In product development, communication gaps can derail good ideas. Different teams bring different perspectives—engineering, design, business, operations—and even when people are aligned in purpose, they may not be aligned in language. Words like “simple” or “robust” can mean totally different things depending on who’s speaking.
That’s where prototypes come in. A prototype—no matter how rough—gives everyone a concrete thing to react to. It turns abstract conversations into grounded ones. You’re no longer talking about the idea; you’re talking with it.
I’ve found this especially true on fast-paced, high-stakes projects. One example: I worked on a set of hardware and software systems developed in response to a Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON) for the Joint Navigation Warfare Center. The goal was to support operations in GPS-denied environments.
We didn’t just start building blindly. We embedded with users, listened carefully, and started prototyping. First came an aircraft payload. Then a ground vehicle version. Then Warfighter portable. Then stationary. Every time we presented prototype, it didn’t stop the conversation—it unlocked it. We would present new data and stakeholders would say “yes, and…” instead of “no, but…” The prototype created momentum.
Each group—operators, developers, leadership—could point at the same thing and offer useful feedback. Misunderstandings faded. We weren’t struggling to interpret PowerPoint slides or write perfect requirements. We had something real to look at together.
That’s the lesson: prototypes are more than just stepping stones to a product. They’re tools for alignment. They help teams build shared understanding early, when it matters most.
So if your team is circling around a problem and conversations feel abstract or misaligned, don’t wait for the perfect spec. Build something—choose the lowest hanging fruit. A prototype can do what words often can’t: get everyone on the same page.
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Joseph Althaus is Prototype Lead at Rushlight Ventures. He brings nearly 20 years of technology development and transition experience to the team. Joe’s career encompasses pivotal roles such as lead engineer, program manager, and team lead in defense and commercial sectors, managing complex projects and portfolios exceeding $10 million. An adept entrepreneur, he founded Smart Barn in 2012 and openhaus in 2016, and contributed to global brand launches. With 11 patents to his name, spanning various industries, Joe holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a minor in mathematics and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering, specializing in controls engineering and embedded systems, both from Ohio University. His visionary approach is instrumental in driving the success of new technology and innovations.
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