The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of Silicon University organized a workshop on ‘Prototype Design and Development’ on 5 March 2025.
The objective of the workshop was to provide participants with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in prototype design and development, highlighting its importance in transforming innovative ideas into tangible products.
The session was conducted by Mr. Chittaranjan Pattanaik, former Regional Coordinator of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad. He provided deep insights into the crucial role of prototyping in product development. Drawing from his own innovation journey, Mr. Pattanaik highlighted how prototyping acts as a vital bridge between an idea and its realization, enabling developers to visualize their concepts and evaluate both technical feasibility and market potential. He emphasized that prototyping is not a one-time task but an ongoing, iterative process that thrives on research, testing, and continuous user feedback, ultimately leading to more refined and market-ready solutions.
The workshop covered several key aspects of prototype development, including establishing proof of concept to validate ideas, creating models to test functionality and user appeal, and making iterative improvements based on feedback. Mr. Pattanaik also emphasized the importance of material selection and design adjustments to enhance manufacturability and profitability. He underscored that these thoughtful refinements are essential to transforming innovative ideas into successful, market-ready products.
In conclusion, Mr. Pattanaik highlighted that a physical prototype provides a tangible and practical understanding of a product’s dimensions, design, and functionality — an experience that cannot be fully conveyed through drawings or theoretical models. He reiterated that prototyping allows innovators to identify potential challenges early and refine their ideas through hands-on exploration and testing.
The workshop saw active participation from sixty five students and faculty members. Designed with interactive games and hands-on activities, the session successfully engaged attendees and fostered a dynamic learning environment. Participants were encouraged to view prototyping not merely as a development step, but as an essential process in transforming innovative ideas into viable, market-ready products.
