Achieve testing, user-validated solutions in just four days
The Design Sprint 2.0 is a focused, high-energy approach that condenses months of work into just four days. Optimized by AJ&Smart, this compact format is a modified version of the original five-day process created by Google Ventures and documented in Jake Knapp's "Sprint" among other places, compressing it into just four days without losing impact. This accelerated format allows teams to define goals, generate solutions, build a realistic prototype, and test with real users — all in one workweek. Perfect for teams needing fast, actionable insights, this sprint turns ideas into user-validated solutions, empowering confident, data-driven decisions.
Primary gains:
- Faster innovation: Reach user-validated solutions in four days rather than weeks
Focused alignment: Keeps teams and stakeholders on the same page with clear goals and outcomes
Real user feedback: Validates ideas with real users early, minimizing development risks
General overview: what to expect
On Day 1 of Design Sprint 2.0, the team dives into defining goals and brainstorming solutions, followed by choosing the most promising ideas for prototyping on Day 2. Day 3 then focuses on creating a demo prototype, which is then tested with real users on Day 4, generating insights for potential iteration. Teams can extend the sprint with an iteration sprint if desired, ensuring that the final output is not only user-centered and but additionally refined.
Though a lot of the design sprint has a set methodology and defined goal, it's a bit adaptable, ranging from 3-5 full days or can be split into 6-10 half-day sessions to fit your team’s schedule and unique project needs.
Though "Design Sprint 2.0" is a term popularized by AJ&Smart, the concept of design sprints has been explored and refined by many, including Design Sprint by Richard Banfield, C. Todd Lombardo, and Trace Wax, as well as at thoughtbot among others.
- Download Design Sprint 2.0 including Iteration Sprint PDF
Detailed benefits
How it might work for your team
Define goals and generate ideas quickly
Kick off by setting a clear long-term goal and identifying key challenges, creating alignment and focus to ensure productive idea generation.
Make fast, collaborative decisions
Through structured review, voting, and storyboarding, your team quickly selects the best solutions and establishes a clear roadmap for prototyping.
Realistic demos for meaningful user feedback
Build a demo prototype that simulates the solution effectively, allowing teams to gain valuable user feedback without a fully developed product.
Validate demo prototype with real users
Test your prototype with users to gather feedback, validate assumptions, and make data-driven decisions, reducing risks before development.
Case study
Partnering with Duke Energy’s Emerging Technologies Office (ETO) , we aimed to improve their storytelling and communication to the parent organization by highlighting operational efficiencies. Through early-stage exploration, we identified the Customer Energy Control Center (CECC) as a promising proof of concept to empower customers with real-time energy insights via smart meters, fostering engagement and supporting sustainability goals. Using smart home technology and energy grid management, the company saw the CECC as a way to enhance customer awareness and drive their sustainability mission forward.
After two weeks of foundational research, we launched a Design Sprint to focus our efforts. Using a mix of in-person and remote collaboration via Miro boards, we led a cross-functional team through defining objectives, understanding customer needs, mapping user journeys, and aligning on how the CECC could drive meaningful engagement. We used AJ&Smart's version of the sprint and spread it out over eight (8) half days.
As a result of our collaboration together, we realized:
- Energy awareness gap: While most customers care about energy savings, few have visibility into daily usage patterns, particularly the impact of fast vehicle charging.
- Behavioral impact: Real-time feedback on energy consumption can lead to small behavioral changes that compound into significant energy savings.
- Integrated solutions: Effective energy management combines smart metering with personalized insights and recommendations.
Over eight weeks, we delivered a tested proof of concept (POC) for the CECC, a design system, data visualization concepts, and a strategic roadmap. These deliverables provided the client with a clear pathway to "tech transfer" one of their key projects back to the business, showing them what better looked like, while enhancing user engagement and supporting their sustainability goals.
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