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FOR STUDENTSFOR BUSINESSES

Ideas are easy.
Ideas are cheap.


Enough with “just” ideas.


What the world needs now
are do-ers, not talkers.


It’s time for each of us to
start executing those ideas.


IDEO is prototyping
Prototyping School.

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Designed and run by
IDEO logo in black

Prototyping School is a hyper-practical hands-on program for every university student and adult, where participants work in teams to prototype and implement an idea under the mentorship of IDEO designers.

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What is prototyping?

Prototyping is the act of bringing an idea to life in the fastest way possible. Here’s how we think prototypes to be different from traditional approaches.
Prototyping with foamcore
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Engineers’ or designers’ job
Everyone’s job.
Everyone’s duty.
We live in an unprecedented era where there is very little hurdle for individuals to create something. Let’s all get to work and make this world a better place.
Prototyping with electronics
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3-month development plan
1-DAY build.
Prototyping is all about bringing your idea to life in the shortest distance possible. Think “If you were to launch your idea today, how would I do it?”
Using Shortcuts to prototype
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Gantt charts, iOS dev..
No-code and
glue gun.
When you’re prototyping, you don’t need to make them in the “correct” way. No-code tools and glue guns are your best friend. As long as it serves its purpose, all good.
Faking an experience
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Everything must work
Fake it
if that’ll do.
The primary purpose of prototyping is to see if your idea has any value. For that, only the utmost core values need to function in the first few iterations.
Showing to users
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Present your idea
Deliver
your idea.
Presenting an idea doesn’t change the world in any way. Go out to the field, hand the prototype to the users, see its true impact.

And most
importantly...

Take it easy. Start small. Hey, they’re just prototypes.
Here are some quick prototypes our designers have made for themselves.
01
prototyping a baby monitor
Design researcher Eri and her team explored various forms of baby monitors with tape and RC cars.
02
prototyping a pill case
Industrial designer Chris hacked a toolbox to make himself a vitamin pill case with 3D printed dividers.
03
prototyping aN ENGAWA
Interaction designer Dice made his family an engawa amidst COVID to make the most of their front yard.
04
prototyping a storage for vacuum heads
Mechanical engineer Kenta 3D printed custom heads for his vacuum cleaner to access them easily while cleaning.
Eri's prototype imagePS block in bluePS block in blue
Chris's prototype imagePS block in bluePS block in blue
Dice's prototype imagePS block in bluePS block in blue
Kenta's prototype imagePS block in bluePS block in blue
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OUr mission
To equip everyone on this planet with the ability to prototype and execute their ideas, not just dream about them.
For students
For adults
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Prototyping School is an out-of-school program for university students where you will work in teams to prototype and implement an idea under the mentorship of IDEO designers.
apply
Anyone can apply to Prototype School.
No specific degree or experience required.
Work on a project
in teams
You will be prototyping solutions for a real business challenge. IDEO designers will work side by side with you to help you bring your ideas to life in every way possible.
Showcase your
outcomes in a biannual gallery
Each cohort will showcase their project outcome in a biannual gallery where we invite corporate HR/recruiters. We're hoping this will be an opportunity for hires and internships for both parties.
* The details of the program may change
We have opened applications for the 1st cohort.
Learn more
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Prototyping School for Business is an intense, hands-on and hyper-practical training program for prototyping connected products of today. Let us share you everything we learned about prototyping with modern tools.
Week 1
prototyping
functional apps
Creating UI mock-ups has become easy. But so has creating functional apps. You will learn how to use no-code tools to easily whip up apps that actually work.
Week 2
prototyping
IoT devices
Everything is becoming connected, and for that we must also adapt the way we prototype to beyond screens. You will learn how to quickly prototype wearable devices using no code tools like Shortcuts and Origami.
Week 3
prototyping
VIDEOS WITH AI
With the amount of information that we absorb on a day to day basis, it is essential to know how to quickly turn ideas into concise, attractive videos. You will learn how to collaborate with AI to tell effective stories using cutting edge tools.
Week 4-6
individual projects
+ demo day
In the second half your team will work on prototyping actual concepts from individual projects with weekly check-ins with IDEO designers. In the last week you will demo the prototypes.
* The details of the program may change
We have opened requests for
Prototyping School for Business.
learn more
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For starters
we’re holding
a series of
workshops.
We’re still prototyping Prototyping School. To stay true to our mission, we’re starting with a prototype: a series of half day workshops. Come join what it feels like to spend a day at Prototyping School.
Please note that all workshops will be facilitated in Japanese.
PS number one
Prototyping
functional apps
Tue Nov 1th, 14:00-18:00
FINISHED
Creating UI mock ups have become easy, but you can’t test the true impact of your idea without having the users actually use it. In this workshop we will use no-code tools to whip up apps that actually work, and aim to empower participants to stop talking about apps and start making them from the next day.
GET TICKET
PS number two
Prototyping
IoT devices
Tue Nov 8th, 14:00-18:00
FINISHED
Everything is getting connected to the Internet, and for that we must step out of screens and create a holistic experience with physical interfaces. In this workshop we will be using foam cores, Wizard of Oz, and even use iPhone’s built in app “Shortcuts” to whip up a smart camera that you can actually have people use, and empower you to start trying out the "what ifs" in daily life.
GET TICKET
PS number three
Prototyping
stories with AI
Tue Nov 15th, 09:00-13:00
FINISHED
We consume tremendous amounts of information every day, and being able to create eye catching, immersive stories through video is a powerful skill to have today. In this workshop we will use various AI tools to whip up videos and empower you to communicate any ideas through videos from the next day.
GET TICKET
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Prototyping
PHYSICAL MOCK UPS
Tue MAR 7th, 14:00-18:00
FINISHED
While the mindset of “rapid prototyping” using easily accessible objects and materials has spread over the past few years, we have also come to witness that there is quite a big gap between the outputs of rapid prototyping and something that is presentable to actual users. In this workshop we will practice the various techniques in prototyping with foam core, and empower you to start making beautiful and sturdy physical mock ups.
GET TICKET
PS number five
Prototyping
WITH 3D PRINTERS
Tue MAR 14th, 14:00-18:00
FINISHED
While 3D printers are undoubtedly a powerful tool to have when prototyping, it is also undeniable that it has not yet been able to provide the wide impact that it was supposed to bring. In this workshop, we will share how and when 3D printing can leverage the prototyping process through hands-on exercises, and empower you to become able to choose 3D printing as an option when executing ideas.
GET TICKET
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Prototyping
VISUAL IDENTITY
Tue MAR 28th, 14:00-18:00
FINISHED
As tools like Canva and DALLE enable everyone to create visually pleasing materials, the next thing that is needed is the ability to unite them all under the one coordinated theme, otherwise known as visual identity. In this workshop, we will utilize multiple tools to convert an idea in your head to words, shapes, colors and photos, and empower you to pitch any idea under one powerful identity.
GET TICKET
GET A SEAT
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Contact tokyo@ideo.com for any other inquiries.
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