Prototyping: A Case For Failure

March 26, 2021

By Andrea Yang

There are times when we get wrapped up in our own heads so convinced of our own genius that we cannot listen to a voice of reason. Our hubris blinds us to the facts that would be plain to any other person and it is at this point that we ought to be wary of ourselves. It is at these points that I think we should fail.

Our program requires us to attend monthly industry meetings where we learn from professionals who can advise us on our work. Back in February of 2021, we had the opportunity to speak with a Microsoft representative and a representative from a venture capital corporation. Among the many informative pieces of advice they gave us, one stood out to me. They said that early failure is not bad and, in fact, they expect failure.

Honestly, it is a bit difficult for me to embrace this idea. I admit that I am a perfectionist. I cannot relax unless I meet the expectations I set for myself. Even after reading about the importance of failure on the journey to success, I continue to have difficulty accepting failure as a necessity. I’m sure many other people do as well.

That was why I attempted one final prototype for our product...the day before the first draft of our thesis paper was due.

Realistically, I knew that it was unlikely to create any difference in our results. There is only so much a person can do with a one-week deadline. But I held out hope because I had so much built-up stress surrounding this project. I had such a strong desire to make this company, this product, this creation perfect that I had developed tunnel vision on the last day. My philosophy for a long time has been: make it perfect or don’t make it at all.

Today, I made a prototype. It failed. And I feel relieved.

To be honest, I really should have seen it coming. I cut up an old shirt that had enormous holes in it and tried sewing it together, forgoing the fact that shoes do, in fact, need solid soles. The result was an odd raw chicken breast-looking shape that fits on a foot. In terms of prototypes, it was not, by any means, a success.

Failure is important. It allows us to connect with our humanity and to see our imperfections as not only valid but necessary for progress. Failure helps us realize the limits of our power and grow to extend them. Or to realize that we are heading completely in the wrong direction.

I think that for a long time I was afraid of failure. Even the smallest failures would set my whole day off and I would be stuck reliving that failure, unable to sleep because of how it haunted me. However, today’s failure made me realize that there are times when it is okay to fail. I even think it is better to fail here rather than at another point in this process. That doesn’t mean don’t have a plan. Have a plan, but be bold enough to test different things.

Even though this plan did not work, I was able to realize one important thing. Photographs are better representations than drawings for people who cannot draw (me). And now I share my raw chicken breast failure of a shoe with you.

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