103.30 PLAYING PRETEND
Roleplaying is a common approach to prototyping. Because you can rely on your imagination, you save time you’d otherwise spend making artifacts to test your idea. By pretending, you can quickly rule out things that won’t work or aren’t compelling to others.
Source: Inspired by The Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
ITERATION
PLAYING PRETEND
Preparation
This is a two or three-person activity.
It takes about 20 minutes.
You don't need anything, but if you have a prototype or a place in mind, involve them.
Instructions
Find a person to play with (someone you trust and can be silly with is best. It doesn't have to be a colleague).
Agree on a scenario you will act out and pretend. Ideally, this scenario will help you understand how your idea or prototype will be used and identify issues you haven't thought of yet.
Tips
It's okay to be awkward or for it to feel forced.
Roleplaying can be a powerful way to quickly test underlying assumptions without spending much time making things.
Extend
Roleplaying is even better with folks who might use the idea or space you're making.
Consider
What did you learn? How viable is this idea?
What can you immediately change or tweak to improve the idea or prototype?
What can you let go of?
