The Jackson Inventors Network (JIN) will kick-off the 2015 season, Tuesday, Jan. 27, with a special presentation on “Mock ups and Prototypes” from product designer and inventor Todd Kauranen, design director, Slide Fire Solutions of Moran, Texas.

JIN will meet for the first time at Jackson Maker Space, 543 E. Washington Ave. Jackson, MI 49203

Why build a mock-up? A mock-up is a scale or full-size model of an invention, and can be a valuable tool for demonstration, design evaluation, promotion, and other purposes. A mock-up is a prototype if it provides at least some functionality and enables a degree of testing.

• Low-cost mock-ups invite valuable constructive criticism more readily than do prototypes that appear to have required substantial work.
• Simple mock-ups are usually easy to change.
• Mock-ups make it possible to do usability testing early in the development process.
• Mock-ups focus on content and functionality and turn attention away from details of graphic design.Join us on Jan. 27th to learn the tricks and techniques of building fast, effective mock-ups from a local master.