PROTOTYPING PLAYBOOK

A guide to help you speed the process, reduce cost, and

help design and build the right thing.
 11+ YEARS
ABOUT CANTINA

WHAT WE
ARE ABOUT. 80+ EMPLOYEES

Can!na is a strategic design and development

agency. We helps organiza!ons realize a future 1000s PROJECTS
where technology amplifies human poten!al
and ability to support a more just, healthy, and
sustainable world. STRATEGY + DESIGN
& BUILD

2 cantina.co
 FIND YOUR OBJECTIVE
STEP 1 Find the answer to one ques!on
OVERVIEW that needs to be solved.

STRIVE FOR FOCUS &

SPEED ABOVE ALL ELSE.
IDEATE
STEP 2
Sketch out lots of ideas that
Prototypes are use for idea!on, explora!on, could solve the problem at hand.

and communica!ng concepts in design for

simula!ng and tes!ng, and refinement before
implementa!on.
DECIDE
STEP 3
Hone in on the solu!on that
carries the most promise.

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 PROTOTYPE THE PROTOTYPE
STEP 4 Visualize what you are building
OVERVIEW before you build it.

STRIVE FOR FOCUS &

SPEED ABOVE ALL ELSE.
BUILD IT
STEP 5
Bring the solu!on to life in
Prototypes are use for idea!on, explora!on, physical form.

and communica!ng concepts in design for

simula!ng and tes!ng, and refinement before
implementa!on.
SIMULATE IT
STEP 6
Tell a story.

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 STEP 1 FIND YOUR OBJECTIVE
Find the answer to the one ques!on that needs to be solved.

PROCESS
STEP 1
List a ton of user needs. SUPPLIES:
FIND YOUR Sharpies
Post-It Notes
OBJECTIVE Rank them by urgency and impact.

Decide on the most important one. SKILLS:

Analysis
Priori!za!on

OUTCOME
A problem statement.

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 STEP 2 IDEATE
Sketch out lots of ideas that could solve the problem at hand.

PROCESS
STEP 2
Individually think up a reasonable SUPPLIES:
IDEATE number of ideas within a set !me (e.g., Sharpies
50 ideas in 5 mins). Post-It Notes

OUTCOME SKILLS:

Many solu!ons with nuggets 
 Crea!vity

of brilliance. Visualiza!on

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 STEP 3 DECIDE
Hone in on the solu!on that carriers the most weight.

PROCESS
STEP 3
Discuss your ideas as a group.
DECIDE SUPPLIES:
Dot s!ckers
Vote on your favorites.

Most votes win. SKILLS:

Communica!on
Priori!za!on

OUTCOME
A single solu!on to be prototyped.

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 STEP 4 PROTOTYPE THE PROTOTYPE
Visualize what you are building and build it.

PROCESS
STEP 4 SUPPLIES:
Think with your hands.
PROTOTYPE 
 Paper

Cardboard

THE PROTOTYPE Sketch or build a low fidelity version. Sharpies, Tape

Iterate.
SKILLS:
Crea!vity

Visualiza!on
OUTCOME Priori!za!on

A throwaway version of the real prototype.

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 STEP 5 BUILD IT
Bring the solu!on to life in physical form.

PROCESS
STEP 5
SUPPLIES:
Think with your hands.
BUILD IT Play-Doh, Tape,
Sharpies, Foam-

Work together in fall groups. board, Post-its

Find the flaws and fix them along SKILLS:

the way. Teamwork

Crea!vity 

Flexibility
OUTCOME
Your prototype.

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 STEP 6 PROTOTYPE THE PROTOTYPE
Tell a story.

PROCESS
STEP 6
SUPPLIES:
Script the story of your solu!on in
SIMULATE IT ac!on.
Your prototype

actors
Assign your actors.

Present to your audience. SKILLS:

Storytelling
Public Speaking 

Empathy
OUTCOME
An audience that understands your idea.

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 01 Why are we doing this?
REFECT

ASK THE TOUGH

02 What have we learned?
QUESTIONS
03 What assump!ons have we
Asking these ques!ons will help to validated?

make sure you stay on the right track.

04 What have other people

learned?

05 What will we try next?

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 YOU DID IT!

Looking for help with rapid-prototyping for your team or project?

Please reach out, we’d love to chat.

320 Congress Street

hello@can!na.co 1-800-775-2714
Boston, MA 02210