prototyypi

Prototyyppi is a Finnish term for an early model or sample of a product, created to test ideas, assess feasibility, and gather feedback before committing to full production. The word is derived from Greek protos 'first' and typos 'impression' or 'model', and it is widely used in Finnish design, engineering, software development, and education to describe preliminary versions of concepts or systems.

Prototypes vary in fidelity. A concept prototype (or non-functional model) communicates an idea, layout, or user flow without implementing core behavior. A functional prototype realizes essential features, enabling basic testing of interactions or performance. A high-fidelity prototype closely resembles the final product in appearance and behavior, though it may still be incomplete or non-scalable for production.

Common prototyping methods include rapid prototyping techniques such as 3D printing, CNC milling, foam or cardboard models, and visual mock-ups. For electronics, breadboards and development boards are used to test circuits; software prototypes rely on wireframes or interactive mockups. Prototyping aims to enable quick learning and iterative refinement rather than final quality.

Using prototyypi helps reduce development risk by validating design ideas with users, testing functionality, and informing decisions about materials and manufacturing. It is used across product development, industrial design, software engineering, and education, and typically precedes larger pilots or final production.