Build and test a product with Virtual Design Sprints
Virtual Design Sprints
A virtual design sprint is a remote version of the Google Venture method to build a product and test it with customers in only four days using a customer-centric formula of design thinking, behaviour science and business strategy.
For startups or corporate teams, it’s a productive way to conduct focused, collaborative innovation workshops, taking into account a healthy online/offline load to keep those creative juices flowing!
Sprints are fantastic
Test ideas on your target market with immediate results before investing in expensive development.
Sprints are also brilliant to solve a killer problem to your business in a short amount of time.
Sprints limit risks to your company, and if an idea isn’t working, you will pivot to find a better solution.
Virtual Design Sprint - How it works
We organise the 4-day design sprint into chunks of online (never more than 90 mins!) and offline tasks and follow the effective process to map the challenge in detail, ideate creatively, sketch and decide on solutions, train the teams on new tools, create high-fidelity prototypes and test on real users.
An example of a 4-day Virtual Design Sprint programme
Next Steps
Once we’ve tested the prototype, you can update your solution based on the lessons learned during a shorter sprint session and test the iterated version again (with new test users). Once validated you’ll be ready to produce the development backlog to build your MVP or feature update.
Online tools Mural and Miro (a virtual whiteboard with sections to easily guide you through the process) and Zoom (for group video-calls) are perfect for collaborating on Virtual Design Sprints, and we really like Figma for prototyping.
An external facilitator (me!) will help move things along, keep troops energised, and foster teamwork, creativity and entrepreneurship within your organisation.
I’ll help you to reach the prototyping stage as a remote team, and more importantly, will allow you to test ideas on your target market.
Timezones
The sprint method involves structured time-boxed moments of focus.
For virtual sprints I cater best for GMT to GMT+4 timezones but can be flexible.
Preferred timings for a sprint are from 9am to 2pm.
This involves 3 slots of 90 minute sessions, two, 15 minute breaks, and a short offline task for research or asset sourcing.
We can start earlier if it’s more convenient.
Which virtual sprint will you choose?
1 day 9-5pm
2-10 people
60min Video-call to prepare sprint brief + pre-sprint walk-through
Intro to Mural tool
Mapping the problem
Inspiration Demos
Solution Ideation
Solution Sketching
Recorded Pitching session
Sprint Report
2 days, 9am-5pm
2-6 people
60min Video-call to prepare sprint brief + pre-sprint walk-through
Intro to Mural tool
Mapping the problem
Inspiration Demos
Solution Ideation
Solution Sketching
Storyboarding
Prototype workshop
Digital Prototype
Recorded Pitching session
Sprint Report
4 days, 9am-5pm
2-6 people
60min Video-call to prepare sprint brief + pre-sprint walk-through
Intro to Mural tool
Mapping the problem
“Voice of the User” experts
Customer Journey Map
Inspiration Demos
Solution Ideation
Solution Sketching
Storyboarding
Prototype workshop
Digital Prototype
User Tests + compensation
IP + NDA
Sprint Report / Deck
What do people say about the Virtual Design Sprint?
“It was so INTENSE, but so productive and so much fun. I was really surprised by how much we achieved in such a short time, and by how the process challenged and strengthened the concept. I love the first prototype and am really excited to see where we will take it from here!
— Rebecca Meldrum, Managing Director OptimAero GMBH
Follow the journey.
