Embracing remote design sprints with Karel de Grote University College

The format of design sprints has gained significant traction. These are a process of collaborative problem-solving that allows teams to ideate, prototype, and test solutions without the need for physical presence. 

A remote design sprint is essentially a virtual version of a traditional design sprint and follows the same basic framework as Google Ventures (GV) and AJ & Smart Design Sprint 2.0. It combines design thinking principles with agile methodologies to solve problems quickly. 

The process is designed to be completed in a short period, often faster than traditional methods, which encourages teams to maintain focus and momentum. This efficiency is one of the biggest advantages of remote design sprints.

The benefits of going remote

In an era where remote work has become the norm, one of the most significant benefits of remote design sprints is inclusivity. By allowing participants from different locations and time zones to collaborate in real time, these sprints foster a diversity of thought and perspective. 

This inclusivity can lead to more creative and innovative solutions. Additionally, the remote nature of these sprints means that they can be conducted without the logistical challenges of bringing everyone together in one place.

Putting this into practice with Karel de Grote University College

Recently, Meha and I facilitated a remote design sprint guest lecture with 20 business entrepreneur students from Karel de Grote University College, a higher educational institution in Antwerp, Belgium.

The goal of the sprint was to address the challenges faced by university students who struggle to balance academics, extracurricular activities, and social life. 

As a fun check-in to start the sprint, we introduced "Which Medieval Cat do you feel like today?" - Participants chose from mediaeval cat illustrations to express their mood.This activity created a relaxed atmosphere and sparked laughter, conversation, and connections, setting a positive tone for the rest of the session.

We subsequently framed several "How Might We" (HMW) statements to guide us, before our decider prioritised this as an agreed sprint goal: How might we design a social platform that connects students with similar interests and goals?

We defined success measures through a "Postcard from the Future," a creative exercise where participants envisioned a successful outcome 12-18 months later. One such postcard read:

"Hello! This platform has been very helpful to me. I felt alone at first as I am an international student, but through its help, I could easily find other students who felt the same and connect."

Ideation warm ups

During the sprint, students engaged in various exercises designed to spark creativity and innovation:

• Apple drawing ideations: Participants were tasked with drawing up to 64 quick sketches of apples, encouraging rapid ideation and visual thinking.

• Squiggle birds: This exercise involved transforming random squiggles into bird drawings, promoting creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

• This is not…: Students explored alternative uses for everyday objects, such as using a pen as a wand, make-up brush, or coffee stirrer, to stimulate imaginative thinking.

Throughout these exercises, the students discussed challenges they faced around perfectionism and getting caught up with single ideas. These activities helped them move past their typical thinking approaches by encouraging them to embrace imperfection and explore multiple possibilities. 

These exercises provided a safe space for experimentation, allowing the students to break free from the constraints of conventional thinking and develop a more flexible and innovative mindset.

Prototyping and Prioritisation

The students brainstormed and prioritised several ideas for prototyping, including:

• Goal Sharer App: An application that allows students to share and track their goals with peers.

• Tinder-Type Functionality: A feature enabling users to swipe through interests to find like-minded individuals.

• Leadership Table for Engagement: A platform component designed to encourage and recognise student engagement and leadership.

From mediaeval cats to creative collaboration

Ideation is really about mindset—yours and that of the team or individuals you are collaborating with. It's crucial to be conscious of this and actively work to cultivate the right atmosphere. 

One student shared their experience: “I’m usually pretty sceptical about creative tools for brainstorming and prototyping, but yesterday, I was genuinely impressed. When we conducted the exercise on how customers might view the product in a few months and explored potential design directions, especially in group settings, seeing different perspectives inspired a lot more creativity and added new ideas. Overall, I really enjoyed it." 

Creating a space where diverse perspectives can flourish not only enhances creativity but also enriches the ideation process. Remote design sprints are a great way of doing this.