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7 Tips for Running a Successful Design Sprint

Design sprint is a five-day procedure that aids in solving various business questions via quick user testing and prototyping. In easier terms, design sprint is basically a product roadmap. Design sprint takes place before the actual product development happens.

However, it is highly essential to consider certain points while running a design sprint. This article has design sprint explained deeply to provide you a better understanding.

A Clear-Sighted Prototype

It is essential that your prototype is not unrealistic and difficult to understand. Divide the various tasks of creating the prototype amongst all the members of the team. Moving fast is the key to develop the prototype within the time frame.

Also, a trial run of the prototype is vital to ensure that everything is intact. Just remember that clearer the vision, better the results.

Discuss

Communicating is important for running a successful design sprint. Each team member should ask questions or make suggestions as much as they can. And within these questions and suggestions, great ideas take birth which would in turn help in the betterment of the sprint.

Team members should ensure that they are vigilant throughout. Using smartphones or checking their emails is a big No. The time limit is five days, and the team must move fast with the pace. Involving themselves in other activities would be detrimental to the project planning. Moreover, the team should take the help of experts. Interviewing the experts will help gain better insights into the project.

Establish a long-term goal

Great things don’t happen in one day. Even before coming to the solution, the team should ensure that the foundation of the project is strong. With a strong foundation, the team should make long-term goals and jot down the ways to achieve those goals. The team should also consider the issues that might develop or come up while fulfilling the long-term goals.

Dedicate a space

Another vital part is that a proper space should be dedicated just for the sprint. The place could turn out to be messy after all the planning and propagation. However, the team should head back to the exact place the next day. Running a remote sprint won’t be as exciting as physically being there and achieving goals together. Rather imbibes a better team spirit amongst the members.

Assign a leader

A design sprint should have an appointed leader who shall create the sprint. With a leader on board, it gets easier to plan and bring the sprint to life. Leader assigns different work to various people and jots down their efficacy. He also analyses the growth and makes suggestions or corrections accordingly.

Use the correct supplies:

Planning a sprint involves a lot of stationary. Markers, sticky notes, papers, files, notepads, staplers, alarm clocks, and the list goes on. Supplies are important because a lot goes into planning. From writing down tasks to drawing charts, the team should be prepared with supplies.

Also, the team should be kept pumped up during the sprints. For example, having some energy beverages and sweets around will not drain the energy levels of the team members.

Do it

After all the planning and propagation, make things real. Create something that people find valuable. Create something that people would pay for. Bring all the vital information you’ve gathered in the past days together and bridge the gap between saying it and doing it. For example: Take a stranger and describe your product to them, let them know the nitty gritty of the product you are offering. If they choose some other product over yours then maybe you need to make some changes. Trial and error is the key to create a perfect product!

A lot goes into running a successful design sprint. Try to create a light and a subtle experience for the consumers. It is not required to go over the top with your websites or products. Have a USP and install some witty cost-effective tactics that will appeal to the consumer. Brainstorm and sketch until you find the right idea. Make things interesting and be creative. Put various approaches in front of a single user and ask them about what interests them more.