Generate diverse design solutions quickly through structured rounds of individual sketching, group critique, and iteration.
Run a Design Studio workshop to rapidly generate, critique, and iterate on design ideas through structured sketching rounds with your team.
The Design Studio Method is a collaborative sketching workshop where cross-functional team members generate, present, critique, and iterate on design solutions through rapid timed rounds. UX designers, product managers, developers, and stakeholders all participate equally, ensuring that diverse perspectives shape the final direction. The method works because it separates individual thinking from group discussion: participants first sketch alone, which prevents groupthink, then present and receive structured feedback before iterating. This cycle of divergent and convergent thinking typically repeats two to three times within a single session, producing increasingly refined concepts. Design Studios are particularly effective in the early stages of a project when the team needs to explore a wide solution space before committing to a single direction. Unlike traditional design reviews where one designer presents finished work, the studio format gives everyone a voice and creates shared ownership of the outcome. The method also builds team confidence in visual communication by demonstrating that clear ideas matter far more than polished drawings. Teams leave the session with prioritized concepts, documented critique, and a clear path toward prototyping.
Gather a diverse group of team members, including designers, developers, product managers, and stakeholders. Prepare materials like whiteboards or large sheets of paper, sticky notes, and markers for each participant.
Clearly state the design problem and define the objectives of the session. Discuss the target audience, set goals, and outline any background information or user research data relevant to the problem.
Each participant works individually to brainstorm potential solutions to the design problem. They should sketch their ideas on paper or whiteboards, focusing on generating a quantity of ideas rather than perfecting a single solution.
Participants present their sketches to the group one at a time. The team takes three minutes to discuss each sketch, focusing on providing constructive critiques and identifying the strengths and areas for improvement in each design.
Based on the feedback provided during the critiques, participants iterate on their sketches and refine their ideas. Team members can combine the best aspects of multiple designs to create a stronger solution. This process can be repeated as needed.
Once the team has completed the necessary iterations, participants vote on the best design solutions using a dot voting system. Each participant places a certain number of stickers or dots on the sketches they feel are the strongest.
The team discusses the top-voted concepts and comes to a consensus on the most effective design solution(s) to move forward with. They also identify any additional research or testing that may be needed.
Develop a prototype based on the chosen design solution(s) and collect feedback from users during usability testing. Use these findings to iterate on the design and improve the overall user experience before finalizing the product.
After running a Design Studio session, your team will have a collection of diverse design concepts generated by participants from multiple disciplines. Through structured critique and dot voting, the group will have identified the strongest ideas and the specific elements that make them compelling. You will leave with revised sketches that incorporate the best features from multiple concepts, a clear consensus on the preferred direction, and an action plan for moving into prototyping. The process also builds team alignment and shared vocabulary around the design challenge, reducing misunderstandings and revision cycles in subsequent phases. All sketches and critique notes are documented, providing an audit trail that shows how the final direction emerged from collective reasoning.
You do not have to be able to draw. Recording the content of the idea is essential, not the form.
Start with a simple sketching game to warm up participants and reduce drawing anxiety.
Prepare a template in advance for drawing. A square paper that you divide into several parts will suffice.
Time-box each round strictly - pressure creates focus and prevents over-polishing of individual sketches.
Ensure critique is constructive: 'I like...' before 'What if...' maintains psychological safety.
Include non-designers in sessions - diverse perspectives often yield the most innovative solutions.
Photograph all sketches throughout the session, not just final versions, to capture the evolution of ideas.
End with clear next steps - assign someone to synthesize insights into actionable design directions.
Without strict timeboxing, sketching rounds drag on and participants overthink instead of generating quantity. Use a visible timer and enforce round limits firmly to maintain energy and pace.
Feedback that targets the person rather than the idea shuts down participation. Establish ground rules upfront using frameworks like 'I like, I wish, What if' to keep critique constructive and safe.
Limiting the session to designers produces less innovative results. Include engineers, product managers, and customer-facing team members whose different mental models generate unexpected solutions.
Sessions that end without assigning someone to synthesize findings leave the energy wasted. Close every studio with a named owner, a deadline, and a specific deliverable to carry the work forward.
Jumping straight into sketching intimidates non-designers and produces cautious first-round output. A quick five-minute drawing exercise like Draw a Toast dramatically improves participation quality.
Clearly defined design challenge that guides the workshop process.
Roster of stakeholders, designers, and researchers engaged in the session.
Rapid rough sketches from each participant illustrating proposed solutions.
Feedback and observations captured during group presentation and critique.
Outcome of dot voting showing which ideas the group prioritized.
Updated sketches incorporating feedback and combining best elements.
Sequential visual narrative of the proposed user experience flow.
Final agreed-upon concept addressing the initial problem statement.
Roadmap detailing next steps for prototyping, testing, and development.
Summary of insights and process improvements for future sessions.