This is week 4 of the course I am taking on design. Week 4 focused on narrowing down the list of potential concepts and creating prototypes.
A key method of performing this winnowing is the “Concept Selection Matrix.” In this matrix, the concepts are listed as columns, with the key criteria as rows. Criteria would include the key user needs, cost to produce, the WOW! factor and elegance and beauty. Each concept is evaluated relative to the others on each criteria, using either a simple plus/minus score, or a more sophisticated weighted scoring method.
It is importance to note that this matrix is not designed to pick the winning concept, but instead to eliminate concepts that are not feasible and choose a limited number of concepts for prototyping.
Prototyping is creating something that approximates the final artifact on one or more dimensions of interest. For example, a prototype of an e-commerce website may create one prototype that approximates the final artifact on a dimension of user look and feel, and a second prototype that explores the dimension integration with an order fulfillment system.
Prototypes have three purposes”
1. Answer the questions of : Will the solution work? Will uses like it? Is the perceived gap or need real?
2. Communicate the dimensions of interest to other stakeholders, such as customers or internal stakeholders.
3. To show milestones in the development process, such as proof of concept and pre-production.
I think my main take-away this week is that it may be important to prototype process improvements across only one dimension of interest.
