A Design Sprint solves big problems and tests new ideas in just 5-days. We’re using this proven process with clients to help them answer critical business questions through design, prototyping and testing ideas with their customers. The purpose of the Design Sprint is to get answers to a set of vital questions, not just to produce the prototype for the next version of your solution.
Created by Google Ventures, the Design Sprint is being adopted by businesses looking for agile techniques to accelerate the build and launch phase of product innovation, empowering teams to create ideas and learn from them, fast.
In just 5 days, you’ll have a concept that has been tested with 5 customers. The process draws out real responses to an idea, rather than feedback, this is important because understanding the responses will enable the team to hone in on valuable aspects to create a minimum viable product and then develop over time.
The results will either be a flawed success, or a fast fail. Either outcome has the benefit of pressing the fast-forward button and learning from critical customer responses. This is an outline of the five days…
Day 1 – map the problem
The first day is all about finding your target – one customer and one event – which becomes the focus for the rest of the sprint. We set out a long-term goal, key questions to answer and a number of expert interviews from key functions from across our customer’s business.
Day 2 – sketch solutions
On to Tuesday, where we get each member of the group to put their ideas on paper. Later in the week, the best of these sketches will be used to develop the prototype to put in front of customers.
Day 3 – create a storyboard
Wednesday starts in fun fashion but by the end of the day, the pressure builds as we try and create a storyboard for a prototype to share with customers on Friday.
Day 4 – build a facade
Thursday is all about building a prototype to fake a new product – ready to show 5 customers by Friday – in just 7 hours! With key roles agreed across the team, each individual got to work making the storyboard come to life by putting together a ‘goldilocks’ quality façade that will test all of the agreed elements.
Day 5 – test with 5 customers
All the hard work from the team over the past 4 days – finding the target challenge on Monday to building a promising solution (prototype) on Thursday – comes down to this, five hour-long interviews with customers. Whilst the customer is interviewed in one room, the rest of the team listen and watch as the action unfolds, making notes and spotting patterns. By the end of the day, the team have clear guidance on the product to develop and what to do next.
What our customers say
I got the feeling you wanted to see us succeed. Our problem/challenge was difficult in nature to solve. Learning from your experience was invaluable.
CCO, high-value membership business
10/10 – I’m going to recommend you to the other business I run.
MD, £300m turnover business
Get a Substribe Design Sprint from just £15,000.
Contact Steve to learn more – steve@substribe.co
