Design sprints
The design sprint process was developed by Google in 2010 and functions as a time-constrained mega-workshop that aims to rapidly discover issues through interviews, concept prototyping and idea validation. Overall, the process shortens the time of a project without taking shortcuts.
A design sprint is a collaborative process that brings together teams to rapidly ideate, prototype and test user-centred design solutions. Design sprints aim to speed up the design process and deliver solutions for user testing and validation.
Introduction to design sprints
Design sprints provide a very focused and iterative approach to product innovation, fostering creative problem-solving and delivering user-centric solutions within a brief timeframe. The ideal number of participants for the sprint is around seven, and this should include decision-makers from each business area and people with a technical focus.
What are design sprints, and why are they important?
The purpose of design sprints is to reduce risk when introducing a new product, service or feature to a market. Design sprints are important because testing ideas and prototypes early in the design process helps to identify potential challenges before significant resources are invested in full-scale development.
The role of design sprints
Design sprints are critical in driving innovation and user-centred design. They accelerate decision-making and unlock the value of teamwork, all while saving time and delivering best-in-class solutions.
Benefits of design sprints
Design sprints help organisations minimise the risk of investing time and resources in ideas that may not resonate with a target audience as they encourage early user feedback. The creation of a framework for teams results in more informed and rapid decision-making, which leads to more successful user experiences. Design sprints also facilitate the creation of roadmaps for future growth.
Supporting your users needs
Accelerates innovation
Creates user-centric solutions
Enables cross-functional collaboration
What’s included in our design sprint process?
Preparation (remote)
In the preparation process, we define objectives for the activity, define the principles to be transcribed onto posters, review business considerations and identify sprint participants. We might also define user profiles for day 5 testing.
Definition
In the definition phase, we set out a long-term goal, questions and concerns as well as a map of the process to achieving the goal. We create ‘How we might’ statements, organise and vote on these. To broaden the knowledge, we spend 30 minutes asking the experts each.
Conceptualisation
On the third day, we review ideas, create lightning demonstrations and solution sketching.
Prototype development
Next, Make it Clear works up defined user journeys into testable formats and define an interview script.
Validation
On the final day, the location will ideally be in an observed lab. A member will conduct the interview or test with the other sprint members overseeing and documenting results. We then gather user feedback via the testing session, identify patterns then report on the interviews and create recommendations for next steps.
How much do our design sprints cost?
Our design sprints cost between £5,000 and £15,000.
Why choose Make it Clear
At Make it Clear, we take an evidence-based approach to everything we do. Understanding your organisation, audiences, and the context in which they interact is paramount to the way we work and deliver a best-in-class user experience.
FAQs
Who will be involved in the design sprint?
The Make it Clear team will include members of our research and strategy team, UX and design at relevant stages pending the focus of the sprint. The project will also have an assigned Account Manager as a point of contact and to ensure the smooth running of the sprint. From your organisation, participation will be useful from 1 to 2 representatives from across relevant teams such as customer services, technical teams and product owners. A decision-maker should also be involved. Experts and users will also require involvement at various points within the sprint.
What happens after the design sprint is completed?
Following the sprint's completion, we have several services and packages available to continue supporting the development and implementation of any sprint outputs.
What are the typical outcomes or deliverables of a design sprint?
At the end of the sprint, a low-fi concept will have been created and tested with users. We’ll also provide a wrap-up report outlining the sprint activities and defining the next steps following the sprint's completion.
