Emily Kitazawa, Author at Shortform Books

How to Create a Design Sprint Solution Sketch in 4 Steps

What is a design sprint solution sketch? What are the steps in creating a solution sketch? According to Jake Knapp’s Design Sprint process, after the first day of your sprint workshop, you should next conduct the design creation phase, when designers create sketches and models of the best ideas generated on day one. Knapp provides four key steps for creating effective solution sketches. Keep reading to learn Knapp’s four steps for creating design sprint solution sketches.

Does Boycotting Work? Why It Actually Makes Things Worse

Does boycotting work? What makes boycotting an ineffective form of activism? How can it make things worse? According to Woke, Inc. author Vivek Ramaswamy, corporations create false alliances with social causes so that they can influence legislation, manipulate consumers, and silence dissent. While consumers may be tempted to boycott such companies, Ramaswamy argues that boycotting doesn’t work. Keep reading to learn why boycotting isn’t an effective form of activism, according to Ramaswamy.

Using the “How Might We” Method in a Sprint Workshop

What is the How Might We (HMW) method? How should you use the HMW method in a design sprint workshop? Jake Knapp invented the Design Sprint process while working for Google and later facilitated sprints with over a hundred companies, including Slack, Airbnb, and Spotify. According to him, using the How Might We method of questioning is one of the keys to a successful design sprint workshop. Read on to learn how to use the How Might We method in your sprint workshop, according to Knapp.

How Corporations Influence Politics With “Woke-Washing”

Want to know how corporations influence politics in America? How are companies taking advantage of liberal politics? According to Vivek Ramaswamy, American corporations have found a unique way to gain profits, both economically and politically. Ramaswamy’s book Woke, Inc. outlines how corporations influence politics through virtue signaling and falsely claiming to be woke to gain the support of society. Read on to learn how corporations influence politics, according to Ramaswamy’s concept of Wokenomics.

U.S. Federal Gun Laws: A Brief Overview in Simple Terms

What are the U.S. federal gun laws? What’s most important to know? Gun laws in the United States are complex and constantly debated, which can make it difficult to understand which firearms are prohibited or allowed. U.S. federal gun law further complicates the situation by introducing additional restrictions to general gun laws. Read on for an overview of gun laws in the U.S., including special restrictions under U.S. federal law.

How to Create the Ideal Design Sprint Team

Who should be part of your design sprint team? What is Jake Knapp’s advice? According to Sprint author Jake Knapp, you can use a design sprint process with your team to build and test a prototype in just a five-day work week. Considering the size of your team and individual expertise are two of the priorities Knapp identifies for building your team. Read on to learn Knapp’s advice for creating an ideal design sprint team.

Everything Wrong With Woke Companies

What are woke companies? Why are they facing backlash from society currently? In his book, Woke, Inc., Vivek Ramaswamy outlines the rise of woke culture and how it has contributed to what he calls “Wokenomics.” According to him, woke companies rely on progressive politics and virtue signaling to turn a profit under false pretenses. Read on for a full overview of the problems with woke companies, according to Ramaswamy.

What Are NFA Firearms? Decoding the National Firearms Act

What are NFA firearms? Why does the U.S. restrict purchases of NFA items? How are they purchased? Gun laws in the United States are a subject of ongoing political debate and under federal law, certain types of firearms and certain activities related to firearms are subject to additional restrictions. Understanding the current laws is important, especially concerning the National Firearms Act (NFA). Read on to learn what NFA firearms are, including each type of firearm and the rules for buying one.

The 4-Day Workweek: A Historical & Social Analysis

What is the history of the 4-day workweek? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to the community? An increasing number of global organizations are trying out the 4-day workweek, but the benefits of a reduced working schedule can come at a cost to others. As a result, it’s not yet clear if this kind of reduced schedule is viable on a large scale. Read on to learn about the history of the 4-day workweek and how it can help or harm the community.

Customer Experience Testing With a Design Sprint

What is customer experience testing? How can you optimize your testing with a Design Sprint? Jake Knapp’s book Sprint details the process of conducting a Design Sprint to create and test a product prototype. A crucial step in this process is customer experience testing, and Knapp advises creating a flowchart to optimize your user testing. Keep reading to learn about the Design Sprint process and customer experience testing, according to Knapp.