New
New
Lesson 7 of 14
  • Year 10

Low-fidelity prototyping

I can produce simple prototypes to test and communicate initial design concepts.

Lesson 7 of 14
New
New
  • Year 10

Low-fidelity prototyping

I can produce simple prototypes to test and communicate initial design concepts.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Low-fidelity prototypes are about testing concepts.
  2. How to use simple materials and methods to quickly communicate and test design ideas.

Keywords

  • Prototype - an early model of a design used to test and explore ideas

  • Low-fidelity - simple, quick, and low-detail version of a design

  • Concept - the main idea or principle behind a design

Common misconception

Prototypes must be polished or look like the final product.

Early prototypes are rough and quick - their purpose is to test ideas, not show perfection.


To help you plan your year 10 design and technology lesson on: Low-fidelity prototyping, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Show examples of rough sketches/models from professional designers to normalise “unfinished” work.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A range of low-budget prototyping materials, e.g. cardboard, foam, clay, etc.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Designers need to consider the needs of the when designing a product.

Correct Answer: user, users

Q2.
Which of these best describes inclusive design?

design only for people with disabilities
Correct answer: design for as many different people as possible
design only for aesthetics
design that is cheap to make

Q3.
Match the design term to its meaning:

Correct Answer:prototype,an early version of a product to test ideas

an early version of a product to test ideas

Correct Answer:idea,thought or suggestion for solving a problem

thought or suggestion for solving a problem

Correct Answer:feedback,opinions from others to improve a design

opinions from others to improve a design

Q4.
Which of these is an example of unempathetic design?

a website with adjustable text sizes
Correct answer: a school desk that only suits one body type
an app with calming colours and gentle reminders
headphones that reduce background noise

Q5.
What does 'diversity' mean in design?

creating only one product for everyone to use in the same way
Correct answer: recognising that users have different needs, priorities, and abilities
designing mainly for the average user
making designs more colourful and stylish

Q6.
Research techniques help to define .

Correct Answer: requirements, design requirements, requirement, design requirement

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the main purpose of a low-fidelity prototype?

to show the final finishes of a design
Correct answer: to quickly test and communicate a concept
to replace all drawings and sketches
to create a product ready for sale

Q2.
Match each keyword to the correct definition:

Correct Answer:prototype,a model used to test and communicate a design idea

a model used to test and communicate a design idea

Correct Answer:concept,the overall idea behind a design

the overall idea behind a design

Correct Answer:low-fidelity,a simple model used to test ideas quickly

a simple model used to test ideas quickly

Q3.
Which three things can simple material prototypes show?

Correct answer: scale, form, interaction
colour, texture, branding
sustainability, cost, packaging
finish, aesthetics, materials

Q4.
Low-fidelity prototypes are useful in inclusive design because they are quick, cheap, and easy to .

Correct Answer: adapt, change

Q5.
Match each material to its prototyping use:

Correct Answer:card,showing shape and size quickly

showing shape and size quickly

Correct Answer:foam,exploring grip and comfort

exploring grip and comfort

Correct Answer:clay,modelling curved, complex forms

modelling curved, complex forms

Q6.
A low-fidelity prototype is not about surface finish or detail; it is about testing the of a design.

Correct Answer: concept, concepts