Transitioning from Abstractness to Concreteness through Prototyping

Looking at the role of prototyping in design research, it supports the generation of both experiential and theoretical knowledge. It promotes the collaboration of designer-researchers with stakeholders from any other disciplines as long as design facilitates the passage from abstractness to concreteness. The passage is supported by physical, digital, and/or virtual prototypes that enable exploring and envisioning research phases. Ultimately, they promote understanding and, consequently, generate new knowledge. The intensity and nature of the prototype used in a research project depend on the research questions and context.

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Suggested Citation: Ferraris, S. D., & Nimkulrat, N. (2025). Transitioning from Abstractness to Concreteness through Prototyping. In N. Nimkulrat, S. D. Ferraris, & F. Mattioli (Eds.), Prototyping and Experiential Knowledge: Unfolding Shifting Views on the Use of Prototypes in Design Research (pp. 13–29). FrancoAngeli.