Testing Methods
Design Sprint
Design Sprint gives teams a repeatable qualitative research practice. It keeps everyone aligned around visualization & communication by helping you rapidly generate and validate new ideas, align the entire team, and test the viability of prototypes. Grounded in testing methods, the method turns insight into tangible next steps.
Goal
Visualization & Communication
Group
Qualitative Research
Users
Direct User Involvement
Overview
A Design Sprint is an intensive, time-bound process that guides teams through the critical stages of problem-solving and prototype development. Originally developed by Google Ventures, it usually lasts five days and includes phases like understanding, ideating, prototyping, and testing. Design Sprints are highly effective in validating new ideas, aligning stakeholders, and accelerating decision-making. They are widely used in product design, service innovation, and strategic planning, where rapid insights and tangible outcomes are essential.
Step-by-Step Procedure
6 steps to complete
1
Understand
In this step, the team gathers together to clarify the problem, define the long-term goal, and identify the target audience. Key stakeholders participate in discussions to provide input and share background information. It's essential to understand contextual factors, business objectives, and user needs.
2
Define
Based on the problem statement, generate a list of questions that the design sprint aims to answer. Key decision-makers then prioritize these questions, and the team chooses a target question to be addressed in the sprint.
3
Sketch
Brainstorm potential solutions by sketching them on paper individually. This is a rapid idea generation phase, where each team member works independently to come up with their best ideas. These are informal and low-fidelity sketches meant to encourage a broad range of solutions.
4
Decide
Evaluate and critique the sketches to determine which ideas offer the best chance at achieving the goals of the sprint. As a team, discuss the merits of the sketches, and vote for the top ideas. Select one solution, or combine elements from multiple sketches, as the focus for the prototyping phase.
5
Prototype
Create a realistic prototype of the selected solution using tools like wireframes, user flows, or mockups. The goal here is to bring the idea to life with enough fidelity for users to understand its intention without spending too much time refining it. This prototype will be used in the Validate phase.
6
Validate
Test the prototype with real users to gather essential feedback on its usability and effectiveness in addressing the problem. Observe how users interact with the prototype and ask questions about their experience. After testing, gather as a team to analyze the results and determine what works and what requires improvement. Use this information to iterate on the design and make informed decisions moving forward.
Method Complete
Real-World Examples
See how this method is applied in practice
Understanding Deal Discovery Behavior
Research conducted with Groupon users to understand how they discover and evaluate local deals. Participants included frequent buyers in the Food & Drink and Health & Beauty categories, as well as occasional users. The study revealed that users rely heavily on personalized recommendations and location-based filtering, with visual imagery and merchant ratings being key decision factors. Users also expressed interest in occasion-based browsing like "date night deals" or "weekend activities."
Local Merchant Experience Research
Study with restaurant, spa, and fitness business owners to understand their experience with Groupon's merchant platform. Participants included both new merchants in onboarding and experienced merchants running multiple campaigns. Findings showed merchants struggled with understanding optimal pricing strategies, setting deal capacity, and interpreting performance analytics. Many requested competitive benchmarking and seasonal promotion guidance.
Deal Redemption Experience Study
Research with Groupon customers who recently redeemed deals at local businesses. The study focused on the in-person redemption experience, including showing vouchers to merchants, handling booking requirements, and resolving issues. Insights revealed that users felt anxious about merchant acceptance and wanted clearer communication about what to expect during redemption.
Deliverables
What you'll produce from this method
Challenge Definition
A clear, concise statement of the problem to be solved or the opportunity to be explored during the design sprint.
User Personas
Fictional characters representing the main user groups of the product, including their demographics, goals, and pain points.
User Journey Maps
Visual representations of a typical user's experience with the product, highlighting key touchpoints, actions, and emotional states throughout the journey.
Competitive Analysis
A review of competitors' products, features, and strategies to understand the overall market landscape and inform design decisions.
Storyboard
A visual narrative illustrating the user's experience within the proposed solution, showcasing the essential features and key steps.
Sketches and Wireframes
Low-fidelity visual representations and blueprints of the screens, pages, or elements within the proposed user interface.
Prioritization Matrix
A tool used to determine which features, solutions, or ideas to prioritize based on factors such as user value, implementation effort, and strategic alignment.
Prototypes
Interactive, functional representations of the proposed solution that users can test and provide feedback on.
User Testing Results
A summary of the findings from usability testing with real users, including identified problems, insights, and areas for improvement.
Iteration Plan
A list of changes, enhancements, and next steps to improve the solution based on user feedback and testing results.
Final Presentation
A compelling presentation summarizing the design sprint process, insights, deliverables, and key recommendations for moving forward with the proposed solution.
Related
Explore Similar Methods
Discover research techniques that complement Design Sprint and enhance your UX toolkit.
