Mockup, Prototype, First Article

Exhibition and experience projects are like any custom process of making. We want a way to see representations of the final thing — before it’s final. 

Enter mockups, prototypes and first articles.

But these terms often get confused. Let’s fix that.

Mockup:
Non-functional, visual representation of part of an installation, focusing on aesthetics and design only. Helps visualize final appearance and structure. Cheaply made. Discarded eventually.

Prototype:
Working part or model of an installation, demonstrating both design and function. Last step before doing full-scale fabrication. Less cheap. Also discarded eventually.

Those are the common ones. But there’s another:

First Article:
A single initial unit fabricated completely according to design. Fully working — and useable in the installation. Two benefits: first, a great test of the real thing (because it is the real thing). Second, if it passes muster, you can use it it — and you don’t have to pay to build it twice.

Here’s the thing:
Mockups, prototypes and first articles are all critical parts of any process of making complex custom things. If we know which is which, we’re a step ahead.

Warmly,
Jonathan

P.S. Those three ideas above are in chronological order within a project.