Prototypes make ideas visible, tangible and open to discussion. They help individuals and teams explore possibilities, uncover assumptions, gather feedback and learn before committing significant time, effort or resources.
This gallery features a curated collection of prototype examples spanning products, services, systems, experiences and digital platforms. While these examples are illustrative rather than documented project case studies, they demonstrate how prototypes can be used to explore ideas, generate evidence and support decision-making.
As you explore each example, consider:
What problem is being explored?
What assumptions are being tested?
What feedback would be valuable?
What evidence should be collected?
What might be improved in the next iteration?
Prototyping is not about creating a finished solution. It is about making ideas tangible so they can be questioned, tested and improved.
Understanding Prototype Types
Prototypes can take many forms depending on the nature of the idea being explored.
Product Prototypes
Physical representations used to test form, function, ergonomics and usability.
Service Prototypes
Experiences used to explore interactions, touchpoints and customer journeys.
System Prototypes
Representations of complex relationships, workflows and interconnected components.
Digital Prototypes
Interface and platform concepts used to test interactions, navigation and functionality.
Experience Prototypes
Scenarios and simulations used to understand user experiences and behaviours.
Illustrative examples · questions, evidence and iteration
Featured Prototype Examples
01
AI Study Companion
Prototype Type
Digital platform prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A digital learning assistant prototype designed to help students access information, receive guidance and support their learning experience.
Questions this prototype could help answer
What learning support do students expect from an AI assistant?
Which features are most valuable?
How should information be presented?
Where might users become confused or frustrated?
Evidence to gather
User interactions
Question patterns
Feature usage
User feedback
Navigation behaviours
What might happen next?
Insights could be used to refine features, improve responses and strengthen the overall learning experience.
02
University Orientation App
Prototype Type
Digital experience prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A prototype exploring how new students might navigate orientation activities, support services, campus maps and key university information.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Can students find critical information quickly?
Is the navigation intuitive?
Which information is most useful during orientation?
Where do students experience confusion?
Evidence to gather
Task completion rates
Navigation paths
User observations
Feedback comments
What might happen next?
Improve navigation, simplify content structure and prioritise the most important information.
03
LMS Engagement Platform
Prototype Type
Digital platform prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A prototype exploring ways to improve student participation, communication and engagement within a learning management system.
Questions this prototype could help answer
What motivates student participation?
Which engagement features are most appealing?
How can communication be improved?
What barriers reduce engagement?
Evidence to gather
Feature usage
Interaction patterns
Student feedback
Participation rates
What might happen next?
Refine engagement features and simplify user workflows.
04
Smart Parking System
Prototype Type
Service-system prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A service-system prototype exploring how drivers might locate, reserve and access parking spaces more efficiently.
Questions this prototype could help answer
How easily can users locate available parking?
Which information is most useful during the process?
Where does friction occur?
How might the experience be simplified?
Evidence to gather
User journeys
Task completion
Observed pain points
Customer feedback
What might happen next?
Improve workflows, information displays and service interactions.
05
Emergency Department Patient Flow
Prototype Type
Service prototype
Fidelity
Low to medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A workflow prototype illustrating how patients, staff and information move through an emergency department environment.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Where are bottlenecks occurring?
Which stages create delays?
How do patients experience the process?
What changes could improve efficiency?
Evidence to gather
Journey mapping observations
Waiting times
Stakeholder feedback
Process measurements
What might happen next?
Redesign workflow stages and improve coordination between services.
06
Homelessness Outreach Platform
Prototype Type
Social service platform prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A digital-social innovation prototype exploring how vulnerable individuals might connect with support services and community resources.
Questions this prototype could help answer
How easily can users access support information?
What trust-related concerns emerge?
Which services are most valuable?
What barriers prevent engagement?
Evidence to gather
User interviews
Navigation patterns
Service access journeys
Stakeholder feedback
What might happen next?
Improve accessibility, trust signals and service integration.
07
Mobile Medical Outreach System
Prototype Type
Service-system prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A system prototype exploring healthcare delivery beyond traditional clinical environments.
Questions this prototype could help answer
How can healthcare services reach underserved populations?
What logistical challenges exist?
How should services be prioritised?
What resources are required?
Evidence to gather
Service delivery observations
Patient experiences
Resource demands
Stakeholder insights
What might happen next?
Refine operational processes and expand service capabilities.
08
Global Freight Network
Prototype Type
Systems prototype
Fidelity
Conceptual prototype
What you’re looking at
A systems prototype illustrating complex relationships across logistics, transportation and supply-chain networks.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Where are key dependencies located?
What vulnerabilities exist?
How might information flow more effectively?
Which interventions could improve efficiency?
Evidence to gather
Stakeholder insights
Workflow observations
Network analysis
Performance metrics
What might happen next?
Identify intervention points and test alternative network configurations.
09
Airline Seating Prototype
Prototype Type
Product prototype
Fidelity
Medium to high fidelity
What you’re looking at
A physical prototype exploring passenger comfort, ergonomics and seating arrangements within aircraft environments.
Questions this prototype could help answer
How comfortable is the seating arrangement?
Does the design support different body types?
What accessibility concerns arise?
Which features add value?
Evidence to gather
User observations
Comfort ratings
Accessibility feedback
Ergonomic assessments
What might happen next?
Refine dimensions, materials and passenger interactions.
10
Coffee Machine Prototype
Prototype Type
Product prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A physical product prototype used to explore usability, form, controls and overall user experience.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Is the interface intuitive?
Can users complete tasks easily?
Which controls create confusion?
How could the experience be simplified?
Evidence to gather
User interactions
Completion rates
Errors and hesitation points
User feedback
What might happen next?
Improve controls, simplify interactions and refine the product design.
11
Coffee Cup Prototype
Prototype Type
Product prototype
Fidelity
Low to medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A physical product prototype exploring the design, usability and ergonomics of a reusable coffee cup.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Is the cup comfortable to hold and carry?
Does the lid function effectively during use?
How easy is it to open, close and clean?
What size and shape best supports user needs?
Evidence to gather
User observations
Comfort and usability feedback
Spill and leakage testing
Cleaning and maintenance feedback
What might happen next?
Insights could be used to refine the cup's shape, materials, lid mechanism and overall user experience before moving to production-ready designs.
12
Drone Prototype
Prototype Type
Product-system prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A prototype exploring the design, functionality and potential applications of a drone-based solution.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Does the drone perform reliably during operation?
How effectively can users control the device?
What safety concerns emerge during testing?
What operational limitations need to be addressed?
Evidence to gather
Flight performance data
User feedback
Stability and navigation observations
Safety and reliability assessments
What might happen next?
Testing may reveal opportunities to improve controls, flight stability, payload capacity or operational workflows before broader deployment.
13
Game Controller Prototype
Prototype Type
Product prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A physical prototype exploring how users interact with a gaming controller through button placement, ergonomics and usability.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Are controls intuitive and easy to reach?
How comfortable is the controller during extended use?
Do users experience confusion or unnecessary effort?
Are there accessibility concerns that should be addressed?
Evidence to gather
User observations
Comfort ratings
Gameplay performance feedback
Accessibility and inclusivity feedback
What might happen next?
The design team may adjust button layouts, controller shape, grip design or accessibility features to improve performance and user satisfaction.
14
Toaster Slider Prototype
Prototype Type
Product prototype
Fidelity
Low to medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A prototype exploring alternative mechanisms and interactions for controlling toaster settings and functionality.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Which control mechanism feels most intuitive?
How easily can users understand the settings?
Do users receive enough feedback about their selections?
What design reduces confusion and mistakes?
Evidence to gather
User interaction observations
Task completion success rates
User feedback
Error frequency and hesitation points
What might happen next?
Testing may lead to redesigned controls, clearer visual feedback and simplified interactions that improve the overall user experience.
15
UX Prototype
Prototype Type
Digital experience prototype
Fidelity
Medium to high fidelity
What you’re looking at
A user experience prototype exploring how people navigate, interact with and complete tasks within a digital product or service.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Can users complete key tasks successfully?
Where do they become confused or frustrated?
Is the navigation structure intuitive?
How effectively does the interface support user goals?
Evidence to gather
Task completion rates
Navigation pathways
User observations
Interview and usability feedback
What might happen next?
Insights from testing can inform interface design improvements, simplify workflows and strengthen the overall user experience before development or launch.
16
Airport Baggage Handling
Prototype Type
Service-system prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A service-system prototype exploring how passenger luggage moves through airport operations from check-in to collection.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Where do delays and bottlenecks occur in the baggage handling process?
How effectively do different systems and teams coordinate activities?
What information do passengers need throughout the journey?
Which parts of the process create the greatest operational risk?
Evidence to gather
Workflow observations
Processing times
Staff feedback
Passenger experience feedback
Error and baggage transfer rates
What might happen next?
Insights could be used to redesign workflows, improve communication between teams, reduce delays and strengthen the overall passenger experience.
17
Student Engagement
Prototype Type
Experience prototype
Fidelity
Medium fidelity
What you’re looking at
A prototype exploring how students interact with learning experiences, activities, resources and educational communities.
Questions this prototype could help answer
What factors encourage active participation?
Which activities generate the highest levels of engagement?
Where do students disengage or lose motivation?
How can learning experiences become more interactive and meaningful?
Evidence to gather
Participation data
Student feedback
Observation of learning activities
Interaction patterns
Engagement analytics
What might happen next?
Testing may reveal opportunities to improve learning activities, increase collaboration, strengthen motivation and create more engaging educational experiences.
18
Mobile Phone Prototype
Prototype Type
Product prototype
Fidelity
Medium to high fidelity
What you’re looking at
A product prototype exploring the design, functionality and user experience of a mobile communication device.
Questions this prototype could help answer
Is the device comfortable and intuitive to use?
How effectively can users perform common tasks?
Which features create the greatest value?
What usability or accessibility challenges need improvement?
Evidence to gather
User observations
Task completion rates
Ergonomic feedback
Feature usage patterns
Accessibility feedback
What might happen next?
Insights gathered during testing could inform improvements to hardware design, interface layout, navigation, accessibility and overall user experience before further development or production.
What Good Prototyping Looks Like
Effective prototypes are not judged by how polished they appear. They are judged by how much they help teams learn.
The best prototypes:
Make ideas tangible
Expose assumptions
Encourage discussion
Generate evidence
Support decision-making
Lead to meaningful improvements
The goal is not to build the final solution. The goal is to learn what should happen next.
