Design sprints are a fast and effective way to solve complex problems and test new ideas.
Whether a product manager, designer, or entrepreneur, you can use design sprints to prototype and test solutions quickly.
But if you’re new to design sprints, it can be intimidating to know where to start.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started with design sprints.
What Is a Design Sprint, and What Are the Benefits?
A design sprint – created by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky for Google Venture projects – is a structured process for quickly prototyping and testing solutions to complex problems.
It typically lasts for 5 days and involves a team of 5-7 people working together to define the problem, generate ideas, prototype, test solutions, and review and iterate on the results.
An effective sprint will help ensure that you’re solving the right problem while creating solutions that meet user needs.
A design sprint aims to identify the most promising solutions and validate them with real users as quickly as possible, saving time and resources in the long run.
They encourage collaboration and open communication within the team, helping to build trust and foster a positive working environment.
An effective sprint will help to ensure that you’re solving the right problem and creating solutions that meet the needs of your users.
When Should You Use a Design Sprint?
A design sprint is an effective tool for solving problems in digital product design and testing new ideas in a fast and iterative way.
They’re useful in the following situations:
1. For continuous improvement of digital products
A perfect accompaniment to agile development, a product Design Sprint helps to identify, prioritize and solve issues for incremental improvement in UX design.
2. When you need to quickly prototype and test a solution
A design sprint allows the design team to quickly prototype and test a solution. This can be especially useful when time is a factor.
A Design Sprint is useful when you need to quickly test an idea or concept.
3. When you need to validate an idea or concept
To help you validate a new product idea, or a concept by gathering valuable insight through user research and testing the prototype with real users.
4. When you need to make decisions and move forward quickly
A Google design sprint can help you make decisions and develop a possible solution quickly by providing a structured framework for problem solving and prototyping.
5. When you need to involve multiple stakeholders
A design sprint can effectively involve numerous stakeholders in the design process and ensure everyone is on the same page.
How to Run a Design Sprint
1. Identify your problem or opportunity
The first step in any successful design sprint is identifying the problem or opportunity you’re trying to solve. This could be anything from improving the user experience of a product to launching a new business. Make sure it can be solved within the time frame of a design sprint (usually 5 days).
2. Assemble your team
A team should consist of 5-7 people, including a facilitator, a designer, a developer, a researcher, and subject matter experts. Diverse, cross-functional teams, with different perspectives and skills, are essential, as this will lead to a more well-rounded solution. Brief them on the problem you’re trying to solve to create a shared understanding ahead of the project. Decide if you’ll run an in person design sprint workshop or a remote design sprint.
3. Gather and organize your research
Before you start prototyping and testing, you must have a solid understanding of the problem you’re trying to solve. This means gathering as much relevant research as possible, including customer interviews, market research, and any existing data you may have. Organize this research into a single document or presentation to reference during the sprint.
4. Map out the process
Ahead of the sprint, you’ll want to map out the process you will follow. A typical design sprint includes defining the problem, generating ideas, prototyping, and testing. You’ll also want to set specific goals for each day of the sprint.
5. Create a customer journey map
On Day 1 of a Design Sprint, the sprint team should map out the experience they intend to improve.
This includes drawing a customer journey map that shows the stages of the journey. The team then adds data and insights to the map to get an idea of how the potential customer experiences it. Finally, the team picks a problem from the customer journey map that they want to solve and writes a problem statement.
6. Generate ideas
You’ll start generating ideas to solve the problem on the second day of the sprint.
This can be done through various methods, such as brainstorming, sketching, or creating a “crazy 8” (where each team member creates 8 rough sketches of ideas in 8 minutes). After this, the team will evaluate the ideas and vote to choose the potential solution they’d like to take forward into a user test.
7. Prototype and test
On the third and fourth days of the sprint, you’ll take your best ideas and turn them into rough prototypes.
These prototypes should be simple and easy to build, as the goal is to test them with users as quickly as possible. Aim to make them as realistic as possible but don’t invest too much time since the idea is that we can quickly iterate or discard them as needed. On the fifth and final day of the sprint, you’ll test the prototypes with real users and gather feedback.
8. Review and iterate
After testing prototypes with users, it’s important to review the results and determine what worked and what didn’t.
This includes analyzing user feedback, identifying patterns and trends, and making decisions about what to keep or discard. From here you can decide if you’ve been successful in answering your critical business questions and if your idea will help you achieve your business goals.
Based on this analysis, you can then iterate on your solution to create a better final product – or high fidelity prototype. This may involve changing the prototypes, adjusting your approach, or even starting with a new idea. The goal is to use the insights gained from the sprint to create a solution that meets the needs of your users and addresses the problem or opportunity you set out to solve.
6 Tips to Run an Effective Design Sprint
1. Assemble a diverse team with a range of perspectives and skills
Assembling a diverse team with a range of perspectives and skills is crucial for success.
A diverse team brings different viewpoints and approaches to problem-solving, which can lead to a more well-rounded solution. For example, suppose your team includes a mix of designers, developers, and subject matter experts.
In that case, you’ll be able to cover a wide range of considerations and come up with a solution that considers different disciplines. Additionally, having a diverse team helps ensure that the solution is inclusive and considers the needs of a diverse group of users.
A diverse team brings a wealth of experience and knowledge. It can significantly increase the chances of success for your design sprint and help to solve a complex problem in a short amount of time.
2. Gather and organize your research before sprint week
Gathering and organizing your research before the sprint starts is crucial for the success of the design sprint.
Research helps provide a solid foundation for the sprint and ensures that you make informed decisions throughout the process. It can include a variety of sources, such as customer interviews, market research, any existing data you may have, and any ideas for big problems that need to be solved.
Organizing this research into a single document or presentation makes it easy for the team to reference during the sprint. This can help save time and ensure everyone is on the same page. It’s also a good idea to share the research with the team before the sprint starts so everyone can familiarize themselves with it.
Gathering and organizing your research before the sprint starts is a crucial step. It helps ensure the success of the design sprint and allows each participant to make informed decisions throughout the process.
Gathering and organizing your research before the sprint starts is crucial for the success of the design sprint.
3. Set specific goals for each day of the sprint
Setting specific goals for each day of the sprint is vital for many reasons.
First, it helps ensure you’re making the most of your time. By setting clear daily goals, you’ll know exactly what you need to accomplish and can focus on those tasks. This helps save time on activities that aren’t directly related to the sprint’s goals.
Setting specific goals helps keep the team focused and on track. With clear goals in place, everyone knows what to do and can work towards those objectives. This can help keep the team motivated and ensure that the sprint is as efficient as possible.
Specific goals help you progress toward the sprint’s overall objectives and ensure everyone’s aware of the critical business question that needs to be answered. You can track your progress and adjust your approach if necessary by breaking the larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks.
4. Encourage open and honest communication within the team.
Encouraging open and honest communication within the team is crucial for the success of a design sprint.
Good communication helps ensure that everyone’s ideas are heard and that the team is working towards a solution that everyone is happy with. It also helps build trust and create a positive working environment.
There are a few ways to encourage open and honest communication within the team. One is to create a safe space where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. This can be achieved by setting ground rules for respectful communication and creating an open-door policy.
Another way to encourage open communication is actively seeking feedback and ideas from team members. This can be done through techniques like brainstorming sessions and regular check-ins.
It’s important to establish channels of communication that allow team members to easily share ideas and ask questions. This could be through regular team meetings, slack channels, or other communication tools.
5. Be bold and pivot if your initial ideas aren’t working out.
During a design sprint, it’s essential to be open to pivoting if your initial ideas aren’t working out.
The goal of a design sprint is to test and iterate, so it’s okay to change course if necessary. In fact, it’s often expected that you’ll need to pivot at some point to find the right solution.
There are a few signs that it may be time to pivot. One is if you’re not making progress toward your goals. If you do not see the expected results from a tested solution or are struggling to find a solution, it may be time to try a different approach.
Don’t be afraid to pivot if you aren’t getting the results you need.
Another sign is if you’re receiving negative feedback from users. Suppose the prototypes you’re testing are not resonating with users or getting a lot of negative feedback. In that case, it may be time to pivot and try a different approach.
It’s essential to listen to your team. If team members feel stuck or disagree about the sprint’s direction, it may be time to pivot and try a different approach.
Don’t be afraid to pivot if your initial ideas aren’t working out. A design sprint – and any design thinking methodology – aims to test and iterate, so it’s essential to be flexible and open to changing course if necessary.
6. Make sure to test your prototypes with real users.
Testing your prototypes with real users is essential in the design sprint process.
It helps ensure that you’re solving the right problem and that your prototypes are on the right track.
Without user testing with a realistic prototype, you’re relying on assumptions rather than data, which can lead to a solution that doesn’t meet the needs of your users.
There are a few things to remember when testing your prototypes with users.
First, it’s important to select a representative sample of users. This could include current customers or potential users. The goal is to get feedback from a diverse group using the final product.
Testing your prototypes with real users is essential.
Second, it’s essential to have a clear testing plan in place. This should include specific goals for the testing, a list of questions to ask users, and other relevant information. A clear plan will help ensure you get the most valuable feedback possible.
Finally, it’s essential to listen to the feedback you receive and use it to inform your decisions. This may mean making changes to your prototypes or adjusting your approach. The goal is to use user testing to improve your solution and create a better final product.
Testing your prototypes with real users is an essential step. It helps ensure the success of the design sprint and helps create a solution that meets the needs of your users.
When Should You NOT Use a Design Sprint?
In certain situations, a design sprint may not be the most appropriate approach. For example:
1. When the problem or opportunity is too broad or complex to be solved within the time frame of a design sprint
A design sprint is typically focused on solving a specific problem or opportunity. It may not be feasible to tackle a problem that is too broad or complex within the 5-day time frame.
2. When the solution requires a high level of technical expertise or resources
A design sprint is designed to be fast and iterative, which means that the prototypes created may not be as polished as those developed through a more traditional design process.
If the solution requires a high level of technical expertise or resources, it may be more appropriate to use a different design process.
If a problem is broad, complex or highly technical, a Design Sprint might not be the best methodology.
3. When the team is not fully committed to the design sprint process
A design sprint requires total commitment from the team, as it is a fast-paced and intensive process.
If the team is not fully committed to the process, it may be challenging to get the most out of the design sprint.
Overall, it’s essential to carefully consider whether a design sprint is the right approach for your problem or opportunity and to be mindful of the limitations of the process.
Challenges With Running a Design Sprint
1. Time constraints
One of the challenges of running a design sprint – when you’re attempting to solve a big problem – is the time constraints.
A design sprint is a fast-paced process, and it can be challenging to fit all the necessary activities into a short time frame.
To overcome this challenge, it’s important to clearly define the problem or opportunity you’re trying to solve and ensure it can be solved within the time frame of the design sprint.
You’ll also want to ensure you have a clear plan and allocate time appropriately for each activity. Additionally, it’s important to be flexible and willing to pivot if your initial ideas aren’t working out.
By being mindful of the time constraints and being prepared to make adjustments as needed, you can successfully navigate the time constraints of a design sprint.
2. Scope creep
Scope creep is a common challenge in design sprints. It can be tempting to try to solve too many problems at once or add additional features to the solution.
This can lead to scope creep, making it difficult to focus on the most important problems and compromising the final product’s quality.
To overcome this challenge, it’s important to clearly define the scope of the design sprint at the beginning of the process and stick to it.
Try to avoid scope creep and focus on a specific goal.
This means setting clear goals and priorities and avoiding the temptation to take on too much. It’s also important to communicate the scope to the team and ensure everyone is on the same page.
By keeping the scope narrow and focused, you can avoid scope creep and stay on track to solve the most pressing problems.
3. Limited resources
Another challenge of running a design sprint is gathering all the necessary resources within a short time frame.
This can include finding the right team members with the necessary skills and expertise and gathering all the research materials you need to inform your solution.
To overcome this challenge, planning ahead and gathering resources well before the design sprint begins is important. This may involve reaching out to potential team members and arranging for any necessary research materials in advance.
It’s also a good idea to have contingency plans if you encounter unexpected roadblocks. By being proactive and prepared, you can ensure you have all the resources you need to complete the design sprint successfully.
4. Resistance to change
It’s not uncommon for some team members to resist the ideas behind a design sprint’s approach if they are unfamiliar with Design Thinking.
This can be due to various reasons, such as a preference for a more traditional product development process, or a lack of familiarity with the design sprint process.
It’s essential to communicate the benefits of the design sprint to the team and clearly explain the process.
If the team is new to the process, prepare a design sprint masterclass for them, during which, a UX designer or design thinking practitioner will teach people the process, tools, and techniques to help them understand and appreciate them.
This can help build buy-in and support from the whole team. It’s also a good idea to ensure everyone is comfortable with the roles and responsibilities they’ll be taking on during the sprint.
It can be helpful to allow for open and honest communication within the team, as this can help build trust, foster a positive working environment and support the team’s progress.
By addressing any resistance and fostering a positive and supportive team culture, you can overcome this challenge and move forward with the design sprint.
Limited user feedback
Gathering enough feedback and user research is an essential part of a design sprint, as it helps validate the solution and ensure that it meets the needs of your users.
However, gathering enough feedback within the short time frame of a design sprint can be challenging.
It’s important to carefully plan for user testing and make the most of your time. This may involve recruiting a diverse group of users to test the prototypes and ensuring that you have precise questions or tasks for them to complete.
Having a plan in place for analyzing and interpreting the feedback you receive is also a good idea. You can gather valuable user research and validate your solution during a design sprint by being well-prepared and making the most of your time.
The Best Way to Gain Experience Running Design Sprints Is to Get Started
One of the best ways to gain experience running design sprints is to simply get started.
While it’s important to familiarize yourself with the process and best practices, there is no substitute for hands-on experience.
If you run sprints, you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and gain valuable experience in a real-world setting.
The best way to gain experience is to get started.
It’s important to remember that every design sprint is different, and you may encounter challenges or obstacles along the way.
This is all part of the learning process and can help you develop your skills and become more proficient at running design sprints.
Keep the Sprint book handy, actively participate in the process, and you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience and develop your skills over time.
Key Takeaways
- The Design Sprint methodology is a five day process that’s fast and effective for testing ideas and solving problems with digital products.
- The simple step by step process starts with defining the problem or opportunity to be solved.
- A design sprint team should consist of 5-7 people with diverse skills and perspectives.
- Gather and organize relevant research before the sprint starts.
- Map out the customer journey and define the problem to create a shared vision based on evidence from real users.
- Generate ideas through brainstorming, sketching, or creating “crazy 8” sketches.
- Test a working prototype with real users and gather feedback on the sprint’s fifth and final day.
Design sprints are a powerful tool for quickly solving complex problems and testing new ideas. With this step-by-step guide, you can get started with design sprints and take your products and business to the next level.
