makettes

Makettes, also spelled makette, are small-scale models or mock-ups used to visualize, test, and communicate design concepts before full-scale fabrication. The term is a variant of maquette, from the French word for a representation or mock-up. In English, maquette is the standard form, while makette is encountered in some regional usages and among hobbyists.

Applications include architecture and urban planning, where maquettes help study form, massing, light, and spatial relationships. In sculpture and industrial design, makettes serve as preliminary studies for larger works or finished products. In film, theater, and special effects, maquettes or makettes are built to plan sets, props, and camera angles, and to assist with lighting and composition decisions. They also function as presentation aids for clients and stakeholders during development.

Construction and materials vary widely. Maquettes can be made from foam, cardboard, wood, clay, plaster, resin, or 3D-printed components. They may be fully solid, shell constructions, or skeletal models, sometimes with realistic finishes to simulate texture or color. Techniques range from hand-sculpting and assembly to digital-to-physical workflows that convert 3D models into physical scales.

See also: scale model, prototype, diorama, mock-up.