mockup

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The shuttle sitting outside the Space Shuttle America ride is an example of a mockup.

In manufacturing and design, a mockup is a scale or full-size model of a design or device, used for teaching, demonstration, evaluating a design, promotion, and other purposes. A mockup is called a prototype if it provides at least part of the functionality of a system and enables testing of a design.^[1]

Applications

Mockups are used virtually everywhere a new product is designed. A few specific examples are the following:

Systems engineering

Mockups and prototypes are not so cleanly distinguished in software and systems engineering, where mockups are a way of prototyping user interfaces on paper or in computer images. A software mockup will look like the real thing, but will not do useful work beyond what the user sees. In many cases it is best to design the user interface before source code is written or hardware is built, to avoid having to go back and make expensive changes.

Early layouts of a World Wide Web site or pages are often called mockups. Software used to create these include iPlotz, Mockup Screens, and Microsoft Visio.

Military acquisition

Mockups are an integral part of the military acquisition process. Mockups are often used to test human factors and aerodynamics, for example.^[2] In this context, mockups include wire-frame models.

Consumer goods

Mockups are used in the consumer goods industry as part of the product development process, where dimensions, human factors, overall impression, and commercial art are tested in marketing research.

Furniture and cabinetry

Mockups are commonly required by designers, architects, and end users for custom furniture and cabinetry.^[3][4] The intention is often to produce a full sized replica, using inexpensive materials in order to verify a design. Mockups are often used to determine the proportions of the piece, relating to various dimensions of the piece itself, or to fit the piece into a specific space or room. The ability to see how the design of the piece relates to the rest of the space is also an important factor in determining size and design.

When designing a functional piece of furniture, such as a desk or table, mockups can be used to test whether they suit typical human shapes and sizes. Designs that fail to consider these issues may not be practical to use. Mockups can also be used to test color, finish, and design details which cannot be visualized from the initial drawings and sketches. Mockups used for this purpose can be on a reduced scale.

The cost of making mockups is often more than repaid by the savings made by avoiding going into production with a design which needs improvement.^{[citation needed]}

References

See also

• Digital mockup
• Human-in-the-Loop
• Military dummy
• Operations research
• Pilot experiment

External links

• Network Manager propose improvement mockup image
• Mockup Screens