A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:
Proof of Concept
Explorations that test ideas and functionality.
Functional Prototype
Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.
Appearance Prototype
Looks like the final product, but is not functional.
Design Prototype
Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.
Production Prototype
Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.
Prototype Gallery
These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.
If you like what you've seen, please take a moment to share our Kickstarter with your friends and family. As we say when we started Do Unto Others - If you can, Do.
RISE Design Studios, is based both in London with the community workshop and design studio in District 6, Cape Town. It has an incredible history and the area the blockbuster movie District 9 (2009) was based off. If you have no knowledge of District 6, we encourage you to check it out here.
We have a small core team who are dedicated to involving and unlocking the potential of the District 6 community; and as such, RISE Design Studios is as much a community enrichment project as it is a business. This filters through everything we do. We are not looking to "tug on heart strings", rather we need to compete with the best in the open marketplace of ideas so as to best provide a profitable enterprise to drive further development and fund growth. However, we wish to do this in a way that will ultimately benefit the community at large by locally sourcing as much raw material and talent as possible. Everyone with dedication and motivation from the area is welcome to participate and benefit. Where we have to go outside of the community, we will look at ways to transfer those costs or skills into our local sphere.
Design philosophy - keep it local.
All components to make any RISE design had to be easily accessible within or around Cape Town. If not, it was scrapped.
Every design had to work for both work styles… Low rise position (no extra keyboard & mouse needed) and high rise position. If it didn't, not good enough, scrapped.
Both styles of Pipe in their natural habitat
Start simple, then simplify.
We are not engineers, so no delicate moving parts that couldn't be tested until failure. If it depended on some fiddly bits to function, we scrapped it! Too complex.
We decided early on to use more natural materials over the more common plastic and metal products. It gave us the flexibility to design like no one was watching and develop a full range of products… Not lock ourselves into a singular - all or nothing - design that needs massive set up costs and international production.
We want to move these increasingly needed accessories away from typical function led design and more into the furniture/home space, give people options that can complement both a professional and personal aesthetic...
This is what we feel we have achieved with our Pipe Design while retaining the three key functional elements...
Simplicity, Versatility and Mobility.
Our RISE Pipe in the real world. Every reception deserves a bit of a lift.
The 6 most successful Crowd-Funded Laptop Stands. Do we measure up? Tell us what you think.
Click below and decide.
The Early Riser... Andrew's on it, negotiating for some wood.
Lill' Sara having a go at painting some of the practice mini pad/phone pipes
Part of the collective vision for RISE is to have an openly accessible creative and practical space for anyone with a great idea and an entrepreneurial spirit to come and collaborate... No matter their age.
Here is a great pic of our Street - Osborne Street - It feels like time stands still here. And there's a real beauty in that. As Cape Town has blossomed around it... when you live within it, you can't help but notice that District 6 (now called Zonnebloem) has been left behind.
Andrew lives at 25 Osborne, Mat 21 Osborne, Leeroy 19 Osborne... Come and say Hi. Everyone's welcome.
Risks and challenges
Whilst the RISE Pipe is CNC cut, all the actual finishing is done by hand in our belief of getting the community participating so as to benefit from this and future products. By getting local residents involved, we will be actively providing employment and promoting training and up-skilling in both manufacture and design. The challenge is to keep it local and manage the costs of the manufacture of our RISE product range.
Producing enough units for our week Kickstarter campaign is more than manageable, but we are looking to use the funds raised from pledges and units sold to address the challenge of rapidly scaled production.
Doing it well and meeting or exceeding the expectations of our new customers is important to us. To achieve this state of fluid scaling we need, as soon as possible, to control our entire production - cut and finish, varnish and pack.
We believe that Kickstarter and all our wonderful backers, can help us achieve this state of self-reliance.
Being true to our intent we want to grow and train a motivated local team we can rely on before we release the future RISE designs we already have lined up.
Your name will be handwritten on our studio wall by your grateful RISE team as a permanent reminder of your support. And you'll also receive Reward #1.
Your own pair of hand-finished, perfectly cut Original Pipes. In sustainable wood with liquid rubber coating to protect your computer.
Plus Reward #1 and #2.
Personalised or branded sets of Leather Pipes, with the leather finished in a colour from our collection and your custom logo and name on each.
Minimum order of two sets, shipping at £5 for the first and £2.50 for each subsequent set.
Plus Reward #1 and #2.
Two beautiful sets of Leather Pipes, one for you and one for your most significant other, at 10% off and with reduced shipping costs.
Plus Reward #1 and #2.
