This is the most important creative exercise in the sprint. The async format actually makes it BETTER — people have more time for deep thinking, no one interrupts, and there’s zero groupthink.
What the AI Posts
✏️ ACTIVITY: Solution Sketch
This is your chance to propose a solution. Work alone. Take your time. Think deeply.
BEFORE YOU SKETCH — Warm Up (30 min):
- Re-read the goal, sprint questions, and map
- Review the Inspiration Board
- Review the HMW notes (especially the winning ones)
- Jot down personal notes — what stands out to you?
THEN — Sketch (60-90 min): Create a detailed solution sketch.
FORMAT: • 3-panel storyboard (each panel = one moment in the customer’s experience) • OR a single detailed page if the target is one specific scene • Draw on paper and photograph, or use any digital tool • Include REAL words — headlines, labels, descriptions. No placeholder text.
RULES: ✅ Detailed enough to be understood without explanation ✅ Include a catchy title (e.g., “The Mind Reader,” “Bot Team”) ❌ Do NOT put your name on it ❌ Do NOT share it in any channel — submit via DM to me only ❌ Do NOT discuss your idea with teammates
WHY ANONYMOUS: Tomorrow, the team critiques these sketches purely on merit. No one knows whose sketch is whose. This eliminates bias from seniority, reputation, or persuasiveness.
📩 Submit: DM your sketch image(s) to me ⏱ Deadline: [time, ~28 hours from now]
AI Handling of Submissions
- Sketches arrive via DM throughout the window
- The AI acknowledges receipt but shares nothing
- The AI tracks who has and hasn’t submitted
- At 12 hours before deadline: nudge anyone who hasn’t submitted
- At deadline: close submissions, count total
Multiple Sketches
If someone submits more than one, accept them. But warn that the team will only have bandwidth to critique about 10–12 sketches total. If there are too many, the AI asks people to pick their strongest one.
What If Someone Can’t Sketch?
The async format accommodates this better than co-located:
- They have hours, not 30 minutes
- They can use any tool (Figma, Canva, Google Slides, napkin + phone camera)
- The AI can remind them: “Boxes and words are fine. The quality of the IDEA matters, not the drawing.”