Final Prototype Plan & Material Research
9th September (Sat)
Description
The final prototype plan went the same way as the initial prototype plan. First, I listed the contents of the toolkit and devised a way to produce each product. I chose to handcraft most of the products by printing them on coated paper.
Once I've chosen how I want to produce all of my content, I've distributed the workload across Weeks 7 and 8, the final prototyping period. My goal is to have the full print and files for the maker completed in Week 7, with the rest of the craft work completed in the early part of Week 8, with time to reflect and move on to other productions.
-> From the Miro board, Final prototype material plans and weekly schedule.
My material research went in two directions. Firstly, for the items I am making myself, I research the materials I am going to use on various websites and compare prices to find the most affordable and readily available materials. Secondly, I research fabricators for acrylic items, but most New Zealand fabricators have a minimum quantity of 50 or 100 pieces, so I research out from New Zealand.
-> From the Miro board, Material researching. All the image links are provided on the Miro board. (1)
Feelings
The final prototype was something I was looking forward to, so planning went smoothly. In particular, I had decided whether I wanted to make each item myself or have it made by a company, and since I had used a company many times before, I decided on the final method relatively quickly.
I feel like I'm finally at the end of the project's prototype phase. There are still a lot of things to reflect on, and a lot of things that need to be developed design-wise.
As I listed the components I needed for the final prototype, I realised that I needed a lot more ideas and designs than I had previously designed, which made me feel overwhelmed and stressed by the amount of work I was putting in front of myself.
Evaluation
Project process 3/5 - While planning the final prototype, I realised that there are many toolkit components that are still lacking to proceed with the actual final. I think I should proceed directly with the design of the planned items.
Time management 5/5 - I completed the project within the planned timeframe. I completed the material research in the short term because I continuously researched various materials and contacted manufacturers since Week 6.
Project outcome 4/5 - I completed my research on materials and suppliers for the toolkit, but I wish I had found materials that were more affordable and easily accessible within New Zealand.
Analysis
The final prototype planning allowed me to create a systematic progression plan for my project. In particular, planning gives me the opportunity to reflect on my project and identify gaps. In this case, I realised that my previous designs and progress needed to be improved. This clarified my plan for the future and helped me see where and how the project could evolve.
However, planning is not always right because planning must be accompanied by time, and planning alone does not anticipate all of the future. For example, despite my initial prototype planning, there were still a lot of changes in my final plan. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly reflect on yourself and work without a plan.
Conclusion
I learnt the two sides of planning. I think planning is important; it is the foundation of a project and allows me to be prepared for different situations. However, sticking to a plan was a fatal flaw for me. As I worked on my new plan, I found gaps in my project that I had yet to notice.
This happened because I only trusted my plan. To avoid this in my final prototype, I will review the previous plan and build a new one each time I move forward with the project to avoid repeating my previous mistakes.
Action Plan
I'm happy with my prototype plans and material research, but I've been investigating if there are other ways to print acrylic other than from overseas manufacturers, and Fablab has suggested one.
The idea is to buy clear, thin, printable acrylic paper from Gordon Harris that can be printed on a university printer, print it, and then use a laser cutter to make a thicker acrylic block to hold the two materials together with resin. This is obviously a material that is readily available in New Zealand and would save on delivery fees and time. However, as it is something I am not familiar with, the time and labour involved in making it makes sense to use a manufacturer. Nevertheless, I would like to try the method recommended by Fablab, as it is interesting.
Next Plan
Continue to evolve the design of the prototype to reflect the initial prototype.
Work on the final prototype files for print-out and send to manufacturers
At the end of next week, I'm planning to start a video storyboard for A3
Reference
(1) Image Link provided in the Miro board
