DJDevon Design JournalIdeas made tangible

Prototyping

Close an iteration with a decision

A prototype cycle should change what the team knows or chooses.

Devon Design Journal editorial · October 7, 2026 · 3 min read

A sculptural brushed-metal prototype on a softly lit design workbench.

Review the original question

Return to the learning goal before discussing a new version. Identify which observations answer it and which remain ambiguous. Decide whether the concept should progress, change or be investigated further. Preserve relevant evidence even when the prototype is no longer useful. A series of objects without a decision record can consume time while leaving the same uncertainty intact.

Define the next controlled change

Explain what will change in the next revision and why. Avoid adding several unrelated improvements when one issue needs to be isolated. Assign ownership and link the new work to the current requirements. A completed iteration is more than a finished sample: it is a documented step in the reasoning that makes the next commitment easier to assess.

A practical review checklist

  • Revisit the learning goal.
  • Record the resulting decision.
  • Define the next focused change.

Further reading

General design-planning material. Actual specifications, machine operation and safety decisions require suitable qualified expertise.