A throwaway prototype is useful in understanding the exact requirements of your brief and/or product and helps you work out if there are details which need further refinement.
For Pirate Ship I encountered several problems in the use of materials and began to understand that certain elements must be exact in order to make the toy function properly.
An example of this would be the decision to use a smaller polystyrene ball to ensure that the prototype is not too high. This made it look unrealistic and unable to be accessed by children who are 6-8 years old.
Materials that were used:
- Dry foam floral wreath (x2)
- Polystyrene foam sphere (cut in half)
- Paddle pop sticks
- 600gsm white card
- Inktense Derwent Pencils
- Sequins/sequin pins
- Brown felt
- Foamtastic
- Modelling clay
- Tiger Glue
The prototype was made to scale as 1/20th of the intended size of Pirate Ship. The prototype has a perimeter of 30cm with all model children having a height of approximately 4-6cm.
Method:
- Draw circle on white card, colour in with inktense pencils to look like timber. Then wait to dry. Draw 'quadrant' guidelines.
- Cut out circle and glue onto dry foam floral wreath.
- Glue and pin sequins 2cm apart from the quadrant guidelines. The sequins represent the LED lights that we intend to use in the final product. Repeat this step for each of the quadrants.
- Place paddle pop sticks in around the perimeter of the dry foam floral wreath.
- Construct paddle pop plank (step that children will use to enter Pirate Ship).
- Cut polystyrene foam sphere in half. Cover with brown felt using sequin pins.
- Place inside the dry foam floral wreath to make 'balancing' part of the product.
- Finish by creating the objects on the ship using modelling clay. These include the parrot, barrel, treasure chest and cannon. Follow this step by creating figures for demonstration using the same process.
- Finally create wheel for the ship and pirate flag. Now your Pirate Ship prototype is complete!
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