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Now · 1. What is a Design Sprint?
Learning Objectives
- Understand the Google Ventures Design Sprint
- Apply sprint methodology for rapid innovation
- Facilitate effective design sprints
- Design thinking process knowledge
- Collaboration and facilitation skills
1. What is a Design Sprint?
The Google Ventures Design Sprint is a 5-day process for answering critical business questions through design, prototyping, and testing with users. Compresses months of work into a week.
When to Sprint: High-stakes decisions, lack of time, difficult problems, team alignment needed.
2. The 5-Day Sprint
| Day | Phase | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Map | Goal setting, problem mapping, expert interviews |
| Tuesday | Sketch | Ideation, Crazy 8s, solution sketches |
| Wednesday | Decide | Critique, dot voting, storyboard the prototype |
| Thursday | Prototype | Build realistic prototype (can be high-fidelity) |
| Friday | Test | 5 user interviews, observe and learn |
3. Key Sprint Roles
- Facilitator: Keeps process on track, manages time
- Decider: Makes final decisions (product owner/executive)
- Designer: Creates sketches and prototypes
- Subject Matter Expert: Provides context
- User Researcher: Recruits participants, conducts interviews
Q1: What is a design sprint and when should you use one?A 5-day process to answer critical questions, prototype, and test with users. Use when: high stakes, time pressure, stuck on direction, need rapid learning before committing resources. Q2: What happens on each day of a design sprint?Mon: Map the problem. Tue: Sketch solutions. Wed: Decide on best solution. Thu: Build prototype. Fri: Test with 5 users. Q3: Why test with only 5 users in a sprint?Research shows 5 users uncover ~85% of usability issues. More users give diminishing returns. 5 is enough for actionable insights within the sprint timeline. Q4: What is the "Crazy 8s" technique?Fold paper into 8 sections. In 8 minutes, sketch 8 different ideas (1 minute each). Forces quantity and variety, prevents getting stuck on first idea. Q5: What is the difference between a design sprint and design thinking?Design thinking is a general problem-solving approach. Design sprint is a specific time-boxed format (5 days) that applies design thinking principles to accelerate innovation. Join Discord PreviousDouble Diamond FrameworkNextImplementation & Storytelling