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Design Thinking for Systems Change; The Difference Between a Prototype and an Experiment

Testing something out on a small scale before attempting the same task at a bigger scale, is usually a good idea. If you wanted to run a marathon, but have no prior running experience, you might want to try running a half a mile first.

During any innovative process, tests generate creativity, collaboration, and even empathy. Trying something out is essential to better understand it.

There are two types of tests:

  1. A Prototype: A model you can show people
  2. An Experiment: A designed interaction mainly focusing on behavior

Prototypes

Prototypes are typically some sort of model that you can physically show people. They allow people to test their assumptions and get feedback from others. They’re made to understand the person, place, or thing that you’re testing.

For example, creating a small-scale model of an airplane before building the actual fully-functioning plane helps engineers to identify the trajectory and correct measurements of the design which, ultimately, saves time and resources.

More examples of prototypes:

  • Small-scale models
  • Sketches
  • Paper interfaces
  • Storyboards
  • Role-playing

Experiments

An experiment is a designed interaction that typically looks at the behavior of a subject. Often, people will find experiments intimidating – they potentially expose failure or disprove theories. The lack of ambiguity that experimental results can bring is actually crucial to any test.

Experiments come in all shapes and sizes and are not confined to a scientific lab. Comedian Chris Rock has his own experiment that he uses. He’ll go to an underground comedy bar and perform short standup segments for real people. He tests out new jokes to gauge people’s  interest and see which ones end in laughs. He’ll discard the jokes that don’t work and compile the ones that do into a comedy special.

Overlap

Experimenting and prototyping are not completely separate forms of testing. An expert will keep the experimentation mindset when in the prototype phase. It’s all about keeping a curious and open attitude. Both means of testing provide evidence-based answers to continue to build upon.

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