Skip to content
The Official 5-Day Design Sprint
  • Pages
    • The Official 5-Day Design Sprint
    • Set the stage
      • Sprint basics
      • Big challenge
      • Sprint team
      • Email Summary
    • Monday: Map
      • 1. Introductions
      • 2. Explain the sprint
      • 3. Long-term goal
      • 4. Sprint questions
      • 5. Map
      • 6. Lunch
      • 7. Ask the experts
      • 8. Target
    • Tuesday: Sketch
      • 1. Lightning demos
      • 2. Divide or swarm
      • 3. Sketch
        • Example
        • All Crazy 8's
        • All Solutions
      • 4. Begin recruiting
    • Wednesday: Decide
      • 1. Sticky decision
      • 2. Rumble
      • 3. Storyboard
    • Thursday: Prototype
      • 1. Pick the right tools
      • 2. Divide and conquer
      • icon picker
        3. Build the prototype
      • 4. Do a trial run
      • 5. Prepare for tomorrow
    • Friday: Test
      • 1. Interviews
      • 2. Take Notes
      • 3. Make a plan
The Official 5-Day Design Sprint
/
/
3. Build the prototype
Share
Explore

3. Build the prototype

Ready, set, build!
As you build the prototype, you’ll want to adopt the prototype mindset, build to a Goldilocks quality, and then stitch it all together.

Prototype mindset

Building a facade may be uncomfortable for you and your team. You’ll need a temporary change of philosophy, which we call the “prototype mindset”:
You can prototype anything.
Prototypes are disposable.
Build just enough to learn, but not more.
The prototype must appear real. (p. 168)

⁠
Image 2021-09-16 at 1.33.29 PM.jpg
⁠
⁠
Image 2021-09-16 at 1.34.30 PM.jpg
⁠
⁠

Goldilocks quality

The distinction between feedback and reaction is crucial. You want to create a prototype with just enough quality to evoke honest reactions from customers. (p. 170)
If the quality is too low, people won’t believe the prototype is a real product. If the quality is too high, you’ll be working all night and you won’t finish. You need Goldilocks quality. Not too high, not too low, but just right.
⁠
Image 2021-09-16 at 1.41.21 PM.jpg
⁠
⁠

Stitch it together

As individual sections of the prototype near completion, the
@Stitcher
⁠
moves in. It’s the Stitcher’s job to make the prototype consistent from beginning to end—and ensure that every step is as realistic as possible.

Add your finished prototype links here 👇

⁠
Figma file
⁠
(example)
⁠
Coda doc
⁠
(example)
⁠
Squarespace site
⁠
(example)

⁠
Next:
4. Do a trial run
⁠
⁠
Gallery
 
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.