Week 6 Worked Example: Prototyping
Completed Planning Sheet
| Concept | Roll-up fabric mat with tool pockets. |
|---|---|
| Question to answer | Can it roll away in under a minute and hold five tools without spilling? |
| What working looks like | Five tools stay put when rolled and carried; unrolls flat and ready in one motion. |
| Materials | Felt offcut, fabric scraps for pockets, stapler, ribbon tie. Cost near zero. |
| Build vs fake | Build the pockets and roll properly. Fake the final fabric and colour. |
The Prototype
A felt rectangle with five stapled fabric pockets and a ribbon tie, built in about ninety minutes. Rough, cheap, and testable. (In your submission, attach a photo or a short video of yours.)
Trying It: What I Learned
- It rolled and tied in about eighteen seconds, well under a minute.
- Deep pockets held pens, scissors, and a ruler securely.
- The mat curled at the ends, so tools in the end pockets slid when carried.
- The ribbon tie was fiddly with one hand.
Questions For Testing Next Week
- Does a stiffer edge or a fold-over flap stop the end tools sliding?
- Would an elastic loop be faster to fasten than a ribbon?
Why This Passes
- A real, testable prototype exists and targets the riskiest question.
- Fidelity is low and changeable, exactly right for this stage.
- The learner tried it and recorded honest, useful problems.
Weak Versus Strong
Weak
A neat labelled drawing of the mat with no made object, or a beautifully sewn final version that the learner is now afraid to change. Neither reveals the curl problem.
Strong
A rough felt-and-staples prototype, tried and timed, with the curl and the fiddly tie honestly recorded as questions to test.