My work

About me

My work

About me

My work

About me

Design Sprint for disruptive technologies

How can we reach our two-year plan: to be the leading educational solution in disruptive technologies, impacting more than one million people in Latin America and positioning ourselves as a benchmark in the industries?

Headquarters

Headquarters

Remote

Founded

Founded

2020

Industry

Industry

eLearning

My role

  • Facilitator

  • Notetaker

  • Prototyper & Tester

  • UX Research

  • Meme Reviewer

Challenge

Part of the challenge of this Sprint was based on the users having a better approach to the first two concepts we wanted to test: Learning paths and memberships.

The product offered by Blokdemy to its main user starts from the niche of disruptive technologies. One of the problems in this area is the amount of options a user can find on the market when they want to formalize their education in a specific subject.

Results

To solve this, the team came up with a solution that explores the presentation of learning paths, and a comprehensive guide that can be followed from start to finish to get a Blokdemy's certification. To have active students in the academy that can enroll in Blokdemy's courses, and also are involved in our community.

Planning and Executing a Design Sprint

The circumstances surrounding this Sprint were quite unique. Not only was it the first Design Sprint of Blokdemy, but it was also done completely remotely.  Thanks to the fact that one of the advantages of remote work is the access to tools that can be explored and used to make this kind of work easier for us, in our case 'Miro', was an excellent ally in the whiteboarding process and the results were seen in the constant participation of the team. 

Elba and I (as facilitators), we try to make sure that this tool was easy to access for the team by including step-by-step instructions for each of the methodologies we were implementing in each session.

Beforehand, we make sure that the preparation of this Sprint also included the delimitation of the Sprint Brief, adjusting to 5 workshops of 3 hours each session, and planning in advance each part of the sessions in order to not lose details in each of the methodologies but also, make sure that we would not overwhelm our participants with the activities.

Sprint Highlights

After 5 days of workshops, of 3 hours each, these are the milestones we achieved as a team

Day 1

Day 1

Research

Findings

Research

Findings

Research

Findings

Metodologies we used:

- Talks with experts + HMW's

- Grouping + voting of HMWs

- Define long goals terms

-Immersive research

- Talks with experts + HMW's

- Grouping + voting of HMWs

- Define long goals terms

-Immersive research

- Talks with experts + HMW's

- Grouping + voting of HMWs

- Define long goals terms

-Immersive research

How might we differentiate ourselves from the competition, without neglecting the quality of our product?

  • After a quick chat with the experts and discussions with each team member about possible issues they see and have experienced with the product, each person created their 'How Might We Questions' (HMWs). These questions were then sorted into themes (we managed to have a total of 11 different ones), and then we proceeded to take a vote on them, generating four (4) final questions.


  • Then each participant wrote their long-term goals, votes were taken, and a goal was established for discussion the following day at the mapping session.


  • Then we move on to the part that not everyone likes, the Sprint Questions, where it's time to get pessimistic and question everything.

What could go so wrong that it could ruin our 2-year goal?

From these discussions, we found several questions that gave us a better insight into the company's vision

01

What actions should we take if there were a loss of interest in the blockchain ecosystem?

02

How would we hold our product back from exponential growth? 

03

If our education stragety fails in the long term, how should we replace it?

04

How can we offer updated content on our platforms? 

What actions should we take if there were a loss of interest in the blockchain ecosystem?

How would we hold our product back from exponential growth? 

If our education stragety fails in the long term, how should we replace it?

How can we offer updated content on our platforms? 

Day 2

Day 2

Ideation 

Process

Ideation 

Process

Ideation 

Process

Metodologies we used:

- Affinity Map

- Creation and discussion of HMWs

- Approach

- Lightning Demos

- Affinity Map

- Creation and discussion of HMWs

- Approach

- Lightning Demos

- Affinity Map

- Creation and discussion of HMWs

- Approach

- Lightning Demos

Understanding in detail the qualities and weaknesses of the current solution or ecosystem to define very precisely what needs to be improved or completely redesigned.

Understanding in detail the qualities and weaknesses of the current solution or ecosystem to define very precisely what needs to be improved or completely redesigned.

  • The AHA moment! came when we did “affinity mapping”: a categorization of the most critical issues to be dealt with at the end goal. We determined 3 essential stages in Blokdemy's journey, to reach its end goal, starting with:

    — Marketing / Attraction (which is the stage we decided to focus on in this particular Sprint)

    — Followed by, Sales / Conversion,

    — Finishing with, Admissions / Experience.​


    Within this activity, there were discussions regarding the types of users that would use the product, ranging from students to future partners. All this work was done taking into account the proposed two-year end goal.


  • Then each participant created their own lightning demos, where they shared their personal vision on a short presentation of inspiring ideas from competitors or even from other sectors.

    ​— We talked about how they picture the company in the future.

    — And we had a discussion about future plans as a team and how to approach these plans as a team.

  • The AHA moment! came when we did “affinity mapping”: a categorization of the most critical issues to be dealt with at the end goal. We determined 3 essential stages in Blokdemy's journey, to reach its end goal, starting with:


    Marketing / Attraction (which is the stage we decided to focus on in this particular Sprint)

    Followed by, Sales / Conversion,

    Finishing with, Admissions / Experience.​


    Within this activity, there were discussions regarding the types of users that would use the product, ranging from students to future partners. All this work was done taking into account the proposed two-year end goal.


  • Then each participant created their own lightning demos, where they shared their personal vision on a short presentation of inspiring ideas from competitors or even from other sectors.

    ​— We talked about how they picture the company in the future.

    — And we had a discussion about future plans as a team and how to approach these plans as a team.

  • The AHA moment! came when we did “affinity mapping”: a categorization of the most critical issues to be dealt with at the end goal. We determined 3 essential stages in Blokdemy's journey, to reach its end goal, starting with:

    — Marketing / Attraction (which is the stage we decided to focus on in this particular Sprint)

    — Followed by, Sales / Conversion,

    — Finishing with, Admissions / Experience.​


    Within this activity, there were discussions regarding the types of users that would use the product, ranging from students to future partners. All this work was done taking into account the proposed two-year end goal.


  • Then each participant created their own lightning demos, where they shared their personal vision on a short presentation of inspiring ideas from competitors or even from other sectors.

    ​— We talked about how they picture the company in the future.

    — And we had a discussion about future plans as a team and how to approach these plans as a team.

Day 3

Day 3

Decide

Metodologies we used:

- Taking notes and ideas

- Crazy 8's technique

- Sticky Decision

​✅ Heat-map

  • Speed Critique

  • Straw Poll

  • Super Decision

- Storyboard

With all the work we did the past couple of days, the team had a stack of solutions to decide on. 

With all the work we did the past couple of days, the team had a stack of solutions to decide on. 

  • This day was intended for each participant to make important, and individual decisions about the design we would focus our work on later. With a session of brainstorming, using the 'crazy 8's technique' and then, individually developing (as a rough sketch) only one of those proposals.


  • For this exercise, the participants' proposals were kept anonymous, and a voting session was held to forge a heatmap, allowing the validation of specific ideas for each of the proposals. Voting took place, and each participant justified their choice by writing down their reasons.

  • The AHA moment! came when we did “affinity mapping”: a categorization of the most critical issues to be dealt with at the end goal. We determined 3 essential stages in Blokdemy's journey, to reach its end goal, starting with:


    Marketing / Attraction (which is the stage we decided to focus on in this particular Sprint)

    Followed by, Sales / Conversion,

    Finishing with, Admissions / Experience.​


    Within this activity, there were discussions regarding the types of users that would use the product, ranging from students to future partners. All this work was done taking into account the proposed two-year end goal.


  • Then each participant created their own lightning demos, where they shared their personal vision on a short presentation of inspiring ideas from competitors or even from other sectors.

    ​— We talked about how they picture the company in the future.

    — And we had a discussion about future plans as a team and how to approach these plans as a team.

  • This day was intended for each participant to make important, and individual decisions about the design we would focus our work on later. With a session of brainstorming, using the 'crazy 8's technique' and then, individually developing (as a rough sketch) only one of those proposals.


  • For this exercise, the participants' proposals were kept anonymous, and a voting session was held to forge a heatmap, allowing the validation of specific ideas for each of the proposals. Voting took place, and each participant justified their choice by writing down their reasons.

Following this decision, we started putting together the Prototype. From scattered post-its, we created a complete wireframe of the concept, and decide precisely what we will prototype

Following this decision, we started putting together the Prototype. From scattered post-its, we created a complete wireframe of the concept, and decide precisely what we will prototype

Day 4

Day 4

Prototype

Metodologies we used:

- Heat map

  • Speed critique

  • Straw poll

​✅  Super decision
- Storyboarding
- Recruitment process for interviews

- Heat map

  • Speed critique

  • Straw poll

​✅  Super decision
- Storyboarding
- Recruitment process for interviews

- Heat map

  • Speed critique

  • Straw poll

​✅  Super decision
- Storyboarding
- Recruitment process for interviews

By building a realistic prototype with the solutions in our storyboard, we can simulate a finished product for our customers.

By building a realistic prototype with the solutions in our storyboard, we can simulate a finished product for our customers.

  • A final voting process was conducted, first with the group and then with the decider to choose the design we would prototype.


  • Storyboarding was developed with the participation of the team, the user journey was defined, aiming for the end goal we had in mind (creating functional user paths and offering a membership) and the general flow of the website. 

    For the prototyping section, we took 4 of the 8th sketches the participants had drawn into account, with the idea of testing the concept, features, and value of the product.

  • The AHA moment! came when we did “affinity mapping”: a categorization of the most critical issues to be dealt with at the end goal. We determined 3 essential stages in Blokdemy's journey, to reach its end goal, starting with:


    Marketing / Attraction (which is the stage we decided to focus on in this particular Sprint)

    Followed by, Sales / Conversion,

    Finishing with, Admissions / Experience.​


    Within this activity, there were discussions regarding the types of users that would use the product, ranging from students to future partners. All this work was done taking into account the proposed two-year end goal.


  • Then each participant created their own lightning demos, where they shared their personal vision on a short presentation of inspiring ideas from competitors or even from other sectors.

    ​— We talked about how they picture the company in the future.

    — And we had a discussion about future plans as a team and how to approach these plans as a team.

  • A final voting process was conducted, first with the group and then with the decider to choose the design we would prototype.


  • Storyboarding was developed with the participation of the team, the user journey was defined, aiming for the end goal we had in mind (creating functional user paths and offering a membership) and the general flow of the website. 

    For the prototyping section, we took 4 of the 8th sketches the participants had drawn into account, with the idea of testing the concept, features, and value of the product.

Day 5

Day 5

Test

Test

Metodologies we used:

- Discussions on the strengths and weaknesses of the prototyped solution.

- Answering Sprint Questions.

- Planning Next Steps

- Sprint Scorecard

A few minutes of testing with a neutral user will reveal most of the flaws or potential for improvement

A few minutes of testing with a neutral user will reveal most of the flaws or potential for improvement

  • Before jumping into interviews and concept testing, we reviewed the prototype together. 

    Then, we split into teams to run the interviews side by side. 

    With the support of Blokdemy's team, we were able to recruit users for our usability testing. We talked with three (03) direct students, and three (03) future users for a period of 30 minutes per interview. 

    Thanks to this mix of participants, we were able, to get the insights we were hoping for: on concept, usability, and navigation. 

    At this point, we reviewed the notes that we took on the interviews and agreed on the next steps the team should work on to get to that end goal, according to the team's collective feeling and capacity.

  • The AHA moment! came when we did “affinity mapping”: a categorization of the most critical issues to be dealt with at the end goal. We determined 3 essential stages in Blokdemy's journey, to reach its end goal, starting with:


    Marketing / Attraction (which is the stage we decided to focus on in this particular Sprint)

    Followed by, Sales / Conversion,

    Finishing with, Admissions / Experience.​


    Within this activity, there were discussions regarding the types of users that would use the product, ranging from students to future partners. All this work was done taking into account the proposed two-year end goal.


  • Then each participant created their own lightning demos, where they shared their personal vision on a short presentation of inspiring ideas from competitors or even from other sectors.

    ​— We talked about how they picture the company in the future.

    — And we had a discussion about future plans as a team and how to approach these plans as a team.

  • Before jumping into interviews and concept testing, we reviewed the prototype together. 

    Then, we split into teams to run the interviews side by side. 

    With the support of Blokdemy's team, we were able to recruit users for our usability testing. We talked with three (03) direct students, and three (03) future users for a period of 30 minutes per interview. 

    Thanks to this mix of participants, we were able, to get the insights we were hoping for: on concept, usability, and navigation. 

    At this point, we reviewed the notes that we took on the interviews and agreed on the next steps the team should work on to get to that end goal, according to the team's collective feeling and capacity.

Sprint Recommendations

The Outcome. Some recommendations from the facilitators: 

The end of a Design Sprint is the first step in developing a new product or idea. Once the team has learned how to prioritize and get user feedback on the features they've delivered, they should be able to adjust the scope of whatever future iterations the product might require while building on user needs. 

​

Some recommendations we had: 

The end of a Design Sprint is the first step in developing a new product or idea. Once the team has learned how to prioritize and get user feedback on the features they've delivered, they should be able to adjust the scope of whatever future iterations the product might require while building on user needs. 

​

Some recommendations we had: 

01

Going from Buyer Persona to Persona:

  • We (the facilitators) believe that the 'Persona' orientation should be focused not only from a marketing point of view but also from a product point of view. 

    While the main reason for creating a User Persona is to establish a sense of empathy between developers and end users, Buyer Personas are intended to help better understand user motivations.

02

Defining Brand Guidelines:

  • 'Look and Feel' go hand in hand with the user experience. Working on this, not only will solidify their brand identity, but would also give it a "voice" for the user to feel familiar with the product whenever they have access

03

Following stages of the Sprint.

  • Prioritization requires teamwork, combining knowledge from different areas of the product along with new findings from the Design Sprint. For this experience to work on, they must open their minds to the perspectives of their colleagues, without forgetting the objectives set within the Sprint.

Mane Acevedo, UX Designer

Advocate for inclusive and responsive design with a user-centered vision.


My Role on the Sprint:

  • Facilitator

  • Notetaker

  • Prototyper & Tester

  • UX Research

  • Meme Reviewer

Elba Ornelas, Product Designer

I work in a tech healthcare company, where we are dedicated to design to improve people's health. 🥰


My Role on the Sprint:

  • Facilitator

  • UX Research

  • Recruiter of users

  • Prototyper & Tester

  • UX Research

  • Icebreaker Queen

THE TEAM

María Acevedo, UX Designer

Advocate for inclusive and responsive design with a user-centered vision.


My Role on the Sprint:

  • Facilitator

  • Notetaker

  • Prototyper & Tester

  • UX Research

  • Meme Reviewer

Advocate for inclusive and responsive design with a user-centered vision.


My Role on the Sprint:

  • Facilitator

  • Notetaker

  • Prototyper & Tester

  • UX Research

  • Meme Reviewer

Elba Ornelas, Product Designer

I work in a tech healthcare company, where we are dedicated to design to improve people's health. 🥰


My Role on the Sprint:

  • Facilitator

  • UX Research

  • Recruiter of users

  • Prototyper & Tester

  • UX Research

  • Icebreaker Queen

I work in a tech healthcare company, where we are dedicated to design to improve people's health. 🥰


My Role on the Sprint:

  • Facilitator

  • UX Research

  • Recruiter of users

  • Prototyper & Tester

  • UX Research

  • Icebreaker Queen

Let's talk

Think we can work together? You can reach out to me through Linkedin

LinkedIn

Contact

Instagram

All Rigths Reserved © 2024. Website made by Maria Acevedo

Let's talk

Think we can work together? You can reach out to me through Linkedin

LinkedIn

Contact

Instagram

All Rigths Reserved © 2024. Website made by Maria Acevedo

Let's talk



Think we can work together? You can reach out to me through Linkedin

LinkedIn

Contact

Instagram

All Rigths Reserved © 2024.

Website made by Maria Acevedo