Rapid prototyping involves building quick versions of a proposed policy, product, or service and discarding many to find the best options. It can be done through role playing or paper models and creates buy-in while providing fast, cheap results. Other prototyping methods include ongoing beta testing, in-house simulations, and citizen-centered co-design. Prototyping helps manage risks, empower staff, challenge assumptions, identify new opportunities through diverse perspectives, and test viability at low cost to create more appropriate final designs. An example of policy prototyping is exploring scenarios for complex family situations through tabletop exercises.

1. Policy prototyping
(Not just dysons and post its)
Alice.Casey@nesta.org.uk
Brenton.Caffin@nesta.org.uk

2. Part of a process…
Adapted from the Open Book of Social Innovation,
Young Foundation and Nesta

3. Why prototype?
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Make ideas tangible VS documentation only
Fail early at low cost VS large scale pilots
Use diverse ‘stakeholder’ views VS go it alone
Get relevant, workable ideas VS unknown

7. Types of prototyping
Type
Constraints
Benefits
Rapid prototyping • Time
(ref. hackdays and • Diverse attendance is crucial
accelerator days)
to success
• Commitment to be
accountable to diverse group
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Ongoing beta (ref. • Budget
kaizen, GDS)
• Culture of ‘Delivered’
• ‘Mistakes’ made in public
• Flexible resourcing
• Collaboration and collective
responsibility to improve
Acceleration of testing
Faster iterations
See results quickly, cheaply
Create buy in across diverse,
relevant group
In house ‘on
paper’ (ref.
personas,
roleplay )
• No direct citizen testing = less • Quickly iterate a number of
direct viability testing
ideas
• Needs ability to take on diff.
• Quick, very cheap results
perspectives – use facilitator?
Citizen centred
(co-design)
• Careful citizen engagement,
on sensitive issues
• Higher staff time investment
in ongoing engagement
• Direct citizen engagement = fast
feedback on actual viability
• Diverse inputs may help ID new
opportunities

8. Are you already ‘prototyping’?
Method
Alpha/Beta phases
Description
Rapid prototyping
This involves building cheap, quick and multiple versions of a proposed service or
product then discarding many to find front-runners. It can be done ‘on paper’,
through role playing or using 3D models.
Co-design
Working in close partnership with all relevant stakeholders to explore and develop
a design for a policy, product or service.
Scenario building
Researching specific real world scenarios and inviting relevant staff to either use
‘tabletop’ planning, discussion or acting out to explore how complex scenarios
would play out in specific circumstances.
Piloting
Implementing a full or partial new service or strategy in a limited number of areas
before rolling out that service or strategy in a modified form.
Cost benefit analysis
A primarily quantitative approach to assessing whether or not to proceed with a
given strategy or design. A value is assigned to costs and benefits; the balance is
compared.
Blueprinting
Drawing from design thinking, this method involves mapping out user journeys to
understand key points in which design changes can be made to improve outcomes.
Ethnography
In-depth observation of relevant stakeholders in their own environment to better
understand ‘revealed’ behaviour that may impact a chosen strategy.
Logic models
Creating a step-by step rationale for taking a particular course of action. Mapping
out possible results of decisions in a logical order to achieve an end impact.
Originating in digital services, this refers to an ongoing iteration of design. The first,
alpha stage involves creating a minimum viable version of a service and testing with
users. In the beta stage it is refined continuously based on user feedback and
results of live testing of specific design features.

9. Example – Complex Families

10. Potential benefits in policy making
1. Risk and resource management
2. Staff empowerment; encourage initiative
3. Wider perspective on the problem–
challenging assumptions
4. ID new perspectives + opportunities
5. Low cost research + viability testing
6. Raise likelihood of appropriate design
7. Horizon scanning