Three key takeaways from my first design sprint
Having recently joined Just Eat Takeaway.com as an Early Careers UX Designer, I wanted to reflect on what I learned from my first design sprint and share some key points for any design newcomers who may be interested in running their own.
So, here’s a glimpse into my first design sprint experience.
A design sprint follows an established methodology whereby a design team, alongside stakeholders from the wider Product and Tech function, work together to address customer and business challenges around what we call a “North Star” — an overarching goal that’s been informed by past research. The outcomes from these design collaborations play a pivotal role in shaping our product roadmap.
Sprint structure
The sprint began with goal mapping and a review of insights from past research and competitor analysis. This prepared the ground for actions we could take. We did this by pulling together “How Might We” statements and a rapid ideation session using the Crazy 8s technique, where the designers generated eight quick sketches or ideas in eight minutes, fostering creativity and diverse solutions.
From the second day, we began crafting low-fidelity wireframes, refining the best concepts into user stories that served as blueprints for high-fidelity prototype development. Although design sprints typically include testing, this was deferred to the post-sprint phase to allow more time for in-depth concept exploration.
Following the sprint, I took some time to reflect on the process, and here are three key takeaways from my first design sprint:
Takeaway #1 — Focus and trust the process
In the beginning, it may be challenging to figure out how to get started or imagine the outcome. Setting a focused theme supported by data will help keep your eyes on the prize and inspire better ideation.
With only 5 days to identify challenges and finalise design prototypes, having a clear plan will help the team focus on addressing the most important questions and provide a structured approach to problem-solving.
Takeaway #2 — Challenge the conventional wisdom
The beauty of a design sprint is that it encourages us to take risks. Instead of striving for perfection and avoiding mistakes, embrace the opportunity to learn from rapid and bold designs.
While JET has a brilliant design system for creating visually appealing and user-friendly products, during the design sprint, designers are able to give their imagination free rein. This way we’re really thinking outside the box!
Takeaway #3 — Collaboration is key!
A design sprint typically involves a cross-functional team such as project managers, technical experts, UX researchers and writers.
Collaborating with stakeholders from different domains effectively helps foster diverse expertise and perspectives that can be leveraged for enhanced creativity, understanding of constraints, and alignment with business goals.
Conclusion
This sprint has provided me with invaluable hands-on experience in tackling big challenges. Despite an intense week with lots of information to process and heavy design work, it has truly been rewarding being able to learn from and collaborate with brilliant designers and experts from various domains.
If, like me, you are new to the world of design, I hope this blog was able to ease any concerns you may have had about engaging in or leading your own design sprints. It is a great opportunity and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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