It’s a prototype!
I love to prototype, try things out and create things. But since I started studying Innovation Management, the number of prototypes I made has come to the grand total of: zero. So, I decided to attend an innoApproach workshop given by Huub and Edwin (*) to revive my lost technical skills.
I received an email the day before the workshop asking me to think about a concept I wanted to make a prototype for. Obviously, I first considered making something to make my baking easier (e.g. a cake slicer, the ultimate cookie cutter, or a resizable brownie tin). However, then I realized there is one thing that bothers me on a daily basis. My sister’s fish.
Not her fish exactly, those are quite nice, but they need an oxygen pump in their aquarium. This pump makes a very annoying and continuous noise. Therefore I decided to make something to reduce the noise. While writing this I realize I could have tried to create a new and improved pump, but ok, I was not that smart.
I decided to make a box for the little motor. We first had to make sketches (which I am not going to upload because I want my ID teachers to think I still have some skills). This already gave me some insights in how to build the box, and what type of materials to use. I wanted to use elastics, since this might counteract the vibration of the motor.
After making the sketches, I build a prototype, which is probably the definition of a shitty prototype. But it actually helped me convey my idea and try out what I came up with when making the sketches. And even though it doesn't look that great, I had a lot of fun and I used my brain differently again.
Let me conclude with two notes. First: if you have an idea, I’d highly suggest you contact Huub and Edwin (*) and see what is possible. Prototyping is a great way to expand your skills, to learn new things, and do something different than watching another online lecture or Netflix series.
Secondly: the first prototype did not work (at all), so I will have to go back to Huub and Edwin.
(*) Huub and Edwin are the prototyping specialists within TU/e innovation Space, even now you can ask them for tips and tricks. But you can also come to see them in Matrix and work with them on developing your idea and testing its technical feasibility. They have helped numerous students creating the most amazing prototypes. So, if you have an idea, you can always contactthem.
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