Prototyping

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

This 6 EC course is for students who are interested in learning how ideas can be translated into physical prototypes, from initial concept to a working model, without requiring prior experience in making. It is spread across blocks 4 and 5 and focuses on prototype development through a combination of hands-on workshops and collaborative project work.

In the first phase, students develop practical skills through dedicated workshops on laser cutting, 3D printing, soldering, and working with microcontrollers.

In the second phase, students work in interdisciplinary teams on a design challenge. The assignment is to improve an existing prototype or design a new prototype for a specific end user. A concise Design Thinking approach is applied, focusing on understanding user needs and iterative design refinement.

Throughout the course, the UvA Makerspace serves as the primary working environment. Students have access to facilities such as 3D printers, soldering stations, and electronic tools to develop and test their prototypes. Each team is supported by a Makerspace mentor who provides targeted feedback and monitors progress.

The course concludes with a symposium in which each team presents the design process and the final prototype, including key design choices and technical outcomes.

Study materials

Syllabus

• Provided during the tutorials

Practical training material

• 3D printers, Soldering equipment, Arduino, Basic tools 

Software

• Fusion 360

Objectives

• Design digital files in Fusion 360 suitable for 3D printing and laser cutting.
• Operate a 3D printer and fabricate components for a prototype.
• Apply basic soldering techniques to build a simple electronic circuit.
• Program an electronic circuit for a prototype using a microcontroller or single board computer.
• Develop a prototype based on defined design requirements and user needs.
• Iteratively improve a prototype based on testing and application of the initial design.
• Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Teaching methods

• Hoorcollege
• Laptopcollege
• (Computer)practicum
• Zelfstudie
• Presentatie/symposium

Learning activities

Attendance

Additional requirements for this course:

To pass this course, the student needs to have completed the tutorials: 3D printing, Laser cutting, Soldering and Arduino

The course will be graded on the basis of the quality of the prototype, the final report and the presentations. This will be assessed in the final three lectures/presentations 

Assessment

The course will be graded on the basis of the development of the prototype 1) research skills 2) project work 3) collaboration skills, (1,2 and 3 , 55%) 4) final report (25%), 5) Midterm presentation (5%) and 6) final presentation/prototype demonstration (15%). The assessment of the grades is based on rubrics that are communicated in advance to the students. 

Inspection of assessed work

The rubrics on which the grading is based are communicated in advance and the filled in rubric will  be commincated to the students when the grade is communicated. 

Assignments

The students perform the workshops individually and have to have completed the workshops to finish the course. The workshops are not graded.  A tutorial teacher will give formative feedback on how to operate the novel prototyping tools.

The students perform a group project in which a robot is designed. The students will recieve both formative and summative feedback on how the project is conducted by mentors and the course coordinator. 

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Honours information

This course can be used as an honours course. 

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. P.R. Linnebank