Day 5 Prototyping for Feedback

Refer to acitivties related to gathering feedback through Interviews and Prototyping

In the journey of creating meaningful solutions, gathering feedback is a critical part of the process. Whether designing a product, addressing sustainability challenges, or solving everyday problems, feedback helps refine ideas and align them with real-world needs.

Feedback serves as a mirror, reflecting how users perceive and interact with your ideas. Interviews provide insights into user expectations, challenges, and aspirations, while prototyping brings ideas to life, allowing users to engage directly with potential solutions. Together, they form an iterative loop that sharpens focus and ensures relevance.

Prototyping and the User’s Perspective
Prototypes, even in their simplest forms, reveal hidden assumptions and invite constructive critique. They act as conversation starters, making abstract ideas tangible. Christoph Niemann, in the Netflix episode Abstract: The Art of Design, showcases the transformative power of iteration and user interaction. By testing and refining concepts, creators unlock innovative paths that might otherwise remain unseen.

Prototyping combined with user feedback is a central practice in design thinking. It not only improves functionality but also deepens empathy, ensuring solutions are inclusive and impactful. For students or professionals tackling complex challenges, this process fosters creativity and collaboration.

To prepare for field testing see the follow-up Prototyping assignment on Teams to prepare for Day 6.

Image credit: Amélie Mourichon via Unsplash