A Gestalt Approach to Teaching and Learning by Prototyping

This paper describes a teaching approach used at both Politecnico di Milano, Department of Design and the University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. In this teaching approach, students learn about furniture and product design by prototyping a full-size working prototype, in tandem and with the integration of other design methods, in order to better see and learn - underscoring the Gestalt idea: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Different kinds of prototypes are used throughout the design process to verify, as touchstones, every step of the product’s development, providing feedback and suggestions according to shape, function and usability. The paper intends to underline the importance of the prototype in the process of creating artifacts as a practical feasibility of the concept, along with a palette of designers’ tools including sketching, drawing, 3D modelling and 3D printing.