Design Sprint's Most-Asked Questions

Design Sprints have become increasingly popular in the past few years. This process has been used by teams from startups to Fortune 500 companies, and for a good reason - it works! But with any new process or methodology, there are bound to be questioned. In this BTNG Insight, we’ll review the most common Design Sprint questions and answer them all! Here are the most-asked questions about Design Sprints:

The most-fun Design Sprint Questions we at BTNG get asked

Can we do a Design Sprint in one day?

Short answer: no. While the Design Sprint process is flexible, you won’t be able to include the necessary steps to actually ‘keep’ it a Design Sprint. Perhaps the question is: When is a Design Sprint no longer a Design Sprint?

When stakeholders are no longer aligned on a clear vision?
When there’s no focus?
When we use assumption-based design?

Four days is the absolute minimum we require to ensure a Design Sprint is still a Design Sprint.

When we’re doing a one-day project (which we won’t) — it won’t be a Design Sprint.

The best way to prepare for a Design Sprint is to have a clear problem or question that you want to solve. Once you have that, the rest will fall into place. You’ll also need to assemble your team and ensure everyone is on board with the process.

Most-asked Design Sprint Questions Online

What is a Design Sprint?

A Design Sprint is a five-day process for solving problems and testing new ideas. Originally developed at Google Ventures, it has been used by companies like Slack, Twitter, Uber, and Airbnb.

Why are Design Sprints important?

Design Sprints are important because they allow you to solve complex problems quickly and efficiently. They also help to build a common language and understanding among team members, which can be helpful in fast-paced environments.

Why should I use a Design Sprint?

There are many reasons why you might want to use a Design Sprint. Maybe you’re working on a new product and need to validate your ideas. Or maybe you’re looking for a way to solve a specific problem. Whatever the reason, a Design Sprint can help you achieve your goals.

When should I use a Design Sprint?

A Design Sprint is most effective when you’re trying to solve a specific problem or answer a specific question. It’s also a good idea to use a Design Sprint if you’re working on a new product and want to validate your ideas.

What is the goal of a Design Sprint?

The goal of a Design Sprint is to solve a specific problem or answer a specific question. The process is structured in such a way that it allows for maximum creativity and collaboration within a short period of time. During the “Understand” phase, tools like empathy maps help teams quickly align on user perspectives before moving to ideation.

What are the benefits of a Design Sprint?

There are many benefits to conducting a Design Sprint, but the two most common ones are that it saves time and money. Compressing the design process into four days allows you to avoid costly mistakes and get your product to market faster.

How do I sell a Design Sprint?

The best way to sell a Design Sprint is by sharing a success story of another company that has used the process. Design Sprints have been used by some of the world’s most successful startups and companies, so there are plenty of great examples to choose from!

Can I do a Design Sprint myself?

‍The short answer is yes, but we don’t recommend it. Design Sprints are best conducted with a team of people, as each person brings their own skills and perspectives to the table. That said, if you’re determined to do it alone, plenty of resources are available online to help you get started. One of them is our Design Sprint Masterclass!

‍What are the steps of a Design Sprint?

At BTNG we run a FOUR-day Design Sprint. For these four days, the schedule looks as follows:
**
_Day 1:** Map & Sketch.Day 2: Decide & Storyboard.
‍Day 3: Prototype.
‍Day 4: Test._

In the more traditional FIVE day Design Sprint, the steps are:
**
_Day 1:** Understand.
‍Day 2: Diverge.
‍Day 3: Decide.
‍Day 4: Prototype.
‍Day 5: Test._

What is the difference between a Design Sprint and Design Thinking?

‍Design Thinking is a broader term that encompasses the entire process of designing, from problem-solving to prototyping and testing. A Design Sprint is a specific four-day framework within the Design Thinking process.

‍Who should be involved in a Design Sprint?

‍The ideal team for a Design Sprint is made up of seven people with diverse skill sets. This includes at least a facilitator and a decider. Besides those two, you’ll need someone who can design and build the prototype. It’s really helpful to have someone from engineering and someone from Product in the team.

What do I need for a Design Sprint?

The only things you absolutely need for a Design Sprint are a whiteboard, markers, and post-it notes. Of course, if you want to conduct a Digital Design Sprint, you’ll need access to design and prototyping software like Figma or Sketch, a video call such as Zoom or Google Meet and a place to work such as Miro.‍

How do I prepare for a Design Sprint?

The best way to prepare for a Design Sprint is to have a clear problem or question that you want to solve. Once you have that, the rest will fall into place. You’ll also need to assemble your team and ensure everyone is on board with the process.

Do I need a facilitator for my Design Sprint?

While you don’t need a facilitator for your Design Sprint, we highly recommend it. A facilitator is impartial and objective and can keep the team on track. They will also be able to provide valuable insights and feedback.

Bonus: Our BIGGEST Design Sprint mistake

When we started offering Design Sprints years ago, one of our first Design Sprints taught us an important lesson: Focus on a single problem. In this specific Design Sprint, we wanted to solve too many challenges or use too many opportunities. It resulted in a second prototype. This was too much for our designers and also made the testing sessions longer than we would’ve liked. So our tip to you: Focus on solving a single problem but ensure it’s the most valuable one!

Conclusion

We hope this article has answered some of your burning questions about Design Sprints. If you’re thinking about conducting a Sprint, we suggest reaching out to a facilitator or Design Sprint agency like BTNG. We’ll be happy to help you get started. Design Sprints work best within a broader design thinking practice - they’re a tool within that system, not a replacement for it.

If you have any other questions, we have an amazing Design Thinking Community where we collect these questions, and we’ll do our best to answer them.

Happy Design Sprinting!

For the complete design systems guide, see The Ultimate Guide to Design Systems.

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