Prototyping is rarely a straight line from idea to final product. Anyone who has actually brought a product to life, knows the reality is much messier.

How do innovative teams navigate the chaos of prototyping without losing momentum? How do you know when to stick with an idea, when to iterate, and when to completely change direction?

The Product Development and Management Association of New Zealand (PDMA-NZ) is back with an event delving straight into the messy, non-linear reality of prototyping. We have put together a fantastic lineup of speakers and panelists who live and breathe product development every day!

Kai Malte Röver (Head of Industrial Design at Mars Bioimaging) will share insights into the strategic role of industrial design in cutting-edge product development, detailing how design choices during the prototyping phase impact manufacturing, usability, and product success.
Teun Brookhuis (Mechanical Engineer at Caliber Design) brings deep industry expertise on how professional engineering consultancies manage client expectations, iterative design, and physical testing in the real world.
We’ll also hear fresh insights from student creators navigating their own prototyping journeys, tackling unique constraints, tight timelines, and steep learning curves.

Following the brief presentations, we will open up a dynamic panel discussion featuring all of our speakers. We know our innovation community loves to share experiences, so there will be plenty of time for audience Q&A and vibrant discussion.

Come along for an evening of learning, sharing, and connecting with other great people across our innovation community.

Food and drinks will be provided
Check out the ticketing page for venue details coming soon

We look forward to seeing you there!

UC Prototyping Event

Choose your tickets

Student (UC) ticket

External Student / Other Tertiary Student ticket

Industry Professional / General Admission ticket