The Beginning. The prototype, in some ways, is a beginning. It is a beginning of a life. A life that can grow, expand, give new life and, in the case of furniture and product design, be bought and sold. The blurring of product and prototype can sometimes come down to consumer interest, a desire for the consumer to manipulate a product, to personalise a product. Ultimately, the result is defined by the client and a range displayed by a designer is merely an expression of their palette.