From 0 to Hero: How design sprints can supercharge your brand + team
Tips on how to lead fun, fast-paced design sprints that spark creativity and deliver results
Ever wish you could solve branding problems faster while having more fun with your team?
Well, good news—you can! Enter the design sprint: a fast, creative process that helps you and your team solve problems, come up with fresh ideas, and see real results in just a few days. Whether you’re revamping a brand or brainstorming a campaign, design sprints are like turbocharging your creative process—and yes, they can be a lot of fun, too.
The best part? Design sprints bring your team together in a way that feels less like work and more like a creative jam session. So if you’re ready to shake things up, keep reading, and I’ll show you how to run a design sprint that not only sparks creativity but also delivers results that’ll make your brand stand out.
What is a Design Sprint?
A design sprint is a structured, fast-paced process that helps you and your team solve big problems or come up with new ideas—quickly.
“The sprint gives teams a shortcut to learning without building and launching.”
— Jake Knapp, Creator of the Design Sprint
Think of it like this: you take a challenge, gather your best people, and work through it step-by-step over a short period, usually just 2-5 days, but you can even organise 1h sprints. By the end, you’ve got something real—like a brand concept, a logo idea, or a campaign prototype.
But here’s the cool part: design sprints aren’t just about the end result. They’re about getting everyone’s creative juices flowing and making the process fun, not stressful. It’s brainstorming with a purpose, where everyone’s ideas matter, and you walk away with a clear direction.
You’re not just sitting in a meeting; you’re actively creating, sketching, and building on ideas together. And when done right, the energy in the room is infectious—it’s like solving a puzzle together, with creativity leading the way.
Why your team needs Design Sprints
Let’s be real—if you’re not running design sprints, you’re wasting time. Here’s why:
1. Speed Up Your Process
You don’t have time to drag out projects. Design sprints get you from idea to execution in days, not weeks. It’s fast, focused, and keeps the momentum going.
2. Real Collaboration
Design sprints force your team to work together—actually together. You’re not just throwing ideas out; you’re building off each other’s strengths. Collaboration isn’t optional—it’s baked into the process.
“The best ideas come when everyone’s voice is heard.”
3. Structure Sets You Free
You need a plan. The structure of a sprint keeps things moving while giving your team the creative freedom to explore. It’s creativity with a deadline.
4. Instant Feedback
No more waiting around. You get real-time feedback during the sprint, so you can tweak, refine, and improve on the spot.
5. Break the Routine
If your team’s stuck in a rut, sprints shake things up. They push your team to think differently and come up with fresh ideas—fast.
Ready for your first Design Sprint?
So you’re ready to run a design sprint. Here’s how you make it happen—without losing your mind.
1 ⎼ Set a Clear Goal
Every sprint needs a goal. Ask yourself: What are we trying to solve? Be specific. “Come up with a brand concept” is vague. “Create three logo options for a new eco-friendly product” is what you need. Clear goals lead to clear results.
2 ⎼ Define Success Metrics
How will you know if your sprint worked? Set measurable success metrics. Whether it’s “Generate 5 viable concepts” or “Get stakeholder approval,” you need a way to track progress. This makes it easy to evaluate if you hit your goal or missed the mark.
3 ⎼ Pick your participants
Who’s in the room matters. A great sprint needs the right mix of people:
Designers: They’ll do the heavy lifting on concepts and visuals.
Decision-Maker (Optional): This is the person who can say “yes” or “no” on the spot, speeding up approvals and cutting out back-and-forth.
Host/Facilitator: Keep the session moving, make sure no one’s dominating the conversation, and help steer toward the goal.
Make sure everyone knows why they’re there and what role they play. When the right people are involved, you get better collaboration and faster results.
4 ⎼ Plan Your Agenda
A solid agenda keeps the sprint on track. Here’s a simple 1-day sprint agenda you can use:
5 ⎼ Choose the Right Sprint Type
Pick the sprint type that fits your goal:
A. Serious Sprints for serious results
Brand Alignment: Need to get everyone on the same page with your brand? This sprint gets it done—fast.
Concept Creation: Got a big project? Generate more creative ideas in one sprint than you’d normally dream up in a week.
Problem-Solving: Tackling branding challenges head-on with focused teamwork and rapid results.
Feedback seshs: Test and refine ideas faster than you can update a style guide.
B. Fun Sprints for serious creativity
Creative Playtime: Let your imagination run wild. What would a brand for a superhero bakery look like? This sprint is all about unleashing the fun.
Team Bonding: Create wacky fictional brands, and build team camaraderie in the process.
Skill-Sharpening: Want to try out a new design style or tool? Use a sprint as a fun experiment—no pressure, just exploration.
Let’s get practical
Alright, no fluff here. You want to run a killer design sprint? Here’s exactly how I do it:
1. Prepare your FigJam
Before the sprint starts, set up your FigJam with all the key sections laid out—goal, success metrics, agenda, and any logistics your team needs. Share this with the team before the sprint so they can come prepared. This also includes any pre-sprint homework (research, inspiration, or examples) they need to bring to the table. It sets clear expectations and makes sure everyone’s ready to hit the ground running.
🌟 Pro Tip: Make sure your FigJam is visually organized with easy-to-follow sections so no one gets lost.
2. Keep the Group Small
More people doesn’t mean better ideas—it means more noise. Limit your team to about 5-7 people. Get your key designers, a strategist, and a decision-maker who can give the final thumbs-up. That’s all you need.
🌟Pro Tip: Too many cooks slow down the process. Keep it lean.
3. Timebox Everything
Design sprints are fast, but you need structure. Set strict time limits for every part of the process. Brainstorming? 20 minutes. Sketching? 30 minutes. Prototype? 2 hours. Stick to the clock. When time’s up, move on—don’t get stuck in one phase.
🌟Pro Tip: Use a visible timer. When it runs out, it’s over. I’m in love with the ones from Vic in Figma. Add these timers across your different FigJam sections so everyone is conscious of time.
4. Lead, Don’t Dictate
As the sprint leader, your job is to keep things moving and make sure everyone’s contributing. You’re not the idea generator—that’s the team’s role. Stay out of the way but keep an eye on the clock and make sure you’re progressing toward the goal.
🌟Pro Tip: If one voice dominates, ask others directly for their input. Balance the conversation.
5. Quick Sketches, Not Polished Art
This isn’t the time for pixel-perfect work. Get rough ideas on the table fast. Crazy 8s is a great technique here: 8 different sketches in 8 minutes. It pushes your team to move quickly and generate a ton of ideas.
🌟Pro Tip: Quantity over quality. You’ll refine the best ones later.
6. Feedback in Real-Time
Don’t wait for post-sprint feedback sessions. Give feedback as you go. If something’s off-track, call it out early. But keep it constructive—"I like, I wish, What if" is a good structure for quick, actionable feedback.
🌟Pro Tip: Don’t spend more than 5 minutes on feedback per idea. Keep it sharp and fast.
7. Build, Test, Iterate
Once you’ve nailed down the best idea, build a quick prototype. Don’t aim for perfection. Test it, get feedback, and iterate. The goal is to learn quickly, so your first version should be rough but functional.
🌟Pro Tip: Use a simple tool like Figma or even paper prototypes to get something testable fast.
ToolBox and resources
Alright, let’s talk tools. To run a successful design sprint, you need the right resources to keep things flowing. Here’s a quick rundown of some FigJam templates and a must-read book that will elevate your sprint game:
60-Minute Brainstorm Template from Vic
When you’re on a tight schedule, this template is your best friend. It’s built for speed—get your team generating ideas in just one hour. Perfect for quick brainstorming when the clock is ticking.
Spotify Remote Design Sprint Template from Spotify Design
Working remotely? No problem. This template keeps everyone aligned and productive, even if your team is scattered across different locations. It’s structured to make remote collaboration seamless.
Async Design Sprint Template from Staffbase
For teams that aren’t all in the same time zone, this template is crucial. It allows everyone to contribute at their own pace, so no great ideas slip through the cracks because of scheduling issues.
If you’re serious about mastering design sprints, grab a copy of Jake Knapp’s The Design Sprint. This book is the blueprint for running effective sprints. Jake created this process at Google Ventures, and he’s packed it with insights, real-world examples, and a clear roadmap to success. It’s a game changer for anyone looking to streamline their design process.
