In design thinking, prototypes are often used as a testing phase to understand the different aspects of a solution. According to Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, the idea is that a prototype can “fail quickly and cheaply” so that less time and money is spent working on a “bad idea.” Prototyping allows us to create basic models or examples of a concept. It is a process that often goes through many iterations as further tests are conducted.
Prototype Part 1: The App
After we concluded our ideation phase of the project, we started jotting down ways to visually represent what our product would look like. We wanted to create a sustainability feature in the Southwest App that would track and reward customer’s sustainability efforts. We realize that currently, airlines only reward customers who spend money with them. We want to reward customers for acting sustainable. Through positive reinforcement, we believe that we could create an app that would award points for certain tasks such as bringing your own water-bottle or purchasing carbon offsets. Southwest already has such a desirable rewards program, that we thought we could use it as a jumping-off point.
Initially, we thought that we would design our own app with the sustainability rewards tracker, but decided to create a powerpoint to demonstrate our product instead. The value of prototyping is that the product should be easily changed based on feedback and evaluation, and with creating an app from scratch, that change is harder to accomplish. By using powerpoint, we could add and subtract aspects of the idea without feeling like we were loosing a lot of the time and effort we were putting into the creation of the app.
Prototype Part 2: The Bottle
In addition to the sustainability app feature, we wanted to design a multi-use water-bottle for customers who forgot theirs, but still wanted the rewards earned from bringing your own water-bottle. This prototyping was harder than we anticipated as we debated using designs of current water-bottles versus creating our own mockup. Ultimately, we decided on a design similar to the Tervis as it can be used for both hot and cold beverages.
Challenges:
One of our biggest challenges was delegating. Its easy to spend an entire class-period brainstorming and debating the pros and cons of different products/features instead of actually prototyping them. Originally, we were of the mindset that we wanted to create something that would work, versus trying, failing, and trying again. Eventually, we split up into two teams to work on the products, and came together at the end to present them. We really had to focus on both who our customer was as well as how it would add value to Southwest as well as the individual using it.
An interactive prototype:
Currently, we are working on making the prototype more interactive for both the audience critiquing the product next Friday as well as our prospective customers. We realize that with a slideshow of the app, its hard to imagine the benefits of using it, and we are working to make the product feel more tangible. Many other companies have successfully created a loyal following on their app such as Starbucks (with their stars), which is what we are using as a model for our design.
Takeaways:
Iteration is key. You cannot be wedded to a prototype. You must be willing to take and evaluate feedback, which means that having a thick skin is important.