Sketch-Storm workshops

Sketch-Storm is a fast, structured workshop for generating and sharing visual ideas through sketching. Combines brainstorming and quick sketches to expand directions in the early phases of design before selection and prototyping.

Goals

• To generate a wide range of solutions quickly.
• To translate abstract ideas into visible sketches that are discussed specifically.
• To reduce group thinking through individual work and equal voice.

When to use

• At the beginning of the concept, before you fix on one idea.
• After the research/insight, to translate into solutions.
• When the team is blocked and new perspectives are needed.

Roles

• Facilitator: keeps time, leads rounds, moderates the discussion.
• Participants: sketch individually, share and vote.
• Observer/notetaker: records solutions, criteria and next steps.

Example program (60–90 minutes)

• Introduction and focus of the challenge (5 minutes).
• Round 1: individual sketching of 6–8 ideas (10 minutes).
• Quick sharing: 1 minute per person, no discussion (10–15 minutes).
• Round 2: build on or vary the chosen directions (10 minutes).
• Dot-voting: voting for the most promising sketches (5 minutes).
• Group ideas into themes and select 2–3 for the prototype (10–15 minutes).
• Define next steps and assign responsibility (5 minutes).

Rules for a good session

• Quantity before quality during sketching.
• Silence and individual work in rounds; discussion is later.
• One idea per sketch, clear title and short notes.
• Criticism is constructive and deferred until after sharing.

Materials

• Sheets or templates with frames, markers, stickers for voting, timer.
• For online: white board, personal frames, embedded timer, emojis for voting.

Outputs from the workshop

• Set of sketches, grouped into themes.
• Criteria for selection and short justifications.
• 2–3 selected ideas for solution sketch or low-fidelity prototype.

Tips

• Give a specific challenge and constraints (target segment, channel, device, time).
• Use timeboxing for tempo and energy.
• Mix roles and disciplines for richer ideas.
• Finish with clear next steps and deadlines.

Variations

• Crazy-8s: 8 ideas for 8 minutes as the first round.
• Round-Robin: rotate sheets to build on foreign ideas.
• Theme-Storm: each round with different restriction (only text, only flow, only mobile).

Common mistakes

• Too general challenge that leads to vague solutions.
• Long discussions during sketching.
• Lack of selection and commitment to continuation.

Facilitator template

• Challenge: short statement with goal and constraints.
• Criteria: 3–5 success measures.
• Rounds: number, time, goal of each round.
• Selection: method for voting and decision.
• Handoff: who makes the prototype and when it is tested.