Question

A student builds a working model from recycled materials to test a design. This is an example of :

• A. Sketching
• B. Ideation
• C. Prototyping
• D. Mapping

Hint:

A prototype is anything physical or digital that a user can interact with to provide feedback. If you can touch it, use it, or test a mechanism with it, you are in the Prototyping phase of design thinking.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to identify which stage of the design thinking process is represented by building a working model using physical materials (such as recycled materials) to test a design's functionality.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The design thinking process consists of five sequential stages: 1. Empathize: Understand user needs.
2. Define: State users' problems.
3. Ideate: Brainstorm creative solutions.
4. Prototype: Build scaled down, inexpensive physical or digital versions of the product.
5. Test: Try out the solutions with actual users.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Building a physical, working model—especially using simple, inexpensive, or recycled materials to test ideas and mechanisms before committing to full-scale manufacturing—is the classic definition of Prototyping (Option C). Sketching is a 2D drawing activity (A), Ideation is the brainstorming phase (B), and Mapping is used to organize spatial or user journey data (D).

Step 4: Final Answer:
Building a test model is an example of prototyping, matching option (C).