact with it and see if it is easy to use and achieves its overall purpose.
Q. What does a functional prototype look like?
A functional prototype can look like a rough model, nothing fancy, but it should demonstrate how the main parts work.
Q. How do prototype makers in China protect your IP?
When considering creating product prototypes, Chinese prototype manufacturers may be on your list because of their low cost and high efficiency. Perhaps you've heard they didn't take IP protection seriously and would leak your new design to your competitors even if you signed an NDA(Non-Disclosure Agreement).
It is half true. Honestly, it happens. However, if you work with a vendor that cherishes customers, it will never happen. Because they deeply understand customers are the base for them to stay alive and keep growing. Long-term benefits are more important than immediate benefits.
Here is a tip to figure out the right Chinese prototyping supplier. See how they share past cases when you request it. You should be cautious if they do it without announcing whether it is approved or not under the NDA.
