Tool details
Live Prototyping
Run your solution for a few weeks or months out in the real world.
Tool category:
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When to use
When you have a complete solution you want to stress test in real world conditions.
Why you should
To understand the feasibility and viability of your solution so that you can optimise it further.
What you get
Insights and learnings about how your solution is working and what needs to be improved.
Steps to take
The first step is to determine what it is you want to learn in your Live Prototype. What outstanding questions have you got about how your solution will reach its audience? What do you need to validate about it’s feasibility or effectiveness?
Once you’ve decided on your learning goals you’re ready to determine the scope of your live prototype. How long does it need to run for to get the data you need? In how many locations should you test? As a general rule of thumb, smaller is better in a live prototype as you’ll most certainly need to iterate on your solution afterwards.
Check out the Monitor and Evaluate activity to help you identify key indicators and data collection tools you will need. Consider the logistics of your Live Prototype too. Do you need a physical space, additional staff, uniforms, a permit, or anything else?
If you have the capacity, think about running a few Live Prototypes at once. This will allow you to test variations on your solution quickly.
Keep iterating. If something went wrong on Day 1, try a new approach on Day 2. Live Prototypes are all about learning quickly, iterating on the fly, and pushing your solution closer and closer to the real thing. This will fast-track your progress to an impactful solution that is ready for next level testing in a Pilot.