What is rapid prototyping primarily used for?

Rapid prototyping is primarily used to quickly create physical models of a design. This process allows designers and engineers to transform digital designs into tangible prototypes in a relatively short amount of time. The primary goal is to evaluate the design’s functionality, form, and usability before moving on to more expensive and time-consuming production methods. By making these physical models, teams can test ideas, identify potential issues, and gather feedback from stakeholders at an early stage in the design process. This iterative nature of rapid prototyping helps refine concepts more effectively and ultimately leads to better final products.

Other choices relate to different aspects of product development and strategy. While creating final production models is an important part of design, it typically occurs after the rapid prototyping phase. Improving marketing strategies and assessing market demand are essential components of bringing a product to market, but they do not directly involve the creation of physical models. Thus, rapid prototyping focuses specifically on the quick development of models that facilitate design testing and iteration.