When service designers want to try out an idea, they try to create a first quick and shitty draft. In service design jargon, we call this a prototype. One of the quickest ways to create this is to use the same tools that kids use: paper, pens, scissors, and glue.
With these very basic tools, service designers create so-called paper prototypes. These show in a rough format the service idea that the service designers want to try out. Paper prototypes work really well to test out ideas for apps, websites, interior architecture ideas, and basically any other thing.
The goal here is simply to make the idea or solution tangible and visible to the user. So that you don’t just use words but have a common shared image with the user when you are presenting them with the new solution. The user can then simply pinpoint to one part of the prototype and explain why this doesn’t work for them.
As your prototype is done on paper, it’s really quick to adapt based on the feedback you get from your users.
Going further
This article is part of my free course "What is Service Design?" which helps you to discover what Service Design is and why it is powerful to enhance the customer experience.