Workshop Exercises: Define
Design Principles
Define what drives design decisions to ensure a consistent experience
Why: Align on shared values and decision-making guidelines to address product experiences inconsistencies
When: Ideally performed as part of narrowing down your problem definition
Instructions for running this play
- Introduce the Challenge. Explain the purpose of having design principles and their impact on the product.
- List principles. Conduct a 5 minute Silent Storming exercise to list as many principles as they can, one principle per sticky note. Promote succinct but specific principles, like “Effortless”, “Insightful”, “Attentive”, and “Humble”.
- List principles, round 2 (optional). Show examples of what design principles other design-driven companies have used as well as inspirational words that you might have prepared. Run another 5 minute Silent Storming.
- Share & Group Principles. Have participants Playback their suggested principles and Affinity Map them as each is presented.
- Vote. Participants Dot Vote for the strongest principles that they believe should guide the project or product. Multiple votes on a principle are allowed.
Tips to perfect this play
Master and adapt the play to fit your context and needs.
Tip: Validate the principles
Validate the design principles in user testing and test whether users report the same words in describing your project or product
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