Squiggly Careers A Practical Guide to Prototyping at Work
Mar 10, 2026
Snowy New York scenes set the stage for a deep dive into prototyping at work. They unpack a four-part framework for turning ideas into tangible, testable prototypes. Practical tips cover who to involve, making multiple mock-ups, real-user testing, and handling tough feedback. They also explore ownership, decision points and when to invest in prototyping for high-value projects.
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Where Prototyping Fits Versus Experiments
- Prototyping sits between quick experiments and continual improvement as a more considered, team-driven process.
- Experiments are fast and low-barrier; prototypes require building tangible versions and following stages to reduce risk before scaling.
Use Nesta's Four Stage Prototype Process
- Follow Nesta's four-stage prototyping framework: groundwork, specification, testing and iterating, then learning and deciding.
- Treat stages as distinct with clear start/finish so the team knows when to stop building and start testing.
Listener's Diary Sparked A Prototype Idea
- The hosts used a listener's hacked physical diary as a seed idea for prototyping a Squiggly Career Development Diary.
- Katie Barnes's photo sparked debate over physical versus digital formats and whether it should be yearly or quarterly.
