Journey 20 - Task 5

Nature for Life Hub

steps of Behavior-Centered Design

Task 5: Prototype

Start

Prototype Step Overview

Pause point! Before moving on to Prototype, reflect on whether your solution ideas align with what you learned about your core actors.

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Up next

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Tools for the Prototype step

DEI considerations

What is Prototype?

Why is Prototype important?

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

Up next

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

In Rare's Lands for Life program, the team developed a solution to increase farmers' adoption of sustainable practices by receiving text message support on specific actions. Before testing this messaging, they needed to create a prototype, or draft version, of what that text message might look like. Here is an example of their prototyped solution.

A phone prototype with a sample message for farmers.

Want more? Learn more about Rare's behavior change strategy with farmers in Colombia.

Read article

Make a Prototype

Up next

Make a Prototype

A prototype is a small-scale version of your solution. You can think of it as a good draft that contains the essential features of your solution. Ultimately, your prototype is something that you can share with others to get feedback. It doesn't need to be final or fully complete. It just needs to give your core audience a good sense of what your solution is like.

Example: Prototyping with cake Imagine your solution was a layer cake. The cake, filling, and icing would all be essential features of your solution. As a result, your prototype might be a cupcake, because you can learn how all three features taste together. It also takes less time, energy, and resources to make a cupcake than a whole cake.

A graphic of a cake metaphor for prototyping solutions. Photo/example: Brandon Schauer

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Up next

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Prototypes in design thinking tend to be physical products. But our behavioral solutions may be more like experiences. Instead of providing an object for someone to play with, you might instead tell a story about what will happen or have them experience a set of small moments from a campaign.

What an experiential prototype could look like

Even if you are prototyping an experience, don't forget about key messages, objects, colors, and other tangible parts of your solution that you could prepare for feedback. It's often these little details that help people feel connected to an idea.

Activity: Make a prototype

Up next

Activity: Make a prototype

Follow the steps below to make a prototype of one of your ideas from Ideate.

1. Select one prioritized idea from Ideate
2. Define your idea in terms of its essential features. Why does it work? What elements must be included? What is a good draft or model of this idea?
3. Draw, describe, or make a model/simulation of your idea to serve as a prototype.
4. Consider any details you've left out using the prompts in the worksheet (available here).

Close this task and proceed on your journey

Task complete

Section overview

Start

Prototype Step Overview

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

Make a Prototype

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Activity: Make a prototype

Section overview

Start

Prototype Step Overview

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

Make a Prototype

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Activity: Make a prototype

Section overview

Start

Prototype Step Overview

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

Make a Prototype

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Activity: Make a prototype

Section overview

Start

Prototype Step Overview

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

Make a Prototype

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Activity: Make a prototype

The organization Common Seas created reusable diaper kit prototypes for mothers in Surabaya, Indonesia to try with their babies during one week.

Local campaign leaders on Chiloé Island developed a presentation about their trash disposal prototype for community members to help shorebird conservation.

Section overview

Start

Prototype Step Overview

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

Make a Prototype

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Activity: Make a prototype

Section overview

Start

Prototype Step Overview

Prototype Step Overview (continued)

Spotlight: Prototyping solutions

Make a Prototype

What are examples of tangible prototypes?

Activity: Make a prototype

• a storyboard of key moments in time

• a drawing or set of drawings

• a short play or scene that shows what happens

• a small-scale interactive space on site

• a short-term experience with a few people