Prototyping and Modelmaking for Product Design

Building prototypes and models is an essential component of any design activity. Modern product development is a multi-disciplinary effort that relies on prototyping in order to explore new ideas and test them sufficiently before they become actual products. "Prototyping and Modelmaking for Product Designers" illustrates how prototypes are used to help designers understand problems better, explore more imaginative solutions, investigate human interaction more fully and test functionality so as to de-risk the design process. Following an introduction on the purpose of prototyping, specific materials, tools and techniques are examined in detail, with step-by-step tutorials and industry examples of real and successful products illustrating how prototypes are used to help solve design problems. Workflow is also discussed, using a mixture of hands on and digital tools. A comprehensive modern prototyping approach is crucial to making informed design decisions, and forms a strategic part of a successful designer's toolkit.PROTOTYPING 1Characteristics of Prototyping 2How Prototypes Are Used 3Prototyping Interactive Electronic Products MODELMAKING 4Principles and Choices for Modelmaking 5Health and Safety 6Space and Setup 7Workflow 8Tools 9Adhesives and Filters 10Paper 11Foamcore 12Polystyrene Foam 13Thermoplastic Sheet and Extruded Shapes 14Polyurethane Modeling Board 15Wood 16Modeling Clay 17Casting 18Painting: More than an Afterthought 19Graphics: Labels and Decals 20Softgoods: Sewn Textile Products Glossary Resources Index Acknowledgments Picture credits