Juan,

The 3D renderings, drawings and descriptions are fine. If you are presented to the sponsor, they may request a prototype from you to test your idea to see if the concept does what you say it will do.

Best wishes to you!

Chris,

Thanks. I’m guessing the sponsor doesn’t see the idea until the final step in the 7-step process?

Correct. Only the ideas that make it to 7 are presented to the search sponsor.

Juan,

A prototype is not necessary. However, I think it is important. If you can make a proof of concept prototype, that would be very helpful to show that your product really does work as you thought. I can’t tell you how many of my ideas I have had to rethink when I sat down to make a prototype. Some of my simplest ideas didn’t work the way I thought they would and I have had to make changes to the design. Again, it’s not necessary, but it can help.

Margaret,

Thanks for the insight!

Juan

Margaret – I totally agree! The product I submitted in BB&B’s Women of Invention worked out great in my head, but I found problems when I drew it. Then when I made the prototype, I had to redesign as I went, as I realized what would work and what wouldn’t. What works on paper doesn’t always work in reality!

it’s like this: I come up with an idea and want to share it of course with my only auditorium – my husband. let say during dinner time I say, dear, i came up with an idea, it is a new version of a green sprinkler system using rain water. Rain water goes to a huge barrel. There is a hose on the bottom, there is a solar panel on top, there is a base with wheel and the timer. Husband looks puzzled; “Can you show me a drawing?”-he says. “Sure”, so I do the drawing, explaining once again. He says, “Hmm…what exactly these wheels are for? And what is that on top?” Knowing my husband’s ability to understand me not; I run to grab a box with our son’s clay, and as quickly as I can I build a something I call rought prototype. “A-a, alright, now I understand. Mm, I don’t think it’ll work, because…” etc.