Prototyping is something we all do in our daily lives when we try out new things – from trying out new recipes while cooking to trying out different routes while going somewhere: it simply involves trying out an idea to see how it can be improved. At work however, prototyping is more than just ‘trying out’; it is a structured way to check that you have an efficient and fitting solution or approach before rolling it out or making a big investment in it.

The Prototype Testing Plan gives a basic, but useful overview of the different ways in which you can test your work, as well as when to test it. You can build a prototype using various materials, or simply draw or act out your idea. The Prototype Testing Plan also helps structure the testing process. It is most efficient if you go through a structured series of steps. This way you can continually improve your work, while avoiding getting lost once the feedback you collect starts piling up. The worksheet indicates two periods when it is usually beneficial to test your idea: in the early stage of development, and in the later stages just before full implementation.