Car Model 1

Reading comment

   As we know, design is a process; it takes different and unique steps to create something. In my experience as a student I have always started detecting a problem, then conceptualizing and thinking in every solution I can so I can begin making 2d sketches, modeling, 3d modeling, and finally prototyping; each step of the process is important, but prototyping is the most useful one because we create the opportunity to understand and interact with the possible final design, at the same time, we obtain many answers from the users as well as mistakes or even good points we have not noticed.

That's why I totally agree with the point of the reading, if prototyping is the most useful and feeding back tool, and also we have the opportunity to make it often and easier by rapid prototyping (using CAD tools and 3D printers for example), then we can't waste it.

As the reading says "Prototypes have now become a sort of three-dimensional sketchpad. The effect of producing so many rapid but rough prototypes is that mistakes are flushed out early in the process...", and this means that we will be improving our idea prototype by prototype, and so we will have as a result the closest to a perfect design.

"We try to get the mistakes out early on, when they are less costly...” absolutely this is one of the most important benefits that prototypes give us, we can change and change our design until we assume it is ready to be launched to manufacturing instead of wasting our time and money later.

But in the other hand, the reading says that prototyping is almost replacing the 2D sketching phase, "Prototypes are physical, but the way engineer now use them, they act as pages from a sketchbook...", "we now throw prototypes away like so many pieces of paper...", and that is unacceptable, because as I said before, each step of the design process has a reason of being and it's importance.