What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn prototyping?

It can typically help to have some business management skills, such as brainstorming and business plan writing before starting to learn prototyping. This is because the ideas generally need to exist and be in at least the early stages before prototyping begins. It also typically helps to have computer skills, strong reading skills, communications skills, and good people skills. Additionally, graphic design skills can be useful for creating visual images of products so potential customers can see a realistic representation of the item that is being prototyped.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in prototyping?

People who are creative and analytical are typically best suited for roles in prototyping. This is because it generally takes creativity to develop new products, and then analytical skills can be applied to figure out ways to polish it and make it more user-friendly. People who enjoy a challenge can be well suited to this area because it can sometimes take multiple attempts to finally arrive at an end result that delivers a positive user experience. Additionally, people who are enthusiastic about using technology on a daily basis tend to be well suited for prototyping roles.

What are common career paths for someone in prototyping?

People who work in prototyping typically make either digital products or physical products. Some common job titles include prototype engineer, prototype scientist, and prototype technician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median annual salary in the US for prototype specialists who worked in software development as of 2017 was $107,600. Prototype specialists also can typically find work in fields like graphic design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and industrial design.

What topics can I study that are related to prototyping?

Some topics you can study that are related to prototyping include UX design, research techniques, and low-fidelity prototyping techniques. Software prototyping techniques could also be explored. You could study technical writing to learn about ways to prepare a written design rationale. You could also study cultural attributes that affect ways to design for specific populations. Creativity and entrepreneurship are related topics you could study if you enjoy the idea of entering into your own business venture with the prototypes you develop. Additionally, you could study specific industries and how they relate to prototyping, such as aeronautics, game design, and metallurgy.

What are the benefits of taking an online Prototyping course?

Online Prototyping courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Prototyping skills. Choose from a wide range of Prototyping courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Prototyping courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Prototyping, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Prototyping Courses - Learn Prototyping Online

Explore the Prototyping Course Catalog

Berklee
Creativity And Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Team Building, Design Thinking, Creativity, Ideation, Innovation, Creative Problem-Solving, Creative Thinking, Product Development, Collaboration, Relationship Building, Professional Networking, Strategic Thinking, Growth Mindedness, Brand Awareness, Adaptability, Empathy, Communication
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
341 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Olay
Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients
Skills you'll gain: Quality Control, Product Development, Packaging and Labeling, Quality Assurance and Control, Prototyping, Product Quality (QA/QC), New Product Development, Quality Assessment, Statistical Process Controls, Product Design, Research and Design, Product Testing, Verification And Validation, Health And Safety Standards, Personal Care, Safety Assurance, Good Manufacturing Practices, Record Keeping, Technical Documentation, Life Sciences
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
324 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado System
Requirements Engineering: Secure Software Specifications
Skills you'll gain: Requirements Elicitation, Software Design Documents, Requirements Analysis, Security Requirements Analysis, Mockups, Interviewing Skills, User Requirements Documents, Storyboarding, Functional Requirement, Goal Setting, Software Documentation, Agile Methodology, Business Requirements, Unified Modeling Language, Risk Management Framework, System Requirements, Meeting Facilitation, Prototyping, Software Development Life Cycle, Technical Documentation
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
835 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Minnesota
Lean Software Development
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Process Mapping, Kanban Principles, Lean Methodologies, Lean Manufacturing, Agile Software Development, Business Workflow Analysis, Product Development, Agile Methodology, Process Improvement, Software Development, Software Development Methodologies, Usability Testing, Continuous Improvement Process, Innovation, Product Testing, Prototyping, Waste Minimization
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
413 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado Boulder
Pressure, Force, Motion, and Humidity Sensors
Skills you'll gain: Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, PIC Microcontrollers, Electronic Hardware, Machine Controls, Design Specifications, Electronic Components, Electrical Wiring, Engineering Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
237 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Irvine
Foundations of Objective-C App Development
Skills you'll gain: Objective-C (Programming Language), iOS Development, Apple iOS, Prototyping, Mobile Development, Application Development, C (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Programming Principles, Data Structures
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
557 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Create Interactive Prototypes with Pidoco
Skills you'll gain: Wireframing, Prototyping, Interactive Design, User Experience Design, Mockups, User Centered Design, User Interface (UI), Usability
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Coursera Project Network
Design Brainstorming diagrams for businesses with Creately
Skills you'll gain: Brainstorming, Process Flow Diagrams, User Accounts, Business Process Modeling, Creative Thinking
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
University of Colorado Boulder
Sensor Manufacturing and Process Control
Skills you'll gain: Process Control, Manufacturing Processes, Manufacturing and Production, Embedded Systems, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electronic Systems, Semiconductors, Electronic Components, Performance Tuning, Vibrations, Reliability
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
287 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Fundamentos de Android
Skills you'll gain: Android Studio, Android Development, Mobile Development, Android (Operating System), Mockups, Mobile Development Tools, Software Design Patterns, Prototyping, User Interface (UI) Design, Extensible Markup Language (XML)
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
667 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California, Irvine
Programming for the Internet of Things Project
Skills you'll gain: Test Planning, Embedded Systems, Functional Requirement, Requirements Analysis, System Design and Implementation, Development Testing, Software Design, Prototyping, Systems Engineering, C and C++
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
912 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Fractal Analytics
Generative AI in User Research and Design Thinking
Skills you'll gain: User Research, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, User Experience Design, Generative AI, Data Synthesis, Business Research, User Centered Design, Artificial Intelligence, User Experience, Persona (User Experience), User Flows, Customer Insights, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Collection, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Strategic Decision-Making
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks