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Lesson 10 of 14
  • Year 10

Medium-fidelity prototyping

I can develop a more functional prototype that integrates usability and inclusivity.

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View unit
Lesson 10 of 14
New
New
  • Year 10

Medium-fidelity prototyping

I can develop a more functional prototype that integrates usability and inclusivity.

Download all

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Medium-fidelity prototypes are more functional and refined.
  2. Material choice allows prototypes to be tested for ergonomics, accessibility and usability, which improves inclusivity.

Keywords

  • Medium-fidelity - a prototype that shows what a design will roughly look and work like, but isn’t fully finished or interactive yet

  • Ergonomics - the interaction (comfort and fit) between people and the products they use

  • Usability - how easy and comfortable something is to use

Common misconception

Medium-fidelity prototypes are just “tidier” versions of low-fidelity ones.

Medium-fidelity is not about neatness - it’s about using stronger materials and semi-functional builds to test ergonomics and usability.


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

Contrast low-, medium-, and high-fidelity prototypes with examples (sketch > card model > semi-functional prototype > polished model).
Teacher tip

Equipment

A range of materials suitable for medium-fidelity prototyping, e.g. plywood/MDF/pine, acrylic/HIPS/PP, calico fabric/foam, breadboards/Micro:Bits/electronic components, fastening components, 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following statements is correct?

Inclusive design and accessible design are exactly the same thing.
Correct answer: Accessible design removes barriers, but inclusive design goes further.
Inclusive design only focuses on mental health.
Accessible design is always better than inclusive design.

Q2.
Which of these is an example of flexibility in design?

a chair bolted to the floor
a door that only opens one way
Correct answer: a desk with adjustable height
a fixed-size desk

Q3.
User- design puts the needs and experiences of the user at the heart of the design process.

Correct Answer: centred, centre

Q4.
Why do designers study barriers to mental health and wellbeing?

to diagnose medical conditions
Correct answer: to identify real problems that design can help to solve
to prevent stressors from ever existing
to make people work harder under pressure

Q5.
What is the main purpose of a low-fidelity prototype?

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

Q6.
Which three things can simple material prototypes show?

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

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which statement best describes ergonomics?

how attractive a product looks
Correct answer: how comfortable and efficient a product is to use
how expensive a product is to make
how fast a product can be built

Q2.
means how easy and reliable a product is to use.

Correct Answer: usability, usable

Q3.
Match each keyword to its correct definition:

Correct Answer:ergonomics,how comfortable and efficient a product is

how comfortable and efficient a product is

Correct Answer:usability,how easy a product is to use

how easy a product is to use

Correct Answer:inclusivity,designing so everyone can use and enjoy it

designing so everyone can use and enjoy it

Q4.
Which statement best describes materials used for medium-fidelity prototypes?

Correct answer: they should be strong enough for testing but easy to shape or adjust
they must be final, decorative materials ready for production
they are always made from recycled paper and tape
they cannot include any mechanical or electronic parts

Q5.
Why is testing ergonomics and usability important before final manufacture?

it improves the colour scheme
it saves materials for later projects
Correct answer: it checks function and comfort before investing in high-fidelity models
it helps with packaging design

Q6.
How does inclusive design support users’ mental wellbeing?

by focusing only on physical accessibility
by making products complex and stimulating
Correct answer: by creating designs that feel calm, supportive and easy to use
by using expensive materials to show quality