Case study: Evidence of prototyping roles in conceptual design
Year: 2013
Editor: Udo Lindemann, Srinivasan V, Yong Se Kim, Sang Won Lee, John Clarkson, Gaetano Cascini
Author: Hess, Tim; Summers, Joshua David
Series: ICED
Institution: Clemson University, United States of America
Page(s): 249-258
ISBN: 978-1-904670-44-5
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
The goal of this research is to investigate prototype use in conceptual design. In order to begin this line of study, we look first to current practices in industry. A case study involving two companies provides examples of prototype use in the conceptual design phase of their respective product development cycles. Six interviews were conducted at two different companies in order to help understand how prototypes are used by industry during the conceptual design phases of a product development process. This research finds evidence that prototypes are being used successfully in conceptual design, even though typical literature sources advise against it.
Keywords: Prototyping, conceptual design, case study