We returned to a familiar theme this week being asked to look again at prototyping. This started with examining what are product really is and then stripping it down to what functions it performs. For my case this meant that a student food magazine became an information and entertainment service concerning food. When asked to list other things that perform the same function I came up with an initial list of 8 and was then asked to categorize these which I did as:
Written media
Interactive
Visual media
Audio
By breaking it down in to different categories it helped me to think of further examples which took me up to 18 alternatives. We then went on to consider all the materials the alternatives were made of, how it is done in nature and other exercises to expand our thinking on the initial product. It proved to be quite a methodical way of mapping out all the different alternatives to a magazine. It also allowed me to take a step back from the product and look at it far more objectively. This is a good thing as sometimes I think I can become slightly set in my ways and not look at ways to continue developing the magazine.
At the end of the lesson we were asked to do a quick prototype for a lift button which as much as anything I found an interesting study in group dynamics when certain of our senses were denied us (sight, hearing etc.). It made me realize how important it is for us to meet up in person for our group meetings and cover as much as we can rather than over the net or phone. It is hard to develop common goals when not meeting on a regular basis for a sustained period.
