A.2 Strategy 1: Create a Concept Sketch

Prototype Take Action Project A.2 Strategy 1: Create a Concept Sketch

A. Strategy 1: Creating a Concept Sketch

B. What's the Problem?

The best prototype designers start by thinking of a problem they want to solve – just like Taylor did! Prototypes are designed to solve a specific problem. When solving the problem, simple is better! The Frog that Taylor created was designed to help young children get around their house to play. It was not designed for them to be able to take outdoors or for adults to use.

Designers can come up with a big problem they want to solve (i.e. helping the environment, making people safer) or an everyday problem (i.e. how to keep fruit from going bad, how to get a baby to sleep). Prototypes have been designed to solve all of these problems!

Watch the video below. Did Taylor’s prototype solve his problem?

Questions to Think About...

Can you think of a problem that you have encountered?
Could a prototype solve your problem?
Keep these questions in mind as you work through these lessons – thinking about these questions will get you ready to build YOUR prototype!

C. Sketch it Out

After a designer has identified a problem, it is time to create a concept sketch. While not all designers use a concept sketch, many do – and Taylor sometimes does this in his head! The sketch does not have to be perfect – it is a way to get ideas down on paper. In the video, Taylor suggested the sketch could be from the side, top, or a different angle, which is a great way to think about how the prototype will look! The sketch should include:

How the prototype is built.
Materials that could possibly be used.

Taylor not only created the Frog to help his son Brody get around, but he also designed another prototype – the GoBro. The GoBro is a wheelchair that is close to the ground so that a small child can play with toys on the floor, but also move around in a seated position. Click the buttons below to see some of the sketches Taylor made for the GoBro – both on paper and on the computer using a design program called CAD.