What is a sprint design? 5 steps of the process

It is hard to imagine building a startup without verifying the idea. Fortunately, there are at least a few effective methods to check if our technology project has a chance to succeed. One of them is sprint design. What is it, what stages it consists of and what are the advantages of using it?

What is a sprint design?

Sprint design is a method supporting the validation of hypotheses and the creation of new concepts. It was created by Google, which helps technology startups create valuable products. The use of sprint design allows you to quickly test ideas with a small amount of work and money, which helps you to see the strengths and weaknesses of the idea at an early stage. The process involves a dedicated team consisting not only of programmers but also people representing business departments.

The design sprint method is mainly used by startups, but more and more often it is also used by more mature organizations. Conducting a sprint design allows you to not only test ideas, but also to improve the work of the institution. Sprint design is also used to equip existing products with new functionalities and to exchange knowledge and ideas between teams. Additional information and a set of tools supporting the use of this method can be found on the official Google website.

Sprint design — why is it worth using it?

We have written more about why ideas for startups and technology projects are worth testing in this article. Verification of hypotheses using the sprint design method is a number of benefits for a project manager or investor:

• Saving time. Testing the concept at an early stage helps to assess the idea without months of work on a solution that has no chance of success. Using sprint design allows you to verify the initial concepts quickly and with little effort and choose those that are actually worth developing.
• Saving money. The use of sprint design allows you to avoid the costly process of building and implementing a product that will not be accepted in the market. Thanks to this method you can test the concept with minimal financial risk.
• Greater chances for success. Testing an idea with a sprint design increases the chance to create a product that really answers customers’ needs and attracts users.
• More commitment in the team. Participation in the design of the sprint project makes team members feel responsible for the outcome of the joint work. Knowing that their opinion is important and that they are needed in the organization, they generally become much more involved in the tasks entrusted to them.
• Exchange of knowledge and opinions. Meeting a diverse team is an opportunity to learn other points of view and exchange experiences. It enables a fresh look at different aspects of the functioning of the organization, which improves many processes and facilitates teamwork..
• Simplicity. Sprint design allows project managers to organize the various stages of the project and clearly determine the next steps of its implementation.

5 stages of sprint design

The standard design sprint consists of five parts, each of which should be given one day. However, it is much more important than the time frame to complete each step. The duration of each stage depends on the specifics of work and the needs of the organization.

The 5 stages of the sprint project are:

1. Understand
The first step is to name and understand the problem to which this whole process will be devoted. This is the time to formulate the vision of the project and the expected end result. It is necessary to decide to whom the potential product will be directed and what problems it will solve. At this stage the threats and factors that may prevent the goal from being achieved are also initially assessed. It is particularly important here to get the opinion of representatives of different departments so that they can understand each other’s needs and points of view. This step ends with the selection of the areas to be validated. Although this is not yet the right time to propose solutions, it is worth writing down your first ideas at this stage.

2. Diverge
The second stage is focused on creating a solution concept. Before starting creative work it may be helpful to look at the projects of the competitors, similar solutions from other industries or ideas that emerged in the first stage. However, solutions should not be planned in too much detail. It is important that they are formulated in such a simple and unambiguous way that every team member can understand and evaluate them.

3. Decide
The ideas prepared in step two are evaluated and discussed in this step. At the beginning, the team members will familiarize themselves with all prepared concepts. It is important for each of them to do it individually, to avoid relying on others’ opinions. Then an open discussion and exchange of observations begins. The aim is to select projects that the team will work on in the next steps.

4. Prototype
The next stage is to prepare a prototype, which will be used for further testing of the designed solution. It should be prepared in a relatively short time and contain only basic functionalities that will help to assess its concept, operation and usefulness.

5. Validate
The last stage of the design sprint is to validate the hypotheses made in the first stage. This phase includes testing the prototype by a few selected people who meet certain criteria. During the tests, notes are made, which then help to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the solution being verified.

There are many advantages to an effective sprint. First of all, it increases the chances of the project’s market success, helps to save time and money and improves the work of teams. If you’re wondering if your idea has enough potential to proceed, please contact Da Vinci Studio. Our experienced team will help you to effectively implement the design sprint and maximize the benefits of this method.