Prototyping and experiential knowledge. Unfolding shifting views on the use of prototypes in design research

This volume examines the evolving role of prototypes in design research, emphasizing their function as intentional and transient objects that facilitate the transition from abstract concepts to concrete design outcomes. Through a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives, the book investigates how prototyping contributes to knowledge generation, design process development, and the articulation of experiential understanding. The chapters are organized into four thematic parts – Envisioning, Exploring, Comprehending, and Developing the Design Process – each addressing distinct aims and contexts of prototyping. Contributions include studies on low-fidelity tactics, collaborative learning environments, multisensory material translation, biodesign practices, data engagement, and political dimensions of design. These inquiries foreground prototyping as a situated, relational, and epistemic practice. The volume concludes that prototyping in design research extends beyond technical validation to encompass pedagogical, ecological, and speculative dimensions. It demonstrates that prototypes can serve as vehicles for interdisciplinary collaboration, critical reflection, and the negotiation of complex design challenges.