If a prototype fails and you redo the design based on test results, this is called?

• A. Optimization
• B. Iteration
• C. Revision
• D. Validation

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is repeating the design cycle: you test a prototype, learn from what fails or could be improved, and then redesign or adjust based on those results. Each pass uses the outcomes of testing to shape the next version, so the product gets better with every iteration. This approach helps you learn quickly, reduce risk, and move toward a design that meets the requirements.

Why this fits best: when a prototype fails, the natural response is to refine the design and re-test, which is exactly the iterative process of making incremental improvements through successive versions.

Why the others don’t fit as well: optimization is about squeezing the best performance from a design within constraints, often within a single version or parameter space rather than a repeated learning-and-improve cycle. Revision is more about editing or correcting a plan or drawing, not the ongoing cycle of testing and redesign. Validation is about confirming a final design meets the needs after development, rather than the ongoing loop of learning from a failed prototype and updating the design.