Quick reference for every exercise, redesigned for async execution.
Submission Types
Every exercise uses one of three submission types:
| Type | How It Works | Prevents |
|---|---|---|
| Blind | Submit via DM to AI. Revealed simultaneously at deadline. | Anchoring, groupthink, loudest-voice-wins |
| Open | Post directly in the designated channel. Visible to all. | Nothing — used when visibility helps |
| Reactive | Respond to material the AI has posted. | Nothing — used for feedback and refinement |
Phase 1 Exercises
Goal Drafting
- Type: Blind
- Submit: DM to AI
- Each person writes: 1–2 sentence long-term goal
- AI action: Synthesize into one proposed goal, post for reactive refinement
- Decider: Approves final wording
Sprint Questions
- Type: Blind
- Submit: DM to AI (alongside goal)
- Each person writes: 2–5 questions (“How could this fail?”)
- AI action: Compile, de-duplicate, post full list
- Team: React to refine. AI finalizes.
Expert Q&A
- Type: Open (threaded)
- Location:
#sprint-experts, one thread per expert - AI action: Seeds each thread with 3–5 questions based on expert’s domain
- Team: Posts follow-up questions in thread
- Expert: Responds at their pace within the phase window
Map
- Type: AI-drafted → Reactive refinement
- AI action: Drafts initial map from Challenge Brief + expert Q&As + team inputs
- Team: Suggests edits via thread replies
- AI action: Revises (1–2 iterations), posts final version
- Decider: Approves
HMW Notes
- Type: Blind
- Submit: DM to AI. One note per message.
- Format: “HMW [question]?”
- Target: 5–15 per person
- AI action: Collect, de-duplicate, group by theme, post organized list
HMW Voting
- Type: Blind
- Submit: DM to AI (list of note numbers to vote for)
- Votes: 3 per person, 5 for Decider
- AI action: Tally, reveal results, place winners on map
Target Selection
- Type: Blind → Decider decision
- Submit: DM to AI (target customer + moment + rationale)
- AI action: Compile nominations, present to Decider
- Decider: Makes final call (sync window or DM)
Phase 2 Exercises
Lightning Demos
- Type: Open
- Location:
#sprint-inspiration - Each person posts: 1–2 products with link + “big idea” description
- AI action: Compiles Inspiration Board, groups by theme
Divide or Swarm
- Type: Open → Decider decision
- Location:
#sprintthread - Team: Discusses briefly. AI presents options.
- Decider: Calls it if no quick consensus.
Solution Sketch
- Type: Blind
- Submit: DM to AI (image uploads)
- Format: 3-panel storyboard or single detailed page. Titled. Anonymous. Real words.
- Prep: Review goal, map, questions, inspiration board. Take notes. Jot ideas. Do Crazy 8s privately.
- AI action: Store. Reveal simultaneously in Phase 3.
Phase 3 Exercises
Sketch Reveal
- Type: AI action
- AI: Posts all sketches simultaneously in
#sprint-sketcheswith narration
Heat Map
- Type: Open (emoji reactions)
- Location:
#sprint-sketches(reactions on sketch posts) - Team: React with 🔵 on interesting parts. Unlimited.
- AI action: Tallies reaction counts per sketch.
Critique Threads
- Type: Open (threaded)
- Location:
#sprint-sketches, one thread per sketch - AI action: Seeds each thread with heat map highlights + discussion prompts
- Team: Posts observations, questions, standout ideas
- Creator: Silent until AI reveals identity at thread close
- AI action: Summarizes standout ideas per sketch
Straw Poll
- Type: Blind
- Submit: DM to AI (one choice + 1-sentence rationale)
- AI action: Reveal all votes simultaneously with rationales
Supervote
- Type: Blind (Decider only)
- Submit: DM to AI (3 votes)
- AI action: Announce winners. Separate from maybe-laters.
Rumble or All-in-One
- Type: Open → Decider decision
- **Brief team discussion in
#sprint - Decider: Calls it.
Note-and-Vote (for fake brand names, if Rumble)
- Type: Blind → Open vote
- Step 1: Each person DMs 2–3 name ideas to AI
- Step 2: AI posts all names, team reacts with emoji vote
- Step 3: Decider picks winner
Storyboard
- Type: AI-drafted → Reactive refinement
- Location:
#sprint-storyboard - AI action: Drafts storyboard from winning sketches, posts frame-by-frame
- Team: Suggests edits per frame in threads
- Decider: Resolves conflicts, approves final version
Phase 4 Exercises
Prototyping
- Type: Open (coordinated)
- Location:
#sprint-prototype - AI action: Assigns roles and storyboard sections. Posts style guide from Stitcher.
- Makers: Build and post progress updates
- Writer: Fills in text as Makers flag needs
- Asset Collector: Responds to asset requests
- Stitcher: Assembles, ensures consistency
Interview Script
- Type: Open
- Location:
#sprint-prototype - Interviewer: Writes and posts for team review
- Team: Suggests edits in thread
Trial Run
- Type: Sync session or recorded walkthrough
- Stitcher: Walks through full prototype
- Team: Posts issues and feedback
- AI action: Compiles issue list for fixing
Phase 5 Exercises
Customer Interviews
- Type: Scheduled video calls (live or recorded)
- Interviewer: Conducts using Five-Act script
- Team: Watches live or via recording
Observation Notes
- Type: Open (threaded)
- Location:
#sprint-testing, one thread per interview - Format: 🟢/🔴/⚪ + observation text
- Rule: Post your own notes before reading others’
Pattern Finding
- Type: Blind
- Submit: DM to AI (list of patterns with valence and interview numbers)
- AI action: Synthesize patterns, rank by frequency, reveal to team
Sprint Question Review
- Type: AI-drafted → Reactive
- AI action: Maps patterns to sprint questions, proposes answers
- Team: Reacts, discusses, adjusts
Next Steps
- Type: Blind → Decider decision
- Submit: Each person DMs recommendation to AI
- AI action: Presents compiled recommendations to Decider
- Decider: Makes final call (sync debrief preferred)
Exercise Timing Summary
| Exercise | Phase | Type | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal drafting | 1 | Blind | 12h window |
| Sprint questions | 1 | Blind | 12h window |
| Expert Q&A | 1 | Open/threaded | 24h window |
| Map | 1 | AI-draft + reactive | 12h window |
| HMW notes | 1 | Blind | 12h window |
| HMW voting | 1 | Blind | 8h window |
| Target selection | 1 | Blind + Decider | 4h window |
| Lightning demos | 2 | Open | 16h window |
| Solution sketch | 2 | Blind | 28h window |
| Heat map | 3 | Open (reactions) | 8h window |
| Critique threads | 3 | Open/threaded | 12h window |
| Straw poll | 3 | Blind | 6h window |
| Supervote | 3 | Decider only | 4h window |
| Storyboard | 3 | AI-draft + reactive | 16h window |
| Prototyping | 4 | Open/coordinated | 48h window |
| Trial run | 4 | Sync or recorded | 1h |
| Interviews | 5 | Scheduled calls | 5h total |
| Observation notes | 5 | Open/threaded | Rolling |
| Pattern finding | 5 | Blind | 4h window |
| Next steps | 5 | Blind + Decider | 6h window |