Introduction to the Design Sprint

DESIGN SPRINT

INTRODUCING THE DESIGN SPRINT

Will Taitt, Business Innovation Manager at Norwich University of the Arts (NUA), introduced the Design Sprint, its different phases and how it helps people to come to a solution.

He kicked off the session by explaining that a Design Sprint is a focused, collaborative event where people rapidly develop novel ideas to real problems. The goal is not to create finished solutions but to develop interesting ideas that could be developed further.

He explained the structure of the Design Sprint had four phases:

• Discover – where you explore the problem and find all elements that could be addressed

• Define – where you choose the target of your creativity

• Ideate – where you come up with creative solutions for your targeted problem.

• Deliver – where you select your best idea and develop your solution

The outcome of the Design Sprint is to produce just one page, with FOUR pieces of information on it that covers:

• The true problem as you see it

• The solution

• Why it could work

• How it could be implemented

Scholars were then assigned to 16 break-out groups to work in for Day 1 before being merged the following day to complete the final two phases. Before they left the main auditorium to embark on the Discover phase of the Design Sprint, Will left them with three thoughts to help them prepare for what was to come:

• Take a moment to read the problems, do some background research and get a feel for the topic

• Open your mind as we are looking for creative ideas over practical ideas

• Bring plenty of energy to your discussions