Field guide
New Product MVP
Take an idea from assumption to a tested concept
- When to use it
- Reach for this when you’re building something new and want to test the risky assumptions before you spend time and money building it.
- Time
- 2–4 weeks
- You walk away with
- A prioritized concept you’ve tested with real users
How it runs
-
Week 1
Frame the bet
Write the discovery brief, surface your risky assumptions, and turn the problem into “how might we” questions.
-
Week 2
Shape the solution
Check the fit with a value proposition canvas, sketch concepts and flows, then prioritize what makes the first version.
-
Weeks 3–4
Prototype and test
Build a prototype and put it in front of users before you commit to building the real thing.
Worksheets
Fill them in here and they save in your browser, or print the PDF. Nothing you type leaves your device.
-
Project Discovery Brief
Set the goal, the audience, and what success looks like
About 1 hr 15 min PDF of Project Discovery Brief
-
Assumptions & Hypotheses Map
Surface what’s risky and unproven, and plan how to test it
About 1 hr PDF of Assumptions & Hypotheses Map
-
How Might We Worksheet
Turn the problem into solvable design questions
About 45 min PDF of How Might We Worksheet
-
Value Proposition Canvas
Check the fit between what you’re offering and what people need
About 1 hr PDF of Value Proposition Canvas
-
Sketching & Flows
Generate concepts and map the path through the task
About 45 min PDF of Sketching & Flows
-
Prioritization Matrices
Decide what makes the first version, and what waits
About 1 hr 15 min Fill it in: Prioritization Matrices PDF of Prioritization Matrices
-
Usability Test Guide
Test the concept with users before you commit to the build
About 45 min PDF of Usability Test Guide
Next field guide: Know-Your-Users