18F

18F - Design Studio

This exercise, from 18F, gets everyone designing together, regardless of role or drawing skills. It turns abstract ideas into visuals teams can discuss and refine. Sketching forces specificity. By the end, you'll have multiple design directions grounded in constraints and team input.

Duration
1.5 hours
Group Size
6-12
Category
18F
Difficulty
Easy

  • Generate design concepts quickly through sketching.

  • Create shared understanding across disciplines.

  • Surface hidden assumptions and constraints early.

  • Build on each other's ideas through iteration.


  • Design studio output with concepts.

  • Rapid collaborative design.

  • Multiple directions explored.

Start by stating drawing skills don't matter. Show a terrible sketch as an example. It's about communication. Boxes and arrows work. Enforce silence during individual sketching to prevent groupthink. Time pressure prevents perfectionism. If energy drops, take breaks. If debates get heated, refocus on the challenge. People will want to prototype on computers; don't let them. Developers often sketch impossible things - that's useful information. Photograph everything and send photos within 24 hours with next steps. I've found that if people sketch the same thing, you probably need more diverse perspectives or clearer constraints.

  1. Preparation: (Before the session) Share research, user insights, and constraints 24 hours prior. Define the design challenge clearly (e.g., "design a way for users to quickly find past orders on mobile.").

  2. Round 1: Individual Sketching: (20 minutes) Distribute paper and markers. Each person sketches 3-5 different solutions. Emphasize quantity. No talking during this phase.

  3. Round 2: Small Group Sharing: (30 minutes) Break into groups of 3-4. Each person presents their sketches (2 minutes each). Groups ask clarifying questions (no critique yet). Combine the best ideas into one concept sketch on a larger sheet.

  4. Round 3: Gallery Walk & Feedback: (20 minutes) Post group concepts. Everyone adds sticky notes with questions/suggestions. Use dot voting to identify popular elements. Look for patterns.

  5. Round 4: Discussion & Next Steps: (20 minutes) Discuss what you learned. Which approaches solve the problem best? What assumptions were revealed? Identify 1-2 directions for prototyping. Assign next steps.

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For Facilitators

  • Review participant profiles and expectations
  • Prepare all materials and supplies
  • Test technology and room setup

For Participants

  • Complete pre-session survey
  • Review background materials
  • Prepare examples or case studies

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  • Paper (letter size and 11x17).

  • Thick markers.

  • Timer.

  • Sticky notes.

  • Dot stickers.

  • Wall space.

  • Camera or phone.

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