Rapid Prototyping in Design Education: A Comparative Study of Rapid Prototyping and Traditional Model Construction

To evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid prototyping into a curriculum, a study was conducted requiring students to conceive a design and create a model. Students were randomly selected to be given access to the rapid prototype or to create the models by hand. The students\u27 models were evaluated on scale, design, and craftsmanship. Students participated in a survey consisting of perceptions of design feedback and difficulties as well as interests and affective traits. The study utilized qualitative data investigating the instructors\u27 perceptions prior to implementing rapid prototyping into the curriculum and its correlation to observed events. The study found statistical differences in scale and craftsmanship scores, as well as monetary and time investments with rapid prototyping producing better models at a higher cost with less time invested. The data also suggested rapid prototyping changed the design process as well as shifting affective dispositions within the project