Design sprint
Design sprint: test a product idea with real users in 5 days
Five days, one big question: we map the problem, sketch answers, build a realistic prototype and put it in front of 5 target users on Friday.
In short
A design sprint is a 5-day process for answering a critical product question through design, prototyping and testing with users. ui-ux.agency, the design team of tkxel, facilitates the sprint, builds the prototype and runs 5 user interviews, so a startup or product team gets a tested user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) concept and a clear go, change or stop decision in one week.
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What is a design sprint?
A design sprint compresses months of debate into 5 days: the team agrees on one question, designs an answer and tests it with real users by Friday.
The method was developed at Google Ventures and described in the book Sprint by Jake Knapp. It works because it forces decisions: each day has one goal and ends with an agreed result. Our designers facilitate the sessions and build the prototype, so your team only needs to bring knowledge of the business and the users. When the sprint confirms the idea, the next step is often a minimum viable product (MVP), designed in an MVP design agency project.
- Design sprint: 5 days, 1 question
- Monday: map
- Tuesday: sketch
- Wednesday: decide
- Thursday: prototype
- Friday: test, as 5 target users try a realistic prototype
- Investment
- $12,000–$25,000
- Deliverables
- 4 included
How does each day of the design sprint work?
The design sprint has 5 days, each with one goal.
Monday: map
The team sets a long-term goal, maps the user journey and picks the target moment for the sprint.
Tuesday: sketch
Everyone reviews examples and sketches a detailed solution on paper, alone and quietly.
Wednesday: decide
The team votes on the sketches and turns the winner into a step-by-step storyboard.
Thursday: prototype
Our designers build a realistic, clickable prototype in Figma that looks like a finished product.
Friday: test
5 target users try the prototype in one-hour interviews while the team watches and takes notes.
What do you get at the end of a design sprint?
A design sprint ends with 4 deliverables:
Tested prototype
A clickable prototype of the chosen solution, ready to reuse in later design work.
User test findings
Patterns from 5 interviews, with recordings and quotes.
Decision
A clear go, change or stop on the idea, agreed by the team.
Next-step plan
What to build, test or drop next, with a rough estimate.
Design sprint vs a full discovery phase
A design sprint answers one question in 5 days; a full discovery phase explores a whole product area over several weeks.
| Criterion | Design sprint | Full discovery phase |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5 days | 3–6 weeks |
| Scope | One critical question | A whole product or feature area |
| User contact | 5 test interviews | 10–20 interviews plus data review |
| Best when | The team must choose between options | The problem itself is unclear |
When should a team run a design sprint?
A design sprint pays off in 4 situations.
Before a big build
Test the riskiest part of a new product before engineers commit months to it.
When the team is stuck
End a long debate between options with evidence from real users.
Before fundraising
Bring tested evidence of user demand to investor meetings.
New AI features
Test whether users trust and use an AI feature; an AI product discovery workshop covers the wider choice.
How much does a design sprint cost?
A design sprint with our team costs $12,000 to $25,000, including recruiting 5 test users. Remote sprints sit at the lower end; on-site sprints with travel sit at the upper end.
The price covers a facilitator, two designers, the prototype, user recruiting and a findings report. Teams that need ongoing design after the sprint work with our product design agency team or hire UI UX designers monthly. All ranges sit in the UI UX design cost guide.
Typical investment$12,000–$25,000
- Tested prototype
- User test findings
- Decision
- Next-step plan
FAQ
Design sprint FAQs
Answers to common questions about running a design sprint.
Still have a question?
A design lead answers every message within one business day.
Talk to a design leadCan a design sprint run remotely?
Yes. We run remote sprints in FigJam and Figma, with shorter daily sessions spread over 5 days.
Who needs to attend the design sprint?
A decision maker, plus 3 to 5 people from product, engineering, sales or support for the first 3 days.
Do you recruit the test users?
Yes. We recruit 5 users who match your target customer, or invite your own customers if you prefer.
Is a design sprint useful for an existing product?
Yes. Sprints work well for big new features, pricing changes or a redesign of a key workflow.
Not sure where your design loses users?
Book a 45-minute product review. A senior designer walks through your product and names the three changes with the biggest effect.
Book a product review
Ready to launch faster and convert more users?
Send us your project. A design lead reviews it and schedules a call within one business day. We sign an NDA before the first technical discussion if you prefer.