Sci-fi Scanner Prototype

Personally, I find rapid prototyping more valuable than any other step of the process when developing a new original design. You can do a lot of research and collect thousands of references (which is also very important), and even produce hundreds of thumbnails to create a solid base for your concept... but I'd argue that a quick a dirty prototype is the most important piece of the puzzle. It's like your 'vertical slice' where you get to taste 'all layers of the cake' without having to 'eat it all' haha

Here is a very very rough prototype: