What Are High Fidelity Prototypes And Why Do They Matter?

An effective prototype can make or break your product development cycle! Compared to simple, early-stage prototypes which provide only a rough approximation of the final product, high-fidelity prototypes are capable of generating much more value in the overall product development process.

In this blog, we explain why.

Below, we look at what high-fidelity prototypes are, what makes them different from more standard, lower-fidelity options, and how they can help streamline product development. For a deeper exploration of the topics covered below, you can download our free checklist “Five Crucial Questions to Ask When Sourcing Your High-Fidelity Prototypes” here.

WHAT IS A HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE?

In short, a high-fidelity prototype shares many of the key characteristics found in your final product, including end-use materials, surface finishes, and even much of the final functionality. In today’s market, early-stage, simple prototypes are more commoditized than ever, often created to meet very basic testing requirements. It is increasingly easy to upload a CAD file and order a prototype part (in many cases, even the quoting process itself is automated) to be generated through 3D printing or even CNC machining. These relatively low-spec, low-cost options make sense in some circumstances, particularly for basic testing of individual parts and basic components. But they do not provide in-depth feedback on key product requirements or manufacturability, particularly for complex products which require a variety of different manufacturing and assembly processes. 

What manufacturability and product development intelligence should a high-fidelity prototype provide?

Prototypes are often sourced early in the design process when your team is still working through design and/or manufacturability issues. By providing a model that can be nearly identical to the final product, a high-fidelity prototype can:

• Offer a robust proof of concept, ideal for market research, UX testing, and securing investor and/or internal stakeholder buy-in 

• Validate manufacturability insights early in the design process, preventing costly rework or delays further down the line.

• Provide a marketing and sales demonstration asset capable of accurately portraying final product form, finish, and function.

By delivering these benefits earlier in the process, an effective high-fidelity prototype can dramatically reduce the risks and overall timeline associated with product development. By bridging the gap from design concept to physical product as fast as possible, the right prototypes can help anticipate issues before costly investments in time and tooling become locked in.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING PROVIDER?

While there are any number of providers who can build a simple prototype part to order, a high-touch, high-fidelity prototyping partner can help shepherd your product through every phase of product development. Often, choosing to go with the lowest-cost vendor and a basic prototype may end up costing far more in the long run if it fails to uncover vital design issues (or if the vendor isn’t capable of the collaboration and timely iteration required for ongoing success). 

Delivering high-fidelity prototypes also requires deep design expertise and a diverse array of manufacturing processes that may go beyond the capabilities of many prototyping providers. For example, Empire Group offers manufacturing capabilities ranging from CNC machining, to rapid injection molding, to advanced 3D printing technologies. Beyond these technical capabilities, a high-fidelity prototyping provider needs to offer clear, transparent communication, cross-functional expertise, and the design capabilities needed to function as a true end-to-end development partner.

What’s the best way to go about finding an effective high-fidelity prototyping provider for your product? What capabilities should you be looking for? To answer these questions, we developed an in-depth checklist on “Five Crucial Questions to Ask When Sourcing Your High-Fidelity Prototypes.” Inside, we cover everything from surface finishing, to why it’s important to ensure that your prototyping partner does not rely on excessive outsourcing.

Download the Checklist: High-Fidelity Prototypes Sourcing Checklist

Empire Group provides high-touch, end-to-end product development support. Empire Group’s expertise in prototyping, product development, and rapid manufacturing allows us to offer clients a one-stop shop designed to provide rapid manufacturing as a true turnkey solution.  We work closely with clients to identify the right manufacturing approach and shepherd products from design to prototype, to production, all under the same roof.