A graphic is an image or visual representation of an object.

2D graphics come
in two flavors — raster and vector. Raster graphics are the most common and
are used for digital photos, Web graphics, icons, and other types of images.
They are composed of a simple grid of pixels, which can each be a different
color. Vector graphics, on the other hand are made up of paths, which may be
lines, shapes, letters, or other scalable objects. They are often used for
creating logos, signs, and other types of drawings. Unlike raster graphics,
vector graphics can be scaled to a larger size without losing quality.

Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language
legible, readable, and appealing when displayed

Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving through the use of
typography, photography and illustration

In marketing, a product is an object or system made available for consumer use; it is anything
that can be offered to a market to satisfy the desire or need of a customer.

the art or process of designing manufactured products. Industrial design is a process of

design applied to products that are to be manufactured through techniques of mass production.

Design : Design can have different connotations in different fields of application, but there are
two basic meanings of design: as a verb and as a noun. Design is the intentional creation of a
plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an
activity or process.

Product architecture is the scheme by which the function of a product is allocated to

physical components. What is Product Architecture? The arrangement of functional elementsinto
physical chunks which become the buildingblocks for the product. module module module module
Product module module module module.
Importance of Product Architecture

• Decided early and drives design

• Impacts manufacturing cost
• Impacts product evolution
contrast
the state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association.
Definition: refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth
textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest, excitement and
drama.

In general, however, a prototype is a working representation used to detect flaws or problems in

advance of production. A model is a non-working representation used to illustrate the product, and
may be constructed at any stage in the product cycle.
The purpose of a prototype is testing for performance, and the ultimate in prototype testing is done
by the end user.
Models, in contrast, are not typically employed in user testing of a developing product. However,
models may be used to convey information about the new product to prospective customers, who,
ideally, will become end users.
A prototype is made, tested, refined and then retested in a loop that may be repeated many times
before the design reaches beta testing. Interim versions of the product may be called models, mock-
ups or paper prototypes. The overall goal, however, remains the same, which is to get the
developing product to a point in which a group of users can have hands-on experience with it, and
then provide feedback to the designers. Only then will the developers know if the product is likely to
find the customer base it needs to succeed in the marketplace.

There are many types of the prototype here is ten of those types: -
1. A film (movie) prototype
Here a prototype is made using video just to show others the idea in a
graphical/visual format.
2. Feasibility Prototype
This type of prototype is usually developed to determine the feasibility of
various solutions. It is applied to the resolve technical risks attached to the
development in terms of performance, compatibility of components etc.
3. Horizontal Prototype
This is the user interface in the form of screenshots, demonstrating the
outer layer of the human interface only, such as windows, menus, and
screens. The prototype is used to clarify the scope and requirements of the
product.
4. Rapid Prototype
The rapid prototyping technique is used to quickly engineer an initial model
of a product using a three-dimensional computer-aided design when you
want to produce something in a short span.
5. Simulations
Simulation prototype is digitally creating of a physical product to predict the
performance of the product in the real world.
6. Storyboard
A storyboard describes a product in a form of a story and demonstrates a
typical order in which information needs to be presented. It helps in
determining useable sequences for presenting information
7. Vertical Prototype
A vertical prototype is the back end of a product like a database generation
to test front end. It used to improve database design, test key components
at early stages or showcase a working model, though unfinished, to check
the key functions.
8. Wireframe
This is a skeleton a product. Depicted in the form of illustrations or
schematics that capture an aspect of design such as an idea, layout, form,
architecture or sequence.
9. Animations
These are images drawn and put in a sequence that walks you through the
proposed 3D structure of the product/solution.
10. Mock-up
This is with no functionalities, just to get overall visual of the product. It is
an unpolished version of the product with no active features.
Qualities Of A Good Prototype

Representation
A prototype is a rudimentary representation of the actual product. It represents how the
product will look and/or work like.

Precision
More precise the prototype, better the response and feedback.

Functional
A good prototype performs the basic functions of the actual product (if possible).

Improvision
A good prototype is one which can be improvised on with minimum effort. This one of the
most important aspect of prototyping as a prototype is subject to many improvisations.

Types of Prototypes
While a prototype can be in the form of paper, digital, miniature or a partial product,
all of these can be categorized into three categories on the basis of what they represent.

Functional Prototypes
Functional prototypes are designed to imitate the functions of the actual product as closely as
possible no matter how different they look from the actual product.These types of prototypes
are produced for the products which are dependent on the function rather than the display.
For example: creating a backend prototype without working on the frontend of the website.

Display Prototypes
Display prototypes are designed with more focus on the look and feel of the product rather
than the functions. These prototypes may or may not function but represent the look of the
actual product very well.
Display prototypes are usually used in the fashion industry and in other industries where
looks are more important.

Miniatures
Miniatures are smaller versions or the basic versions of the product focused on both the
functional aspect as well as the display aspect. Nevertheless, these aren’t the actual products
and lack many qualities of the actual product like not working at full capacity, etc.
Miniatures are usually developed by the 3D printing of the product.
From a usability perspective, the prototypes can be categorized into:

Throwaway prototype
Throwaway prototype refers to the models which are eventually discarded or thrown away
rather than becoming a part of the actual product. These products are only used to represent
what an actual product can do. Throwaway prototypes are also called close ended prototypes

Evolutionary Prototype
Evolutionary prototyping uses a different approach than throwaway prototyping and involves
building a basic but robust prototype in a manner which can further be improved and built
upon to form an actual saleable product. This avoids wastage of resources.

Prototype Examples
Prototypes come in many types and shapes. It all depends on the reason for what a prototype
is created. While some prototypes are developed just to represent or mimic the functioning or
the look of the product (paper prototypes, HTML prototypes, etc.) to investors, some include
showing a miniature version (3D print, single version of the lot, etc.) of the product with full
or partial functionality.
Here are few examples of prototypes:

Paper Prototype
Paper prototype is an example of throwaway prototype created in the form of rough or hand-
sketched drawings of the product’s interface, front-end design, and sometimes the back end
work.
 Save
Source: amymaeroberts

3D print
The latest technology has made it possible to print a 3d version of your product which can
actually work. But this technique is not feasible for mass production.
 Save
Source: Gizmodo

Digital Prototype
A digital prototype allows product developers to create a virtual model of the product which
enables them to see how the individual components will work together and how the product
will look once it’s completed.
That is, it lets the developers virtually explore the complete product before it’s actually built.
 Save
Source: flightlevelengineering

Scale Model
The scale model is a smaller and a non-functional model commonly used for prototyping
large products like buildings, automobiles, etc.