Prototyping serves as an essential foundation for transforming an initial concept into a clear and purposeful final execution. It goes beyond just creating a simple model; it is a multifaceted practice that combines design, research, storytelling, and technology to create meaningful experiences for visitors. This process ensures that every element enhances engagement and aligns with the intended message through collaboration, iteration, and careful material selection.

Are you considering incorporating prototyping into your next project but unsure where to start? Here is how Ravenswood Studio defines different levels of prototyping as well as a high-level look at the process we follow to ensure a well-developed exhibit.

Levels of Prototyping

Concept Ideation
Concept ideation is the initial phase where ideas start to take shape. This stage involves brainstorming, sketching, and exploring themes and visitor experiences. It focuses on generating possibilities—envisioning the exhibit’s potential, its function, and the story it will tell. Stakeholders collaborate to align their vision before moving into detailed planning.

Mock-Ups
Mock-ups play a valuable role by helping the exhibit team visualize form, scale, and spatial relationships. Typically made from inexpensive materials such as paper, cardboard, or foam core, they offer a quick and accessible way to explore ideas in three dimensions without committing significant time or resources.

Prototypes
Prototypes take exhibits beyond mere visualization by allowing us to test how they function, feel, and engage users, covering aspects from user experience to mechanical performance. Additionally, prototypes provide a tangible means to explore spatial layout, scale, and basic form. Once testers are brought in, they can be beneficial for assessing sightlines, visitor flow, and physical footprint.

First Articles
First articles are prototypes made with the expectation of transitioning directly into the exhibit, requiring careful planning to avoid setbacks that could affect timelines and budgets. Together, these steps form a continuum of learning and refinement that ensures the final experience is functional and meaningful.

Now that we’ve defined different types of prototyping, let’s look at the process:

Planning

Prototyping starts by identifying stakeholders and defining their roles. This ensures communication, collaboration, and accountability throughout the process. Stakeholders should establish what elements need to be prototyped, the process, and the timeline.

For each prototype, there should be a focus on two to three key aspects to maintain clarity and prevent ambiguous results. Once success metrics are established, specific goals are set, which may include the evaluation of activity execution, guest comprehension, or demographic responses.

A well-defined testing process minimizes internal bias through the involvement of outside testers from the target audience. This prevents confirmation bias and allows for genuine feedback without prompts. Furthermore, outside participants are more likely to produce failures, which can be as informative as successes. Early-stage failures provide valuable insights for improvements, with the team able to iterate on the design and retest, refining the prototype for optimal results.

Production

Material selection is critical in this phase. Conducting thorough testing helps to evaluate how different materials—such as plastic, metal, and wood—affect the user experience and the product’s lifespan. You can also optimize performance by exploring mechanical options like gears, belts, and pulleys.

This phase also provides an opportunity to compare different design options, such as using levers versus buttons, to determine which choice enhances user engagement. Additionally, evaluating the need for tactile feedback, such as detents on spinning mechanisms, can help emphasize important content points and inform final fabrication decisions.

Performing iterative testing, preferably with a diverse group of age-appropriate testers, helps to refine interface designs, ensuring accessibility and usability for a wide range of audiences and abilities. This allows the project team to evaluate factors precisely, such as reach, seating position, and audio placement. Repetitive testing focuses on the long-term durability of controls. Once the design is established, we rigorously assess its ability to withstand prolonged and frequent use.

Processing

With sufficient testing data, the project team can clearly identify the next steps. While a successful prototype may lead to rapid advancements, projects often face partial successes that require further refinement.

Documenting all testing results and conducting team reviews is important to ensure practical solutions align with content delivery and clarity. Address situations where the message is clear but lacks engagement or where engagement is high, but the message is unclear.

Adjustments may involve redesigning user interfaces to simplify interactions, prioritizing core content, and reprogramming interactive elements to improve progress visualization. Fine-tune the timing between steps for a smoother user experience and clarify instructions to help users navigate the interactive components more easily.

Through this structured approach, we cultivate exhibits that resonate with visitors, informed by rigorous testing and a commitment to iterative refinement. This process ensures the final product is not merely functional but deeply engaging, leaving a lasting impact on every visitor.

If you would like to learn more about our prototyping and testing process or discuss a potential project, please contact Erica Washburn at erica@ravenswoodstudio.com.