Christian Schaaf's Blog + Portfolio

Author: cschaaf933

  • From Vision to Design: How to Create a PDF Your Audience Will Resonate With

    From Vision to Design: How to Create a PDF Your Audience Will Resonate With

    You’re deep into your passion project. The research is done, your ideas are flowing, and the deliverables are taking shape. For my project, Preserve the Peaks, a multimedia campaign about protecting Rocky Mountain National Park and encouraging responsible park visits, I’ve already created infographics, an interactive game, and a clickable poster in Genially.

    Now it’s time for my next challenge: building a digital PDF guide that’s both informative and fun to read. The goal? A go-to resource for anyone planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, packed with relatable, easy-to-digest content that inspires visitors to both enjoy and preserve the park.

    If you’re ready to create a digital guide that truly connects with its audience, let’s talk best practices.

    Start With Planning (and Then Plan Some More)

    Here’s the first truth I learned: jumping straight into design without a plan is a one-way ticket to a messy, ineffective PDF.

    Before I touched a single design element, I built a detailed outline of the sections I wanted to include. I based this outline on my research and my audience’s needs, and then I went through each source in my bibliography, pulling out 5–10 key facts, stats, or tips that could shape the guide’s copy.

    This prep work meant that when it came time to write, I wasn’t staring at a blank page; I already had a roadmap.

    My biggest takeaway: Give yourself more time for planning than you think you’ll need. That up-front investment will make the writing and design process smoother, faster, and far less stressful.

    Want to see my own outline and research notes? Click here to view them.

    Content First, Design Second

    When you’re making something visually appealing, it’s tempting to start with design. But for a PDF guide to be effective, content is the foundation. The design should exist to enhance that content, not overshadow it.

    In Best Practices for Accessible PDF Design, Albee highlights the importance of accessibility from the start. That means:

    • Logical reading order
    • Descriptive alt text for all images
    • Strong color contrast
    • Easy-to-read fonts

    These features aren’t extras; they make sure your content can be enjoyed by everyone. If you wait until the end to think about accessibility, you’ll risk having to redo major portions of your guide.

    Make It Findable, Followable, and Scannable

    In Findable, Followable, & Scannable: 3 Principles for Creating Clear Digital Guides, Jonathan DeVore breaks down how to create an effective PDF guide:

    • Findable: Use search-friendly keywords, clear file names, and logical organization so your guide can be easily located online or on a device.
    • Followable: Keep instructions clear and in the right order so your readers can easily follow along without getting lost.
    • Scannable: Use headings, bullet points, and concise language so readers can quickly grasp the key points, even if they’re just skimming.

    As I build my PDF guide, I will make sure each section is clearly labeled and packed with short paragraphs, bold subheadings, and sidebars for fun facts. That way, whether someone wants to read every word or just grab a quick tip, they’ll get value.

    Always Keep Your Audience in Mind

    This is the heartbeat of any good project: your audience is everything.

    Ask yourself:

    • What do they need to know?
    • How do they prefer to read and absorb information?
    • What tone will resonate with them?

    For Preserve the Peaks, my audience is a mix of first-time visitors and returning nature lovers who care about the environment. That means keeping the tone conversational, using accessible language, and sprinkling in excitement about the park’s beauty with practical tips for responsible travel.

    To view my progress on my digital PDF guide, click here.

    Final Thoughts: Planning Wins Every Time

    If you take away one thing from my experience, let it be this: plan first, design second.

    A well-planned guide flows naturally, communicates clearly, and invites readers to explore every section. Combine that planning with thoughtful accessibility and design choices, and you’ll have a PDF that’s not only visually appealing but also memorable and easy to use.

    Whether your goal is to inspire travel, teach a skill, or share important information, your guide has the power to connect deeply with your audience.

    So grab your notes, outline your ideas, and build something worth reading. Your audience is waiting.

    Happy creating!

  • Click, Explore, Learn: Creating Interactive Magic with Genially

    Click, Explore, Learn: Creating Interactive Magic with Genially

    There’s something exciting about being deep into a passion project when ideas start to click and your creativity shifts into high gear. If you’re like me, you reach a point where you’re ready to bring your vision to life through actual deliverables. That’s where things get interesting…and sometimes a little intimidating, especially when using a new tool for the first time.

    This week in my content creation project Preserve the Peaks, focused on preservation of Rocky Mountain National Park, I dove into something completely new: Genially, a platform that lets you create interactive digital content. My goal? Build a poster and a game that didn’t just tell a story, but invited people to participate in one.

    Here’s what I learned along the way, what Genially has to offer, and a few tips if you’re ready to try something new in your own project.

    Getting Started with Genially

    Genially is like the digital playground you didn’t know you needed. You can make interactive infographics, posters, presentations, games, quizzes, and more without needing to code or design from scratch.

    Before I jumped in, I took some time to learn the ropes. And I highly recommend you do the same. It’s tempting to dive right into your project, but learning the platform first will save you time and stress later.

    Genially’s tutorials are super helpful. They walk you through how to choose templates, add interactive features, animate your content, and share your finished product. You can start here with Genially’s first steps guide.

    Think of it like hiking. You wouldn’t hit the trail without checking the map first. Take time to learn the features so you can explore without getting lost.

    Tips for Creating with Genially

    After you explored the program, here are a few tips that really helped me when creating projects this week:

    1. Storytelling Is Everything

    Whether you’re designing a poster or a quiz, remember that you’re not just sharing information, you’re telling a story. Use animation, visuals, and an engaging layout to guide your audience through an experience, not just a page.

    2. Keep Your Audience Engaged

    Genially lets you create buttons, clickable elements, pop-ups, and hover effects. These features make static info feel dynamic and personal. Instead of just reading something, your audience is participating in it.

    3. Make It Fun

    Whether it’s a game or an interactive infographic, your audience should enjoy exploring your project. Keep things clear, concise, and surprising. Give them something to click on. Make them wonder what happens next.

    These tips are inspired by Lopez’s suggested best practices in Interactive, animated, and disruptive: How to create digital content with Genially. A great source I referenced in my project was the National Park Service, especially their page on visitor guidelines and planning visits, which helped me stay accurate and impactful.

    How My Project Evolved

    When I first started, I planned to create an interactive poster encouraging responsible behavior in Rocky Mountain National Park. I wanted it to be informative, visual, and straightforward.

    But after exploring Genially’s features, I realized: Why not make it a game? A playful, click-through experience could make the content even more engaging.

    Interactive Game

    So, I created Choose Your Path, a gamified experience where users select an avatar and navigate through real-life scenarios in the park. Should you stay on the trail? Pack out your trash? Approach that elk for a selfie? Each level presents choices and consequences, with interactive pop-ups and animations that reinforce park values in a fun, visual way.

    Interactive Map of the Park

    I also built a clickable map of Rocky Mountain National Park. Users can click on hotspots like Bear Lake, Trail Ridge Road, or Grand Lake to learn more about each area. This allowed me to teach geography, ecology, and travel tips in an interactive format.

    To view my outlines, wireframes, and Genially projects, click here.

    Lessons Learned

    What did I learn after creating projects in Genially for the first time?

    1.) Leave Time to Explore

    Don’t rush through learning the program. Block out time to experiment, test features, and maybe even start over. That exploration leads to better design and fewer headaches.

    2.) Let Your Ideas Change

    Originally I thought I’d stick with one format. But after experimenting with Genially, I realized I could pivot and create something more interactive. That flexibility made my project stronger.

    3.) Design with Your Audience in Mind

    Make sure what you’re designing is easy to understand, fun to use, and visually appealing. Test it. Click through it yourself. Ask someone else to try it. If they enjoy the experience, you’re on the right track.

    Keep Creating!

    Every creative tool has a learning curve. But when you get the hang of it, it can become a powerful way to share your message.

    Genially gave me a way to not just talk about protecting Rocky Mountain National Park, but to show it and let people interact with it. Whether you’re creating a guide, an educational game, or a simple visual story, this platform has the tools to bring your project to life.

    So go ahead. Try something new. Get your hands dirty. Click every button. Break things and build again.

    Because that’s where the real magic happens.

  • From Plan to Pixels: Creating Your First Passion Project Deliverables

    From Plan to Pixels: Creating Your First Passion Project Deliverables

    You’ve done the research, built your project management board, and collected your sources. Maybe you used Trello, Asana, or Monday.com to organize every little task. Now you’re staring at your screen thinking, “Okay, now what?” It’s time to roll up your sleeves and start bringing your ideas to life.

    Getting Started: Trust the Plan You Already Made

    Starting your deliverables can feel overwhelming, but here’s the good news: you’ve already laid the groundwork. If you created a detailed project management plan, you’ve already mapped out what you need to do. That’s exactly what helped me when I began creating my infographics this week. I returned to my Trello board, looked at the tasks under “Week 3,” and followed them step by step: conduct research, outline content, and design the drafts.

    Still unsure what to do next? Go back to your board. It’s like a creative GPS for your project.

    Let the Process Evolve

    Here’s a little secret: the plan doesn’t need to stay perfect.

    As I moved through my Week 3 checklist, I realized I needed an extra step. Creating wireframes wasn’t originally in my plan, but when I added it, everything clicked into place. These quick sketches helped me visualize the structure of my infographics before I even opened up my design software. So, if you find yourself needing to shift things around, go for it. That’s not a failure; that’s part of the process.

    Your project tasks should work for you, not the other way around.

    Designing Impactful Infographics: Tips from the Experts

    If your project involves creating infographics, you have come to the right place! I began this process by reviewing two fantastic resources that gave me a solid framework and design confidence. In Educator’s Blueprint: A How-To Guide for Creating a High-Quality Infographic, Gottlieb, Ibrahim, Martin, Yilmaz, and Chen break down creating an infographic into six helpful steps:

    • Know your audience
    • Curate relevant content
    • Create a clear structure
    • Use strong visual design
    • Choose your tools wisely
    • Ask for and apply feedback

    These tips helped me when creating my infographics this week. In Creating Effective Infographics: Visualizing Data for Impact, Eddy emphasizes balancing text with visuals and making sure data shines without overwhelming the viewer. That advice really stuck with me. I made sure to write my content first, then build visuals that supported and enhanced the message, not the other way around.

    When designing your own infographics, don’t forget about:

    • Consistent branding
    • Thoughtful color choices based on color theory
    • Clear typography with limited, legible fonts

    These small choices make a big difference.

    A Peek Behind the Curtain: My Process

    To see my outline, wireframes, and final infographic drafts, click here.

    The transition from sketches to polished designs took time, but having a structure in place helped me stay focused. The wireframes acted like a blueprint that made design choices easier.

    Stay on Track with a Production Journal

    Want to keep tabs on your weekly progress? Start a production journal.
    I learned this tip from Pattie Belle Hastings, who recommends documenting:

    • The tasks you completed
    • How long it took
    • The current status (in progress or done)
    • The tools or software you used

    It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just keep it consistent. By the end of your project, you’ll have a clear picture of how your work unfolded and a record you can reference later or include in your portfolio. Here is my production journal:

    One Last Thing: Embrace the Process

    The most important thing I’ve learned while creating deliverables?
    Enjoy the ride.

    Creative projects are never perfectly linear. Plans change. Ideas evolve. You’ll make mistakes, try new things, and discover better ways to communicate your message. Let yourself experiment, and have fun with the process.

    You’re building something you’re passionate about, so let that excitement show in every step you take.

  • A 101 Guide to Organizing Your Passion Project

    A 101 Guide to Organizing Your Passion Project

    You’ve got a big idea, the creative juices are flowing, and your passion project is finally taking shape. Now comes the tricky but fun part: getting organized. Whether you’re crafting a social campaign, building a website, or developing a multimedia series, staying organized will make the creative process much smoother.

    Let’s be honest: starting something new can be overwhelming. Where do you begin? How do you wrangle all your ideas into something cohesive? What tools actually help?

    Good news: I’m in the thick of this myself, and I’ve got your back. Here’s your go-to guide for organizing your passion project, featuring real tips from my experience working on “Preserve the Peaks,” a multimedia conservation campaign about Rocky Mountain National Park.

    Why Project Management Tools Are Game-Changers

    My “Preserve The Peaks” Project Plan in Trello.

    When you’re juggling tasks, ideas, deadlines, and research, using a project management system is a must. It gives you a visual structure for your work, helps you prioritize, and ensures you actually finish what you start.

    Some of the most popular tools out there include Trello, Asana, Notion, and Monday.com. Which one should you use? It all depends on your personal preferences and project style. Explore the features of each, and see which fits your organization style best.

    I chose Trello for my campaign. I love the card-based system, which lets me:

    • Create task checklists (there’s nothing more satisfying than checking something off)
    • Set due dates
    • Assign collaborators
    • Attach images and resources
    • Leave notes and updates

    For “Preserve the Peaks,” I divided my Trello board into sections by week and topic. Here’s a glimpse into how I broke it down:

    • Week 1: Research
    • Week 2: Organization
    • Weeks 3–4: Infographics and interactive posters
    • Weeks 5–6: Digital guide (PDF)
    • Week 7: Final packaging and project promotion

    Within each section, I created individual task cards and broke them into bite-sized and actionable to-do lists. The more detailed your checklists, the easier it is to stay on track.

    Mastering the Art of Annotated Bibliographies

    When your project management system is up and running, it’s time to dig into your research. You’ve probably already gathered sources, which is great! Now comes the part where you actually make sense of them.

    Start annotating your bibliography. For each source, write a few short paragraphs answering:

    • What is the source about?
    • Why is it important to your project?
    • How will you use the information?

    This make your research easier to reference later and also gives you a clearer picture of the themes and takeaways you want to emphasize.

    Some of the resources I used include:

    There are plenty of great resources out there on how to write an annotated bibliography if you want a template or tips!

    Creating a Project Plan That Works for You

    You’ve got your management tool. Your research is being annotated. Now it’s time to bring it all together in a clean, strategic project plan.

    Here’s what I included in my project plan:

    1. Project Management Approach: A quick overview of what platform I’m using (Trello) and how I’ve structured my boards and cards.
    2. Week-by-Week Action Plan: Each week has a clear focus with tasks tied to it, making progress feel achievable and steady.
    3. Visuals & Screenshots: Including screenshots of my Trello board helped make the plan more dynamic and transparent.

    Design your plan to match the tone of your campaign. Mine features the earthy, natural tones of the Rockies and a clean layout that’s easy to navigate. Treat it like an extension of your brand, and it will set the tone for the rest of your work.

    Let’s Get Creating

    Organization might not sound glamorous, but it’s the secret sauce to making your ideas a reality. By using tools that work for you, breaking tasks down into actionable items, and making sense of your research, you’re setting yourself up for success.

    I’ll be diving into infographic design next week. Stay tuned as I bring “Preserve the Peaks” to life!

  • Peaks and Projects: Turning a Passion for National Parks into a Content Creation Campaign

    Peaks and Projects: Turning a Passion for National Parks into a Content Creation Campaign

    How do you turn something you love into something you create? That was the question I had to answer recently when I started my Content Creation course at Quinnipiac University. For our class, we were given a big task: pick any subject, any medium, and use it as the foundation for a 7-week content project.

    No constraints. No templates. Just a blank page and total creative freedom.

    At first, that sounded exciting. But it also felt a little overwhelming. Where do you even start?

    Brainstorming a Passion Project

    When you’re told you can create anything, it can be hard to narrow it down, especially when you’re someone with a lot of interests. My best advice for brainstorming a passion project? Write everything down. Seriously. Don’t filter. Don’t overthink. Just make a big list of topics you’re passionate about, hobbies you love, causes that matter to you, and stories you want to tell.

    For me, that list included National Parks and Preservation, two things I deeply care about. I’ve had the chance to visit Rocky Mountain National Park over the past few years, and I knew I wanted to tell a story about it. The breathtaking views, the wildlife, and the feeling of traveling on Trail Ridge Road is something I will never forget. I wanted to bring my travel experience and my passion for preservation to the classroom.

    Researching Your Topic

    When I settled on Rocky Mountain National Park as my subject, the next step was research. This step is all about building a strong foundation for a multimedia campaign.

    I gathered information from trusted, multimedia sources such as:

    • The National Park Service’s official site
    • Documentaries like The Living Dream: 100 Years of Rocky Mountain National Park
    • Visitor blogs and trip reports
    • Podcasts from The Rocky Mountain Channel
    • Peer-reviewed climate research from the U.S. Forest Service
    • Interactive trail guides and conservation articles

    I wanted to understand the park from all angles: its history, climate challenges, visitor impact, and preservation efforts. These resources became the backbone of my proposed project.

    Introducing: Preserve the Peaks

    So, what is Preserve the Peaks? It’s a multimedia campaign designed to educate and inspire visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park to explore more thoughtfully and respectfully.

    • A series of infographics inspired by vintage national park posters
    • A set of interactive digital posters where users can click or scroll to reveal conservation facts and tips
    • A downloadable digital guide with practical advice, beautiful visuals, and essential park information

    These designs will be guided by one simple goal: to help visitors protect what makes the park so special: its peaks, wildlife, trails, and stories.

    You can check out my full project proposal here.

    Setting Campaign Goals and Schedule

    When planning this campaign, I outlined a few specific goals:

    • Educate travelers on how to safely and respectfully enjoy the park
    • Raise awareness about climate change’s impact on the park’s fragile ecosystems
    • Promote Leave No Trace practices among newer or infrequent visitors

    The campaign is designed for park visitors, especially first-time parkgoers, families planning trips, and younger travelers who are exploring national parks for the first time.

    Over the next seven weeks, I’ll be researching, designing, and refining content for this campaign. Weeks 1 and 2 are all about research. Weeks 3 and 4 are dedicated to creating infographics and interactive posters. Weeks 5 and 6 will focus on building out the downloadable guide. Week 7 will bring it all together.

    Final Thoughts and Advice

    If you ever find yourself faced with a wide-open creative project, here’s what I’ve learned so far:

    • Start by listing what you care about
    • Find the intersection between what excites you and what others might benefit from
    • Stay grounded in good research
    • And most importantly, create something you’d want to use yourself

    I’m excited to dive into Preserve the Peaks and share updates as the project unfolds. Whether you’re a fellow content creator, a park lover, or just someone who’s curious, thanks for following along.

    Stay tuned for more updates, and if you’re planning a trip to the Rockies, check out the official National Park Service site to start your adventure.

    Let’s protect the peaks, together.

  • Case Study: Designing WalletWize

    Case Study: Designing WalletWize

    Introduction

    WalletWize is a financial education app designed to help Gen Z users understand and manage their personal finances. The goal of the app is to create a seamless and engaging user experience that makes learning about money feel intuitive, approachable, and empowering. To create WalletWize, our group followed the Design Sprint method developed at Google Ventures. This method is a five-day process that rapidly takes a product from idea to prototype to user testing.

    For our project, we stretched the five-day Sprint into a five-week format, dedicating one week to each phase of the process. Our team collaborated virtually via Zoom and used Miro for digital whiteboarding and collaboration. What resulted was not just a prototype, but a deeper understanding of teamwork, design thinking, and problem-solving.

    Design Sprint Overview

    The Design Sprint is broken into five phases:

    1. Map + Sketch: We defined our problem, conducted research on our target audience, set goals, and sketched potential solutions.

    2. Decide + Storyboard: We used a series of voting techniques to narrow down our best ideas. From these, we created user flows and a storyboard.

    3. Refine + Prototype: With our finalized storyboard, we divided tasks based on our individual strengths and built a functional prototype.

    4. Test + Collect: We conducted remote user testing sessions with Gen Z participants. We gathered feedback on functionality, visual design, and user experience to determine what worked well and what could be improved.

    5. Reflect + Report: We compiled our findings and insights into a final Design Sprint report and individual case studies, summarizing the project and sharing key takeaways.

    Problem Statement and Research

    The problem we focused on was the lack of accessible, engaging financial management tools for Gen Z. To guide our ideation process, we created the following “How Might We” questions:

    • How might we engage Gen Z so they stay on our app instead of switching to another one?
    • How might we make learning about money feel as addictive as scrolling through social media?
    • How might we simplify complex financial concepts to make them easier and more engaging to learn?
    • How might we encourage users to return and build lasting financial habits?

    We also defined a long-term goal: In two years, WalletWize should help Gen Z form consistent money habits by making the app a daily or weekly routine.

    To better understand our target audience, we conducted background research. We found that Gen Z:

    • Relies heavily on parents for financial advice
    • Consumes most content on mobile devices
    • Faces increasing financial challenges including student debt and housing costs
    • Spends a significant amount of time on social media

    These insights shaped both our design decisions and our content strategy.

    Sprint Activities

    Phase 1: Map + Sketch

    We began by naming the app and selecting a color scheme through voting with red dots. We chose “WalletWize” as our final name and adjusted our palette to include a bold royal blue and bright orange to appeal to Gen Z.

    App Names and Color Scheme Ideas.

    Next, we created a map that began with app onboarding and ended with our goal. The steps in between represented the key features and actions users would take to reach that goal, including navigating through course content, selecting topics, and engaging with rewards.

    WalletWize’s User Journey Map.

    We then conducted Lightning Demos. Each team member analyzed apps related to finance and education, collecting visual inspiration and discussing which features we might borrow or adapt.

    Finally, we worked through the 4-Step Sketch process individually:

    • Capturing notes and inspiration
    • Generating quick ideas
    • Exploring variations in Crazy 8s
    • Creating refined solution sketches
    4-Step Sketch: Part 1 (Notetaking) and Part 2 (Ideas).
    4-Step Sketch: Part 3 (Crazy 8s) and Part 4 (Solution Sketches).

    Phase 2: Decide + Storyboard

    To narrow down ideas, we used Heat Map Voting to highlight the best elements of our sketches. Then we used Straw Poll and Supervote techniques to select our top concepts.

    Each group member created a six-step user flow. We voted on the most promising user journey and then expanded it into an eight-step storyboard that showed the elements of each screen.

    WalletWize’s User Flows and Storyboard.

    Phase 3: Refine + Prototype

    We divided responsibilities based on skillsets. Some focused on wireframes in Canva, while others built out high-fidelity prototypes in Figma. Our illustrator created visual assets, and our Stitcher ensured consistency and flow across the prototype. The prototype included interactive screens for onboarding, budgeting lessons, quizzes, and progress tracking.

    WalletWize’s Wireframes created in Canva.
    Final Prototype screens created in Figma. To view all final screens, click here.

    Phase 4: Test + Collect

    We prepared a script and conducted five remote user interviews. The sessions were recorded via Zoom. One person led the interview while others took notes.

    We created pre- and post-surveys to collect demographic and usability feedback. The pre-survey gathered background information, while the post-survey measured user satisfaction and experience.

    Phase 5: Reflect + Report

    In our final week, we divided responsibilities to create our final Design Sprint report and individual case studies. We reflected on our learning, analyzed our data, and finalized our deliverables.

    To view our group’s final report, click here.

    Results and Outcomes

    Our final clickable prototype of WalletWize received positive feedback from users. Participants appreciated the modern design, friendly illustrations, clear navigation, and overall user experience.

    One area for improvement identified during testing was the content tab. Several users were unsure how to navigate it. A suggestion to add a FAQ button to the home screen was also noted and would be implemented in future iterations.

    Overall, user feedback affirmed that our design choices were intuitive and engaging. The app met its primary goal of helping Gen Z users feel more confident in managing their money.

    Pie charts based on user testing feedback.

    Learnings and Reflection

    The Design Sprint was an exciting challenge. It taught us how to work quickly, think strategically, and communicate clearly. We learned how to facilitate discussions, manage tasks virtually, and design with the user in mind.

    Each member of our group brought unique strengths to the project, and we built a workflow that allowed us to support one another and stay organized. Conducting the Sprint virtually had its challenges, but we navigated them well using tools like Miro and Zoom.

    Beyond the technical skills, we learned how to stay adaptable. Whether it was a user who couldn’t complete a task or a design that needed to be reworked, we stayed open to change and focused on improvement.

    Conclusion and Next Steps

    The Design Sprint was more than just a framework; it was a powerful learning experience. From problem definition to user testing, we moved through each phase with purpose and creativity. WalletWize is the result of thoughtful collaboration, honest feedback, and user-centered design.

    As we look to the future, we are excited about the potential of WalletWize. With further development, we hope it becomes a trusted tool for Gen Z users who want to improve their financial literacy. The lessons we learned in this Sprint will continue to inform our approach to product design and collaboration in our future careers.

  • The Final Kick: How to Crush the Last Phase of Your Design Sprint

    The Final Kick: How to Crush the Last Phase of Your Design Sprint

    The finish line is in sight.

    After days of brainstorming, building, and refining, you’re approaching the last stretch of the Design Sprint. Just like the final leg of a race, it’s time to dig deep, make informed decisions, and sprint through the tape. Welcome to Phase 4: Test + Collect, where your prototype meets the real world and real users.

    “The ‘Test’ phase is the moment of truth in your Sprint journey. This is where your prototype faces the ultimate test — real-world user interaction and feedback.”

    Pattie Belle Hastings

    This week, my team entered the user testing phase of our digital prototype. It’s a nerve-wracking but rewarding part of the process. You finally get to see how users interact with the solution you’ve been working hard to create.

    Let’s break it all down so you can feel confident as you enter the final stages of your Design Sprint.

    Step 1: Research Lab

    Before jumping into user interviews, take time to prepare the environment for testing. In The Sprint Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning and Running Innovation Sprints, Pattie Belle Hastings refers to this as the “Research Lab” phase.

    Here’s how to successfully prepare for user testing:

    • Define your target audience: Who is your prototype for? Be specific. The more tailored your users, the more valuable the feedback.
    • Determine number of participants: In Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days, Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz recommend five participants. Why? It’s the sweet spot where patterns emerge without overwhelming your team.
    • Create a recruitment plan: Be clear and transparent. Reach out, explain what’s involved, and ask if they’re open to participating.
    • Handle the paperwork: If your tests are recorded, especially virtual ones, always send consent forms. Make sure participants understand it’s voluntary.
    • Schedule wisely: Confirm dates and times with your users. A defined schedule helps everyone feel prepared and respected.

    The moral of the story? Communicate, communicate, communicate with your user testers before starting the interviews.

    Step 2: Conduct the Interviews

    Now that your team is prepared, it’s time for the interviews. This is where the magic happens, and where things can get emotional.

    “These interviews are an emotional roller coaster. When customers get confused by your prototype, you’ll be frustrated. If they don’t care about your new ideas, you’ll be disappointed. But when they complete a difficult task…you will be elated.”

    Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz

    User Scripts

    To keep things on track, follow a user script. This script keeps your team consistent and avoids giving the participants hints. The goal is to observe their authentic reactions and not guide them to the “right” answer.

    Knapp and his team suggest to start the user interviews with a friendly welcome to make the participant feel comfortable and at ease. Make sure to tell them that you are testing the prototype and not them. Ask open-ended background questions to learn about their experience and built trust. Introduce the prototype and present the tasks in a clear manner without giving hints. It’s important to end with a debrief and let the users reflect. Ask what they liked, what didn’t work, and how they would improve it. This uncensored feedback is gold.

    Tip: Stay Neutral and Curious

    Watching users struggle with your prototype can be hard. But that’s the point: your job isn’t to defend your work; it’s to learn from it.

    Here are some tips for a productive testing session:

    • Stay calm, even when users are confused.
    • Avoid giving explanations or answering questions they might have about completing a task.
    • Ask open-ended questions like:
      • “Why did you click there?”
      • “How did that feature make you feel?”

    Encourage participants to think out loud and resist the urge to jump in. Those moments of confusion are not failures; they’re opportunities to make your product even better.

    Step 3: Reflect with Your Team

    When all user sessions are complete, it’s time to analyze the results. Pattie Belle Hastings puts it best:

    “Analyzing the data from user testing in a Design Sprint is critical for deriving meaningful insights, identifying areas for improvement, and determining steps forward after the Sprint.”

    Pattie Belle Hastings

    During this debrief, your team should identify recurring patterns or problems, highlight areas where users were both confident and confused, review task completion rates and timing, observe users’ body language and facial expressions, and, if possible, collect both quantitative and qualitative feedback.

    You can write down observations in a shared document, on sticky notes, or on a digital whiteboard. When the insights are clear, schedule a check-out meeting to decide your next steps. Do you iterate on the prototype? Do you move forward with development? The decision will come from the evidence.

    To view my team’s user testing documentation and results, click here.

    Final Lap: Celebrate and Reflect

    You did it! Your team sprinted through ideation, prototyping, and testing. You gathered real feedback and now have a stronger sense of where your solution stands.

    So take a moment. High-five your team. Celebrate the collaboration and your hard work. Whether you nailed it on the first try or have adjustments to make, you’ve completed something meaningful.

    Cross that finish line strong.

  • The Art of Building Quick Prototypes: Phase 3 of Design Sprints

    The Art of Building Quick Prototypes: Phase 3 of Design Sprints

    You and your team are mid-race, and the stakes are rising. You’ve hit your stride, picked up steam, and now it’s time to execute. Phase 3 of the Design Sprint, Prototype and Refine, is all about collaboration and showcasing your strengths.

    At this stage, the ideas are there. Now, your job is to bring those ideas to life in a way that’s fast, intentional, and “good enough” for user testing. As Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz write in Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days:

    “You’ve got an idea for a great solution. Instead of taking weeks, months, or, heck, even years building that solution, you’re going to fake it…To prototype your solution, you’ll need a temporary change of philosophy: from perfect to just enough, from long-term quality to temporary simulation.”

    Knapp, Zeratsky, and Kowitz

    That quote stuck with me, especially as someone who tends to chase perfection. The prototype mindset is about learning quickly. The goal is not to create a flawless product; it’s to simulate one realistic enough to gather feedback. So, how do you do that in just one day?

    Let’s break it down.

    Understanding Phase 3 Goals

    Pattie Belle Hastings outlines five key objectives in The Sprint Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning and Running Innovation Sprints to guide the Prototype and Refine phase:

    • Rapid Realization: Quickly turn ideas into something tangible.
    • Focus on Critical Elements: Build only what matters most to test.
    • Prepare for User Testing: Design the prototype to gather useful feedback.
    • Resource Efficiency: Use the least amount of time and tools to get the job done.
    • Collaboration: Lean on each team member’s strengths to bring the product to life.

    “The prototype phase is the crucible where your ideas are forged into tangible forms, ready for real-world testing…It’s a creative endeavor that requires a blend of ingenuity, skill, and strategic thinking.”

    Pattie Belle Hastings

    This phase is where your team can shine. Focus on what matters most and continue the Sprint.

    Step 1: Pick the Tools

    Start by selecting your design tools. Depending on your team’s skills and project goals, you might choose:

    • Wireframes: Low-fidelity designs that outline structure
    • Mockups: High-fidelity visuals that simulate a real interface
    • Clickable Prototypes: Interactive designs that mimic real use
    • Functional Prototypes: Working products with built-in features

    Common tools include Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, and Canva. For my team’s Gen Z personal finance app, we used Canva for wireframes and Figma for clickable prototypes. These tools matched our team’s skills and needs.

    Step 2: Divide and Conquer

    Time is limited, so efficiency is key. Assign roles based on experience and interest. Encourage each person to advocate for the role that best suits them.

    For our group, roles included:

    • Wireframe Creators: Sketched the app’s layout
    • Writer: Created on-screen text and instructions
    • Asset Collector: Gathered app content and visuals
    • Makers: Built the prototype in Figma
    • Illustrator: Designed custom icons and the app logo
    • Stitcher: Reviewed the prototype for consistency and flow

    I was assigned three roles: wireframing, illustrator, and stitcher. With a design background, I created the app’s logo and visual identity, and I reviewed all aspects of the prototype, including content, spelling, interactivity, and visuals, to ensure the finalized product was polished and ready to go.

    Step 3: Build the Prototype

    The Budgeting Category screen in my group’s app.

    This is the heart of the phase. Using the storyboard from Phase 2, your team starts constructing the prototype. Make sure all team members are designing at the same fidelity level, review the prototype for consistency in design and functionality, ensure interactive elements align with the user flow, revisit Sprint objectives to stay focused, and prepare for user testing. The goal here is clarity, not perfection.

    Knapp, Zeratsky, and Kowitz assert that the prototype should look real enough that users believe it’s a functional product. This step will help the team learn about the areas of the product that work well and elements that require editing.

    Step 4: Conduct a Trial Run

    Before handing your prototype over to testers, test it internally. This gives your team the chance to identify confusing steps or design issues early. It is important to schedule a time for the entire team to conduct a trial run. Assign a group member to play the role of the user, gather feedback, and revise as needed.

    “Trial runs help your team fine-tune the prototype, identify potential issues, and ensure a smooth and effective testing session.”

    Pattie Belle Hastings

    Ask yourself: Does the product feel intuitive? Does the prototype reflect our Sprint goals? This step builds confidence and alignment before entering the final testing phase.

    Team Reflection: What Worked for Us

    This week, our team focused on communication, task alignment, and preparation. We clearly outlined roles, set deadlines, and checked in frequently. Having designated roles based on individual strengths helped us stay accountable and confident in our contributions.

    We also met virtually several times throughout the week, checked in with each other in our text group chat frequently, communicated early and often, and celebrated small wins along the way.

    One of the biggest lessons I learned this week? Don’t wait to speak up. If something is unclear, ask. If something’s off, say something. Holding yourself accountable while staying open to feedback makes a big difference in the pace and quality of your work.

    View my team’s wireframes and prototypes here.

    Final Thoughts: Eyes on the Finish Line

    This phase of the Sprint felt like the middle miles of a race. You’ve already started strong, and now you need to stay focused and finish strong. The prototype phase requires energy, attention to detail, and trust in your team.

    When it’s done right, it’s incredibly rewarding. You’re not just imagining your solution; you’re seeing it come to life.

    At this point, your product is ready to be tested. Keep your head up, keep your pace steady, and get ready for the next phase: testing with real users.

    The finish line is near.

  • Building the Blueprint: Deciding and Storyboarding with Your Sprint Team

    Building the Blueprint: Deciding and Storyboarding with Your Sprint Team

    You’ve laced up. You’ve found your pace. Now you’re in a full sprint.

    That’s exactly what Phase 2 of the Design Sprint feels like.

    After assembling your team and navigating the initial steps, this is the part of the Sprint where you have to stay focused, communicate clearly, and trust your teammates. Just like in a relay, everyone’s contribution counts, and collaboration makes all the difference.

    Have you ever heard of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”? This quote applies directly to the Sprint. If your team is aligned and unified, you will achieve great solutions together.

    Phase 2 of the Design Sprint, Decide and Storyboard, is all about making critical choices and beginning to shape your final solution. You evaluate the ideas generated in Phase 1 and decide which ones are worth turning into a prototype. In Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days, Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz describe the steps of this phase:

    “You’ll critique each solution, and decide which ones have the best chance of achieving your long-term goal…you’ll take the winning scenes from your sketches and weave them into a storyboard: a step-by-step plan for your prototype.“

    Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz

    Let’s break it down.

    Step One: Decide

    Everyone has strong ideas, and that could make the idea voting process tricky. Luckily, Pattie Belle Hastings, in The Sprint Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning and Running Innovation Sprints, offers a clear, structured path to voting on solutions:

    The Art Museum

    Think of your sketches like artwork on display. Pin your 4-Step Sketches from Phase 1 and observe them silently, just like how you would walk through an art gallery. This will give your team members time to analyze each idea individually before jumping into discussion.

    Heat Map Voting

    Distribute a sheet of red dots to your team members so they can mark parts of the sketches they found promising and interesting. Hastings suggests voting based on:

    • Feasibility
    • Desirability
    • Impact
    • Alignment with project goals

    After voting, it is important to discuss the ideas that received the most votes. Ensure each team member has a chance to speak and share their thoughts.

    Speed Critique

    With a timer set for each idea, have your Facilitator walk the team through each concept and capture key takeaways on three or four sticky notes per idea. This step will allow your group to highlight the strengths and potential concerns of each sketch without going off-track.

    Straw Poll Vote

    Each teammate should then select their favorite concept and write down the reason why they chose that idea. This will help visualize the group’s preferences and concept popularity.

    The Supervote

    The final decision is in the hands of your team’s Decider. This exercise should be given a defined time frame, and the Decider will vote using two dots. The votes can be distributed in a few ways:

    • Both dots on one concept.
    • One dot on a concept, and another dot on a specific feature from another concept.
    • Both dots on two different concepts.

    Step Two: Storyboard

    When the concepts are selected in the Decide stage, it’s time to visualize how your future prototype would function step by step.

    Hastings, Knapp, Zeratsky, and Kowitz suggest to start with User Flows, a six-step process outlining user actions like taps or clicks. Each team member should create their own user flow by defining the first and finals actions and then filling in the middle steps. The group then votes on the flow that they want to move forward with.

    From there, your team will convert the winning user flow to an 8-screen storyboard, crafting a visual guide to illustrate the user’s journey.

    “Storyboarding is a simple process, with a ton of tiny decisions along the way…Every decision you make now is something you won’t have to think about when you build your prototypes.”

    Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz

    Along with the visuals, write simple, clear captions beneath each screen describing how the user will interact with your product. This will help your group stay aligned and will be beneficial in the next phase of the Design Sprint.

    Team Reflection: Our Decide and Storyboard Experience

    This week, my team met over Zoom to work through the Decide and Storyboard phase for our Gen Z personal finance app. We came prepared. Everyone completed their user test flows and reviewed each other’s sketches beforehand. This prep made a huge difference and allowed us to use our time together efficiently.

    In the meeting, we:

    • Used the Heat Mapping, Straw Poll Vote, and Supervote exercises to identify our top features.
    • Set timers to keep our discussion focused.
    • Made time for critique, clarification, and team input.
    • Spent time refining our storyboard collaboratively.

    To view my team’s work from this week, click here.

    Final Thoughts

    Pattie Belle Hastings sums up the importance of this phase in the Design Sprint: “This is a pivotal moment in the Sprint that transitions the team from decision-making to prototyping. It’s important to end this day with clarity and focus.”

    The Decide and Storyboard Phase is where your team’s ideas begin to take shape. It’s where rough sketches transform into plans, and where individual creativity blends into shared vision. In terms of our race analogy, this is the mile marker where momentum builds, and the finish line starts to feel real.

    Here are a few takeaways from this phase:

    • Communicate early and often. When ideas aren’t clear, ask questions.
    • Be flexible. If a vote doesn’t go your way, stay open and engaged.
    • Give ideas time to breathe. Sketching, reviewing, and refining takes time, and that’s okay.

    We’re not just running anymore; we’re sprinting with purpose.

    Stay tuned for Phase 3, where we’ll bring our ideas to life in the Prototype stage.

  • Map and Sketch: The Starting Line of Innovation

    Map and Sketch: The Starting Line of Innovation

    The past few weeks, you’ve done the preparation. You’re at the starting line of the race. Your teammates are beside you. No doubts. No fear.

    You hear a loud, resounding “Go!” Your team takes off. The Design Sprint has officially begun.

    Just like the start of a real race, the kickoff of a Design Sprint is full of momentum and possibility. You’ve spent time organizing roles, reviewing expectations, and understanding the problem you want to solve. Now, you begin the Map and Sketch phase. This is where you find your rhythm and start illustrating solutions.

    What is the Map and Sketch Phase?

    According to The Sprint Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning and Running Innovation Sprints by Pattie Belle Hastings and Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz, the first phase of a Design Sprint is about understanding your problem, defining goals, and developing ideas visually.

    “In the Map and Sketch phase, you’ll learn how to dissect the problem space, gather insights, and set clear objectives for the work ahead.”

    Pattie Belle Hastings

    This phase is split into two days. Let’s explore what exercises you should conduct each day to start your Design Sprint in the best way possible.

    Day 1: Create the Path

    Your team begins by conducting short expert interviews with people who are experts with your proposed product. Getting insights from them will provide helpful background information and research for your project.

    Example questions to ask experts include:

    • What problem are we trying to solve?
    • Who is currently using the product?
    • What could this product look like in one to two years?

    Next, identify your “How might we…?” questions. HMW’s help turn challenges into opportunities. Hastings recommends keeping these statements focused and specific for future brainstorming. An example of a “How might we…?” question could be:

    How might we design an app that teaches Gen Z about personal finance management in an engaging and fun way?

    Group your HMWs by theme, discuss them, and vote on the most important ones. This democratic method ensures that each voice is heard before narrowing your team’s focus.

    Next, define your long-term goal. This helps align the group and set a clear vision for the product. Using sticky notes, each member writes their goals and presents them to the group. After discussion and voting, if a tie occurs, the Decider, your team’s final decision-maker, steps in to choose the final goals.

    Sprint Questions are up next. These are potential roadblocks that your team could face when achieving the long-term goal(s). These questions are usually phrased as “Can we…?” statements:

    Can we guide Gen Z users through their first financial task within five minutes?

    Once shared and voted on, keep your top three Sprint Questions visible on a physical whiteboard or collaborative platform like Miro.

    To wrap up Day 1, your team should create a product journey map. Knapp, Zeratsky, and Kowitz provide a few tips on creating an effective map:

    • List the users, the people that will engage with your product, on the left.
    • Write the end goal on the right.
    • Use words and arrows between to illustrate the user flow.
    • Keep it simple with less than twenty steps.
    • Communicate with your team to make sure the map makes sense.

    This map doesn’t need to be a work of art. It should depict the user’s journey and the steps between the starting point and the solution.

    Day 2: The Solution Day

    Now that the path is clear, it’s time to generate ideas.

    Start with lightning demos. These are short presentations where team members share inspiration from existing products or solutions. Hastings suggests allowing 25 minutes for this step. Each team member shares three examples from current products that could influence or improve your project.

    The next step? The Four-Step Sketch, which emphasizes quality thinking over artistic ability.

    “On Monday, you and your team defined the challenge and chose a target. On Tuesday, you’ll come up with solutions… remix and improve… and sketch, following a four-step process that emphasizes critical thinking over artistry.”

    Knapp, Zeratsky, Kowitz

    Here’s the breakdown:

    1. Notes: Review and write down key takeaways from Day 1, such as the “How Might We…?” Questions, Sprint Questions, Long-Term Goal(s), and any other important information. Allow 20 minutes for this step.
    2. Ideas: Turn your notes into rough visual concepts. Dedicate another 20 minutes for the Ideas phase.
    3. Crazy 8’s: Fold a paper into eight boxes. Take one idea and sketch eight variations in eight minutes.
    4. Solution Sketch: Pick your strongest idea and draw more detailed versions.

    When the Solution Sketches are complete, hold onto them and share them with your team the following day.

    My Team’s Experience: Virtual and Collaborative

    My team is conducting our Design Sprint virtually. For “Day 1” of this phase, we met on Zoom and worked together to identify the problem, create HMWs, define long-term goals and Sprint Questions, and draw our product map. We used a shared Miro board and sticky notes to collaborate in real time.

    For “Day 2,” we split up to complete the lightning demos and sketches on our own, following the “together alone” approach. We regrouped by uploading our work to the Miro board and providing feedback. Even though we worked separately, we stayed in sync and communicated with each other.

    To view my group’s Design Sprint progress, click here.

    Final Thoughts: It’s Only the Beginning

    What are some key takeaways from Phase 1 of the Design Sprint? Identify your direction before creating solutions, vote on everything to ensure everyone’s voice is heard, ask questions, communicate, and enjoy the Sprint.

    We’ve only just begun, but the foundation we laid in the Map and Sketch phase sets us up for a strong sprint ahead. Just like a race, the energy you bring at the start can carry you far, only if you pace yourself, listen to your team, and stay open to change.

    The Sprint has begun. We’re off running.

    Stay tuned for the next phase of my Design Sprint journey.