What sustainable prototyping tools are most effective for product design?

1 Paper prototyping

Paper prototyping is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to test your ideas and get feedback. You can use paper, cardboard, scissors, tape, and markers to create low-fidelity models of your product, interface, or service. Paper prototyping is great for exploring different concepts, layouts, flows, and features, as well as for involving users and stakeholders in the design process. You can also reuse or recycle paper materials, making them more eco-friendly than plastic or metal.

2 Digital prototyping

Digital prototyping is another way to create and test your product without using physical materials. You can use software tools, such as Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD, to design and simulate your product on a screen. Digital prototyping is ideal for creating high-fidelity prototypes that look and feel like the real thing, as well as for testing functionality, usability, and aesthetics. You can also share and collaborate on digital prototypes online, reducing the need for travel and printing.

3 Biodegradable prototyping

Biodegradable prototyping is a more advanced and innovative way to create physical prototypes that are environmentally friendly. You can use materials that are derived from natural sources, such as wood, bamboo, cork, or algae, to create prototypes that are durable, lightweight, and compostable. Biodegradable prototyping is suitable for creating products that have organic shapes, textures, and colors, as well as for testing structural, mechanical, and thermal properties. You can also experiment with different biodegradable materials and processes, such as 3D printing, molding, or carving.

4 Reusable prototyping

Reusable prototyping is a smart way to create physical prototypes that can be modified, adapted, or reused for different purposes. You can use materials that are easy to assemble, disassemble, or reconfigure, such as Lego bricks, magnets, Velcro, or snap-fit connectors, to create prototypes that are flexible, modular, and customizable. Reusable prototyping is perfect for creating products that have complex or variable components, functions, or interactions, as well as for testing different scenarios, configurations, or user groups. You can also save money and resources by reusing the same materials for multiple prototypes.

5 Circular prototyping

Circular prototyping is a holistic way to create physical prototypes that are part of a circular economy. You can use materials that are recycled, upcycled, or repurposed from existing products or waste streams, such as plastic bottles, fabric scraps, or electronic parts, to create prototypes that are creative, unique, and valuable. Circular prototyping is beneficial for creating products that have a positive social and environmental impact, as well as for testing sustainability, circularity, and desirability. You can also contribute to reducing waste and pollution by giving new life to old materials.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?