Lean Startup and a Culture of Experiment Design. Medical Services Provider Case.
Don’t show me a picture.
Show me a prototype.
To help a client in the medical industry overcome these challenges, I designed a deck of Experiment Cards (sneak peak below). This gamified tool guides employees in choosing the right experiments for their inquiries, teaches prototyping techniques, and encourages creative exploration. The game also fosters friendly competition, making experimentation fun and engaging.
The result? Hundreds of experiments and prototypes validated assumptions and opened new pathways for innovation.
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Remember when you were a child, experimenting with toys and designs just to see what would happen? That’s the essence of prototyping: it starts with curiosity. You build something for yourself to test an idea, then share it with colleagues, and eventually with customers.
But in large organizations, where the culture often values “being right” the first time, prototyping can feel unnatural. Why build a prototype if you’re already sure of your idea? That mindset makes fostering a culture of experimentation one of the toughest challenges in innovation.
Here are three common hurdles I see when it comes to prototyping:
Admitting Uncertainty: Prototyping means acknowledging you don’t know if your idea will work; a difficult step for many.
Embracing Imperfection: Prototypes are often rough, made of sketches, mock-ups, or simple models. Employees worry that showing customers something imperfect could harm the brand.
Lack of Know-How: Experimentation isn’t typically part of the corporate playbook. Employees are trained to get things right quickly, not to test and learn.
