Prototype and Test Your Ideas
Transform your best concepts into tangible prototypes. Test them with real users, gather feedback, and iterate quickly to refine solutions that enhance the student work–learning experience.
Why This Matters
Designing a better student employment experience is exciting — but great ideas only become reality when they’re tested. Prototyping is how your campus turns concepts into action. It’s about learning by doing, not waiting for the perfect plan.
In the Work+ Collective Journey, prototyping gives your team the space to try out small, low-risk versions of your ideas before scaling them. This helps you learn what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to be adjusted for your unique campus context.
By testing early and often, you build confidence, uncover insights, and keep momentum going. It’s not about perfection — it’s about progress.
Your Goal
To turn your top design ideas into small, testable prototypes that can be implemented quickly, evaluated thoughtfully, and refined collaboratively.
This involves:
- Choosing one or two focus areas from your design opportunities
- Creating simple, low-cost prototypes that can be tested within a few weeks
- Gathering feedback from students and supervisors
- Using what you learn to refine and strengthen your design
Getting Started
Step 1: Choose What to Prototype
Look back at your “moments that matter” or the key opportunities you identified in the Design the Student Experience phase. Which ideas are most feasible to test right now?
Ask:
- Will this idea directly improve the student or supervisor experience?
- Can we try it within one semester or hiring cycle?
- Do we have the people and resources to test it safely?
Examples of prototype ideas:
- A new reflection prompt added to onboarding
- A feedback checklist for supervisors
- A short student-led training session
- A job posting template that highlights learning outcomes
Start small — the goal is to learn quickly, not launch a full-scale program.
Step 2: Build a Simple Version
Once you’ve chosen your focus, create a lightweight version of your idea. This could be:
- A digital mock-up of a tool or worksheet
- A one-page draft of a new process
- A short script for a reflection conversation
- A visual journey map showing the new flow of the student experience
Prototypes should be easy to adjust. Think of them as “drafts” your team can learn from, not final products.
Step 3: Test With Real Users
Invite student employees, supervisors, or HR staff to try your prototype in a real setting. Encourage honest feedback — what felt useful, confusing, or missing?
You can gather feedback through quick surveys, informal interviews, or short debrief discussions. Focus on:
- What worked well
- What didn’t work as expected
- What users would change if they could
Document these insights as you go. The more feedback you collect, the easier it will be to refine your design.
Step 4: Reflect, Refine, and Repeat
After testing, meet with your team to review what you learned. Ask:
- Did our prototype make the experience easier, clearer, or more meaningful?
- What surprised us?
- What should we adjust before testing again?
Make revisions, run a second test if needed, and capture your lessons learned. These reflections help you build stronger, more inclusive solutions that can scale during the Launch phase.
Step 5: Share and Celebrate
Even small tests deserve recognition. Share what you tried and what you learned with your wider campus community.
Consider posting a quick summary, holding a “demo day,” or inviting students and supervisors to share their stories.
Celebrating progress keeps the energy high and reminds everyone that change is happening — one prototype at a time.
Reflection Prompt
What’s one idea your team could prototype right now that would make student employment more meaningful, equitable, or connected to learning?
Suggested Resources
- Prototype Planning Worksheet (editable in Google Docs or Miro)
- Quick Feedback Template for Student Testers
- Example: ASU Work+ Supervisor Reflection Pilot
- Video: “Testing Small, Learning Fast – Design Thinking in Practice”
Takeaway
Prototyping is where ideas come to life. It’s how insights turn into action and action leads to change. When campuses make space to experiment, reflect, and improve, student employment becomes more than a job — it becomes a living laboratory for learning, equity, and growth.