Tuesday – Generating Solutions (Brainstorm & Sketch)

Day 2 of 5: Diverge and ideate. Tuesday is all about brainstorming solutions, but with structure and purpose. Instead of a chaotic group brainstorm where loud voices might dominate, the Design Sprint uses individual sketching to tap into everyone’s creativity. The day often kicks off with inspiration – reviewing existing ideas or competitor products (called “Lightning Demos”) to spark fresh thinking. Then, each team member works solo to sketch solutions to the target problem. This isn’t about artistic talent; it’s about clearly outlining how your idea would work. A popular exercise is Crazy 8s: fold a paper into eight frames and spend 8 minutes sketching eight quick variations of an idea. It pushes you beyond the obvious and unlocks more creative approaches. Each person then develops a more detailed solution sketch. Usually, it’s a three-panel or storyboard-style sketch of their best idea, with notes and detail. The key is that each solution sketch should stand on its own – someone should understand the concept without the creator having to explain it. By the end of Tuesday, you’ll have a gallery of diverse solution ideas drawn from your team’s collective brainpower. Key takeaways (Tuesday): 

• Go for quantity and creativity: Use techniques like Crazy 8s to generate a range of ideas quickly. Pushing beyond your first idea often uncovers more innovative solutions.
• Work individually first: Give everyone space to sketch their ideas without influence. This ensures introverts and extroverts alike contribute equally and prevents groupthink.
• Sketch the idea, not the art: No worries if you “can’t draw” – stick figures and rough diagrams are fine. Focus on the user interaction and details of how it works. Clarity over aesthetics.
• Make ideas tangible: Turn your best idea into a concrete sketch with enough detail (screens, steps, notes) that the team can easily grasp the concept. Tangible ideas are easier to evaluate on Wednesday.

 Question: What’s your favorite method to brainstorm solutions in a crunch? Have you tried sketching your ideas out on paper as a team exercise? Let us know what works for you!