Once an idea for an improvement has been clearly defined, it is essential to begin developing the means to test the new concept. There are many ways to approach design, development, and evaluation of a new concept.
Options for development
This project had very humble beginings. After the intial observations were made and requirments were clarified, we began to sketch out how to inteperete the physcial mechanisms for supporting each of the stated requirments.
Guidelines for Prototyping
When developing a new idea, sometimes navgating the innovation process can feel disorentating. While there are many methods and models for various types of projects to guide the project from "lust to dust" it is helpful to have practical set of guidelines to manage the efforts.
1. Start "Ugly": Use whatever materials you have on-hand first. Don't buy any supplies or equipment until you have made a first attempt using whatever is on hand. This exercise helps to solidify the phyical deminsions and other tacticle qualities that are difficult to understand until a first draft is attemped. For this project we started with cardstock, cardboard of various sizes and striaght pins. We built a form one layer at a time until we had enough understading of the physical deminisons to begin drafting a first technical drawing.
2. Make small changes: Slow and Steady"
is a great motto to remember. Even innovations that seem simple may require one or more iterations. However, it is more likely that an invention will require several versions before it is ready for testing or evaluatation. Making small changes does two benefical things, ...
2. Don't try to make it perfect: