Practicing prototyping within Transition Design: materials, competences and meanings

Recent research highlights the potential of prototyping for promoting sustainable transitions. However, scholars argue that it is essential to modify, and possibly redefine, the conventional use of prototyping to address complex system transformations. This paper enhances the understanding of prototyping within Transition Design for sustainability. Drawing on Social Practice Theory and practice-oriented design, we conceive prototyping as a design practice and define it through three key components: materials, competences, and meanings. This perspective shifts the emphasis from individual prototyping artefacts to a more comprehensive, contextual understanding of the practice, aligning with the systemic nature of transitions. The empirical findings derive from participant observations, archival analysis, and interviews with twelve researchers and practitioners involved in prototyping activities for sustainable landscape transitions, as well as two academic experts. Our thematic analysis reveals significant insights into the evolution of prototyping practices, offering an initial conceptual framework for its application in transitions.