In 1953, Walt Disney desperately needed money to fund his dream park—Disneyland. It was a Friday afternoon, and he had a meeting with the executives at ABC network on Monday morning. He was to pitch them on the idea of syndicating a TV show about the dream park.

Disney was a master storyteller. He could captivate an audience and transport them to another world. He had the vision in his mind but needed something more tangible to convince the ABC executives.

So, he called his long-time artist Herb Ryman to the studio. Over the next 40 hours, they produced a detailed drawing of the entire park. This not only sealed the deal for the TV show but also became the blueprint for the park that would open just two years later in 1955.

It's quite amazing how time can be one of the most valuable tools for creative output. The constraints of time force us to act and make decisions. There's no time for overthinking.

Modern Applications of Time Constraints

I love this story and can see how it relates to modern ways of working.

Today, we often have too much time. We tend to fill this time with empty work—busy work. Things that seem productive but, if you zoom out, most of the work is wasted effort. It's a form of procrastination that leads to complacency and mediocre products.

A Better Way to Work: The Design Sprint

The design sprint is a great methodology that teams can use to align around the design process. Like the Disney story, it's amazing how much creative output can come in a very short period of time.

Since Jake Knapp wrote the original book in 2016, I've been using the design sprint at every company I've worked with. I've run the classic five-day sprint multiple times for zero-to-one products. The classic criticism is that it takes too long and it's not practical to block calendars for the week.

Over the years, I've developed my own modified version to pull out the most valuable parts of the design sprint and integrate them into the normal product team process. Whether it's Agile, Scrum, or Kanban - it works for all.

The Most Valuable Parts of a Design Sprint

1. It establishes a clear challenge
Clearly defining the challenge helps focus the team's efforts and aligns everyone on the right problem to solve.

2. It allows for diverse perspectives from the entire team (How Might We's / HMWs)
Gathering different viewpoints ensures a comprehensive understanding of the problem and fosters innovative solutions.

3. Forced decision-making
Time constraints push the team to make decisions quickly, avoiding analysis paralysis and maintaining momentum.

4. Focused time block
Dedicating uninterrupted time blocks allows the team to immerse themselves fully in the problem-solving process.

5. Creative Design Output Where the Entire Team Feels Connected to the Solution
Involving the whole team in the creative process ensures that everyone feels invested in the final product, leading to better outcomes, and driving execution.

Introducing the 2-Day, 2-Hour Design Sprint

To address the common criticism that a traditional design sprint takes too long, I've developed a modified version based on a 2-day, 2-hour format. Typically I do this on a Mon and Tues or a Wed and Thurs. This condensed approach retains the core benefits of a full design sprint while fitting more easily into the busy schedules of modern product teams.

Day 1: Problem Framing and Ideation

Hour 1: Define the challenge

• Begin by clearly defining the challenge. What specific problem are we trying to solve? Make sure this is a clear statement that is rooted in a user need.

• Use the "How Might We" (HMW) method to generate questions that frame the challenge in a way that encourages innovative thinking.

Hour 2: Diverge and Sketch Solutions

• Encourage team members to brainstorm and sketch out as many solutions as possible.

• Emphasize quantity over quality at this stage to ensure a wide range of ideas.

Day 2: Decision-making and prototyping

Hour 1: Converge and Decide

• Review all the ideas generated on Day 1.

• Use a voting system or a structured decision-making process to narrow down the options to one or two promising solutions.

Hour 2: Prototype and Plan Next Steps

• Create a quick, low-fidelity prototype of the chosen solution(s).

• Outline the next steps for further development, testing, and iteration.

Benefits of the 2-Day, 2-Hour Format

Time Efficiency
By limiting the sprint to two hours over two days, teams can maintain their regular schedules while still dedicating focused time to the design process.

Flexibility
This format can be easily adapted to fit into any team’s workflow, making it accessible for teams of all sizes and industries.

Maintained Momentum
The condensed timeline helps maintain energy and focus, ensuring that the team stays engaged and motivated throughout the process.

Enhanced Collaboration
The short, intense sessions foster collaboration and rapid decision-making, leading to a more cohesive team dynamic and better outcomes.

Conclusion

Just as Walt Disney and Herb Ryman created the blueprint for Disneyland under tight time constraints, modern teams can leverage similar principles to achieve remarkable results.

Embracing methodologies like the design sprint, especially in a condensed 2-day, 2-hour format, can lead to faster, more effective, and more innovative outcomes.

By focusing on clear challenges, fostering diverse perspectives, making quick decisions, and dedicating focused time blocks, teams can create products that truly stand out.