It is amazing to think that Design Sprints were first introduced by Jake Knapp over 10 years ago! Once the buzzword in product teams as a surefire way to bring cross-functional teams together for successful ideation, I often get asked about the relevance of design sprints today. With new frameworks constantly cropping up, a plethora of tomes being released every year on how to run various aspects of product development, is there still a place for the beloved design sprint?
The Origin of Design Sprints
Design sprints were developed by Jake Knapp at Google Ventures in 2010. The idea was simple but powerful: bring together a cross-functional team to solve a specific problem within five days. The sprint consists of five phases: Understand, Ideate, Decide, Prototype, and Test. By the end of the week, teams would have a tested prototype, reducing the risk of spending months on a product idea that might not work.
This process was revolutionary at the time. It provided a structured framework for teams to innovate quickly and efficiently. The design sprint methodology was embraced by startups and large corporations alike, becoming a staple in the toolkit of product managers, designers, and engineers.
The State of Design Sprints in 2024
Fast forward to 2024, and the question is whether design sprints are still relevant. The answer is both yes and no.
Yes, Design Sprints Are Still Relevant:
Design sprints continue to be a valuable tool in certain contexts. When a team faces a well-defined problem and needs to generate and validate ideas quickly, a design sprint can still be incredibly effective. The sprint process forces teams to focus, collaborate, and iterate rapidly, which can be particularly useful in environments where speed is of the essence.
For example, in sectors like fintech or health tech, where regulatory constraints demand rigorous testing and validation before launching a product, design sprints help teams quickly identify potential pitfalls. The structured nature of the sprint ensures that all voices are heard and that the best ideas are put forward and tested.
No, Design Sprints Are Not Always Necessary:
However, in 2024, many teams have moved beyond the traditional five-day sprint model. Product development has become more continuous and iterative, driven by the adoption of agile methodologies, DevOps practices, and a greater emphasis on customer feedback loops.
For instance, in a world where continuous discovery and delivery are the norms, product teams often engage in “mini-sprints” or “lightning sprints” that might take place over one or two days, or even a few hours. These are not full-blown design sprints but rather quick, focused sessions that address specific aspects of a problem or feature.
Moreover, with the rise of AI-driven tools, some elements of design sprints have been automated. Tools like Figma, Miro, and even AI-driven UX research platforms enable teams to ideate, prototype, and test much faster, sometimes making a full sprint unnecessary.
Alternatives to Traditional Design Sprints
As we move further into 2024, several alternatives and adaptations to the traditional design sprint have emerged:
- Continuous Discovery and Delivery (CDD): Product teams are now embracing continuous discovery, where customer feedback, market analysis, and ideation happen in an ongoing cycle. CDD minimises the need for a dedicated design sprint by integrating these activities into the regular workflow. This approach is particularly popular in SaaS companies, where product teams constantly iterate based on user data.
- Dual-Track Agile: This methodology separates discovery and delivery tracks, allowing them to run in parallel. Discovery teams work on validating ideas while delivery teams build and ship the product. This dual-track approach can be more efficient than design sprints, as it doesn’t require halting other workstreams to focus on a sprint.
- Design Thinking Workshops: Instead of a full sprint, some teams now use design thinking workshops. These workshops can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days and are designed to foster creativity and problem-solving without the rigid structure of a design sprint.
- Remote-First Sprints: With the rise of remote work, design sprints have also evolved. Remote-first sprints allow distributed teams to participate in the sprint process asynchronously. While this can extend the timeline, it provides flexibility and accommodates global teams.
Conclusion: The Future of Design Sprints
So, are design sprints still a thing in 2024? The answer is nuanced. They are still a valuable tool in the product development arsenal but are no longer the one-size-fits-all solution they once were. The landscape of product development has expanded, offering a variety of approaches that can be tailored to the specific needs of a team or project.
For product leaders, the key is understanding when a design sprint is the right tool for the job and when to leverage alternative methods. In a world where speed, agility, and customer-centricity are paramount, flexibility really is the main thing to consider.
In reflection I would say that design sprints and the whole buzz around ‘Sprint’, Jake Knapp and also AJ Smart CEO Jonathan Courtney did more than just provide a product framework. They created a wonderful sense of being and community that is a little lacking nowadays in our more fraught and fast paced world post covid. The lack of physical spaces and the acceleration of remote working means that timers, stickies and the usual product ‘stuff’ is something of the past. I miss those times and the excitement the Sprint community brought to the table. For nostalgia check out the wonderful podcast series – still super useful today (and a joy to listen to). https://open.spotify.com/show/1qvzYYHQko5sMuKWmoundZ