- The team is stuck between two or three directions and another meeting will not settle it
- You need a cheap no before a quarter of engineering time
- A decision-maker can give you one focused week, then leave
- You still do not know who the user is. Run interviews first
- The question is bigger than five days, like whether to enter a market
- Nobody with authority can sit in on Wednesday
- You already have a flow and just need a usability test
Steps
Six steps, one job per day. Planning and the challenge sit together; Friday’s test and shareout sit together.
Set the challenge
Write one problem the team can answer in five days, then lock the roster, the decision-maker, and Friday’s testers. A sprint without testers booked is a workshop.
Do this 1–2 weeks ahead. The decision-maker has to be in the room on Day 3.
Map the problem
Cluster what you already know, steal patterns that work, and map the current path around this problem only. The sprint aims the week with existing evidence; it does not replace a study.
- Research
Affinity Mapping Assistant
Synthesize raw qual data (interviews, usability, diaries) using an affinity-style flow: clean, code, cluster into themes with evidence counts, outliers, severity-weighted ranking, and surprises.
affinity-mappingsynthesisqualitative-research - Product
Competitive UX Analysis
Analyze competitor products to identify UX patterns, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
competitive-analysisresearchux - UX design
User Journey Mapping
Create detailed user journey maps with touchpoints, emotions, and opportunities.
user-journeymappingux
Sketch solutions
Build the board before people arrive. Generate in volume, then cluster into a shortlist the room can vote on. No critique until the pile exists.
- UX design
Ideation Techniques & Exercises
Generate creative ideas using structured ideation techniques like How Might We, Crazy 8s, and brainstorming exercises.
ideationbrainstormingcreativity - UX design
FigJam Template Generator
Generate structured FigJam board templates for workshops, ideation, and collaboration.
figjamtemplateworkshop - Product
Idea Synthesis Framework
Synthesize multiple ideas into structured, actionable concepts.
synthesisideationconcept-development
Decide and storyboard
The decision-maker picks one concept and a prototype scope. Then storyboard the critical path: 5–7 scenes, happy path plus one error. Be explicit about what you are not building.
Do not prototype without this person in the room.
- Product
Feature Prioritization Matrix
Prioritize product features using structured frameworks like RICE, Value vs. Effort, or Kano Model.
prioritizationroadmapproduct-management - UX design
User Flow Mapping
Create detailed user flow diagrams with decision points, interactions, and edge cases.
user-flowuxwireframing
Build the prototype
Structure first, then make it real enough to test: design system if you have one, real labels and errors. Skip decoration testers will not notice. Lorem ipsum teaches you nothing.
- UX design
Wireframe Generation
Generate detailed wireframes with layout, hierarchy, and interaction patterns.
wireframeuxlayout - Visual design
UI Component Specification
Generate a detailed UI component specification with states, variants, and interaction patterns.
uicomponentsspecification - Content
UI Microcopy Writing
Write effective microcopy for UI elements including buttons, error messages, tooltips, and empty states.
microcopyux-writingcontent
Test and share
Script tasks around the challenge, not a tour of the prototype. Cluster after each session. The shareout leads with what you learned and what to do next; the prototype is evidence.
Five to eight people. Recruit before Day 1.
- Research
Usability Test Plan
Create a comprehensive usability test plan with scenarios, tasks, and success metrics.
usability-testingresearchux - Research
Affinity Mapping Assistant
Synthesize raw qual data (interviews, usability, diaries) using an affinity-style flow: clean, code, cluster into themes with evidence counts, outliers, severity-weighted ranking, and surprises.
affinity-mappingsynthesisqualitative-research - Product
Project Shareout Template
Create presentation templates for sharing project outcomes, research findings, or initiative results.
presentationshareoutdemo
Frequently asked questions
We only have three days. Do we still run this?
Keep the spine: problem, one concept, a prototype, and a test. Cut competitive review if you already know the space. Do not cut testers.
We do not have existing research. Can we still sprint?
Do three to five interviews the week before, or start from support tickets and analytics. A sprint uses evidence you already have. It is not a research study.
Does this work remotely?
Yes. Same prompts. Shorter blocks, one person driving the board, cameras on for decide and test.
What happens after Friday?
If the test worked, write the PRD. If it did not, you still got a cheaper no than building the thing.