What needs to be finished first
Problem and constraints are clearly formulated: target users, occasion, context, hard boundaries such as platform, budget.
At least three target user interviews have been evaluated so sketches are based on observed user behavior rather than assumptions.
What needs to be ready before start
A3 paper or Wacom tablet per person; several pens (black, one color); stopwatch; wall space or Miro board for gallery; dot stickers for voting; printout of relevant research insights.
One facilitator with clear timeboxing discipline; three to eight sketchers (designers, engineers, product, domain experts); one decider (product owner or lead designer) for final selection; one scribe for critique notes.
Challenge phrased as one sentence; persona or concrete user case with name (for example Sabine, solo tax advisor); constraints (platform, brand guidelines, technical limits); relevant inspirations and anti-patterns.
1-3 h
Arrange tables so everyone can sketch alone (no privacy partitions needed, but no talking during solo phases). Reserve gallery wall. Display challenge and constraints visibly. Timer visible.
The one question this method answers
Which solution sketch addresses the design challenge best while taking user insights and constraints into account?
Marker: Phase
| Step | Duration | Action | Hint |
|---|---|---|---|
1Phase 1: Briefing and inspiration | 15-20 min | Facilitator introduces challenge, persona, constraints, and three research insights. Participants ask for 5 minutes. Then inspiration round: each person shares 1-2 references from other products or sectors. | Inspiration does not need to match theme. Cross-domain references (e.g., banking app inspiring calendar feature) often produce strongest approaches. |
2Phase 2: Solo sketching, round 1 (8 ideas) | 15-20 min | Each sketcher folds A3 into 8 fields and sketches 8 challenge variants in 8 minutes (Crazy 8s). No labels except keywords. Silence. | If someone cannot produce 8 variants, they may be under-influenced by existing ideas or attached to one concept. Address this in Phase 3. |
3Phase 3: Critique round 1 | 20-30 min | Gallery on wall. Each sketcher explains for 2 minutes (or anonymously). Group gives structured feedback using I like / I wish / What if. Scribe records feedback. | Critique focuses on concept, not drawing quality. Pixel-level critique slows iteration. |
4Phase 4: Solo sketching, round 2 (1 refined sketch) | 20-30 min | Each sketcher picks one direction (own or from another person) and creates a detailed 3-frame storyboard sketch: context, action, outcome. Include labels, avoid brand-style questions. | A 3-frame storyboard forces outcome focus. Anyone drawing one screen is avoiding before-and-after context. |
5Phase 5: Critique round 2 and decider selection | 20-30 min | Gallery of storyboards. Speed critique 3 minutes per sketch. Silent dot voting (3 dots per person). Decider selects final direction with rationale. Result and rationale in Decision Log. | Decider decides, not the group. Heat map shows energy but does not replace final selection. |
What comes out at the end
Photo gallery or Miro frame with all sketches plus Decision Log containing challenge, chosen storyboard, rationale, rejected alternatives with reason, identified open questions, and next step for prototyping.
Own entry per iteration with date, participants, and challenge. Save sketches as image files with ID (for example ds-2026-05-18-anna-3.png). Keep Decision Log at end of file, do not overwrite prior decisions.
Compact working template for Design Studio with sketch rounds, critique, convergence, and design decisions.
Explore design directions through individual sketching, critique, and iteration.
Which design problem or experience should the team improve?
Owner, date, and success signal.
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Challenge: How can Sabine, a solo tax advisor with 47 clients, find the right client in under 5 seconds for an incoming call?
Constraints: Existing data structure (no new backend), desktop and mobile, no additional login.
Sketches Round 1: 5 sketchers x 8 ideas = 40 sketches.
Sketches Round 2 (Storyboards):
Decider selection: Storyboard 2 (Cmd-K search), combined with element from 4 (phone number match). Rationale: fits Sabine's multi-window desktop workflow and covers mobile with floating action button. Prototype owner: @ben, clickable prototype by 25.05.
Open questions: Voice search (Storyboard 5) will be evaluated in a follow-up iteration, dependent on telephone API.
Recognize symptoms and steer against them
Sketchers talk during phase 2 or 4, resulting sketches look similar.
Facilitator enforces silence. Anyone who needs to speak moves out temporarily. Silent sketching creates diversity; discussion creates consensus.
Sketches show toolbars and buttons rather than behavior and result.
Enforce phase 4 3-frame storyboard strictly: frame 1 context, frame 2 action, frame 3 outcome. Reject pure UI screen sketches.
Feedback focuses on line thickness and font size rather than concept.
Use critique structure I like / I wish / What if. Facilitator interrupts visual detail arguments and parks them for later.
Phase 5 ends with group voting and no final direction.
Run Design Studio only when decider is confirmed. Name replacement decider with authority in advance. Otherwise selection shifts to next session.
Briefing knows persona as a label only, sketches are feature-driven.
Pause method, add at least three research insights or reschedule. Sketching without research creates marketing visuals, not concepts.
Done signals checkable in under a minute
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