5 days to conceive and test an app. That's all the time the youth counseling experts of GO! onderwijs van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap needed. Here's the simple process we used to design an app in record speed, on the 4th day. In mere hours we: - Explored a wealth of ideas - Got team consensus - Were ready for a user test with pupils

1. Got an idea for
a digital product?
Here’s how to get it on paper quickly,
ready to test its value

2. Use it alone or in group,
to convey the key parts
of a solution
WHY?

3. Timebox five steps
STEPS
Get inspired
Find and share similar solutions
20 min
Structure your thoughts
Explore the key information individually
15 min
Gauge the preferences of the team
Present the solutions to each other and vote
3 min per team member
Define one opinionated solution
Sketch the key info individually
30 min
Explore multiple solutions
Brainstorm a wide range of potential solutions
20 min

4. How have others solved similar problems?
Go broad. Can you draw inspiration from
other industries? Or very different solutions?
Look for inspiration
STEP 1
Research individually – 15 minutes
Present to each other – 3 minutes per person

5. Write down the key info. For example who,
what, where, how, when? Refrain yourself
from drawing solutions. Instead, make a list
of ideas to explore in the next step.
Structure your thoughts
STEP 2
Take notes – 10 minutes
Write list of ideas – 5 minutes

6. Sketch quick distinct ideas, not just
variations. Go wild.
Fold a page in 6 or 8 sections. Take a minute
per section to sketch an idea.
Explore multiple solutions
STEP 3
Sketch – 6-8 minutes

7. Hold a round of dot-voting.
You’re not choosing ideas yet, you’re just
weeding them out.
Gauge team preferences
STEP 4
Presenting – 3 minutes per team member
Voting – 10 minutes

8. Include several frames or states of the
concept to help illustrate how it works.
Include as much real text as possible, and a
clear title to help people remember it.
Sketch solution
STEP 5
Sketching – 20 minutes

9. Test with potential users
Don’t be afraid to share your sketches.
Better to learn at this point what’s
valuable, than much further into the design
and development process.
WHAT”S NEXT?

10. Make it feel real
Put your hand-drawn
screens in a device to
test with users and
stakeholders.
In our last test, we used
the Pop paper prototyping
app by Marvel.
TESTING TIP

11. This method, and much more, is described in
detail in this practical book by a Google
design team
READ ON

12. Need a hand to
quickly shape
your digital
products and
services?
FOR HIRE
info@frederikvincx.com
Book me for short-term
freelance challenges