Tuesday

Goal

The day starts with inspiration: a review of existing ideas to remix and improve. Then, in the afternoon, each person will sketch, following a four-step process that emphasizes critical thinking over artistry. You’ll also begin planning Friday’s customer test by recruiting customers that fit your target profile.

Schedule

Use 25 Minutes to research different solutions to solve the big problems at hand

10 a.m.

  • Lightning Demos. Look at great solutions from a range of companies, including yours. 3 Ideas per Person - Three minutes per demo. Capture good ideas with a quick drawing or in post-it note form on the whiteboard. (Read more on page 96 in Sprint.)

12:30-ish

  • Divide or swarm. Decide who will sketch which part of the map. If you’re targeting a big chunk of the map in your sprint, divide it up and assign someone to each section. (p. 102)

1 p.m.

  • Lunch

2 p.m.

  • The Four-Step Sketch. Briefly explain the four steps. Everyone sketches. When you’re done, place the sketches in a pile and save them for tomorrow. (p. 109)

  1. Notes (20 min). Silently walk around the room and gather notes. (p. 110) - this is not about new ideas just about copying down things from goal, questions, map, lightning demos, etc.

  2. Ideas (20 min). Privately jot down some rough ideas. Circle the most promising ones. (p. 111) - just get into drawing mode, they are not used again and are just there to get the creativity flowing.

  3. Crazy 8s (8 min). Fold a sheet of paper to create eight frames. Sketch a variation of one of your best ideas in each frame. Spend one minute per sketch (move to next even when you are not finished). Start by drawing a square outline of the frame if you can’t think of something to keep the drawing going. (p. 111)

  4. Solution sketch. (30-90 min). Take 3x A4 Papers (taped together) and draw or stick Sticky note drawings on them to create a storyboard that shows how you would solve the problem. Focus on ONE big idea. Ugly is okay. Words matter. It NEEDS to be clear and self-explanatory. Keep it anonymous. Give it a catchy title. (p. 114)

Key Ideas

  • Remix and improve. Every great invention is built on existing ideas. (p. 96)

  • Anyone can sketch. Most solution sketches are just rectangles and words. (p. 104)

  • Concrete beats abstract. Use sketches to turn abstract ideas into concrete solutions that can be assessed by others. (p. 106)

  • Work alone together. Group brainstorms don’t work. Instead, give each person time to develop solutions on his or her own. (p. 107)

Recruit Customers for Friday’s Test

  • Put someone in charge of recruiting. It will take an extra one or two hours of work each day during the sprint. (p. 119)

  • Recruit on Craigslist. Post a generic ad that will appeal to a wide audience. Offer compensation (we use a $100 gift card). Link to the screener survey. (p. 119)

  • Write a screener survey. Ask questions that will help you identify your target customers, but don’t reveal who you’re looking for. (p. 120)

  • Recruit customers through your network. If you need experts or existing customers, use your network to find customers. (p. 122)

  • Follow up with email and phone calls. Throughout the week, make contact with each customer to make sure he or she shows up on Friday.

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