Prototypes are like thinking plus making.. you can’t have one without the other.

I think of prototypes as a way to make sense of an idea. They are a way to think through a problem, to explore possibilities, and to communicate ideas. They are a bridge between the abstract and the concrete, between thought and action.

Prototypes are a way to make ideas tangible, to give them form and substance. They are a way to test ideas, to see how they work in the real world, and to learn from the process of making.

Here at the Near Future Laboratory, every thing we do is this kind of thinking-making hybrid.

If you want to know more about this, check out our work on the Omata One, a cycling computer that we designed and built in 2014. It was a prototype that helped us think through the design and functionality of the product, and it ultimately led to the creation of a successful product.

It started with a simple idea: to create a cycling computer that was easy to use, accurate, and beautiful. I wanted to feel what it was like to create a product that effervesced the analog-mechanical feel of what it is to ride a bicycle, but did not require a smartphone, nor was over-indexed on the visual semantics of the already overclocked digital world.

”Modern but also mechanical.”

If this approach to imagining through physical / digital / software / hardware prototypes resonates with you, get in touch. I’m always looking to help organizations and teams catalyze their thinking, strategy, and product development through this kind of work. I am always looking for new projects and collaborations.