From concept to finished product: the stages
Concept, prototype and finished product are often used as synonyms, when each corresponds to a distinct stage.
Three stages, three different goals
The concept formalises the idea and its broad constraints without yet making it physical. The prototype concretely tests one or several technical hypotheses drawn from that concept. The finished product incorporates all validated adjustments and meets every real-use criterion, including finish and sometimes regulatory compliance.
Why respecting this order avoids costly steps backward
Jumping straight from concept to finished product, without an intermediate prototype phase, risks discovering flaws late that would have been caught much earlier and cheaper on a simple prototype. Each stage exists precisely to limit the risk of the next one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go straight from concept to finished product?
Not recommended for somewhat complex projects, at the risk of discovering costly flaws late.
How long usually separates these three stages?
It varies greatly with complexity, from a few weeks to several months for a more ambitious project.