Conceptdoing

Conceptdoing refers to a practice in design and innovation that prioritizes turning concepts into concrete actions through rapid prototyping and experimentation, blurring the line between ideation and implementation. It emphasizes moving from ideas to tangible tests rather than extended planning.

The term is used in contemporary design and startup discourse, with no single canonical origin. It emerged as a counterpoint to extensive deliberation, stressing actionable steps and learning through doing rather than theory alone.

Core characteristics include rapid prototyping, small-scale experiments, explicit learning goals, and iterative refinement. Teams generate lightweight representations of ideas, test them under constraints, observe outcomes, and adapt based on what is learned.

Applications span product development, software design, education, and organizational change initiatives. It supports agile workflows, design sprints, and lean startup practices by fostering quick feedback loops and continuous experimentation.

Criticisms note that conceptdoing can downplay necessary research or user study and may reward speed over quality. Effective practice requires clear hypotheses, careful measurement, and disciplined iteration to avoid biased results and unsound conclusions.

Related concepts include design thinking, rapid prototyping, lean startup, and action research. Conceptdoing is often discussed as a complement to more thorough upfront research, providing a pragmatic pathway from concept to validated action.