Figma – FigJam: HMW questions and the prioritization matrix

Goal

In this session you carry out the whole thought path of homework 4 in FigJam: problem statement, HMW questions, ideation, matrix, and justification. FigJam works here as a workshop tool: quick, visual, and usable with others involved.

FigJam as a workshop tool

The steps of a design workshop follow each other in order, and each step needs a separate space. In FigJam we solve this with sections: each phase is a section that the participants fill in turn. Useful tools:

• Timer: they also see visually the time given for ideation (for example 8 minutes).
• Voting (dot voting): everyone gets a few dots that they can freely place on the ideas.
• Templates: among the FigJam templates you find 2×2 matrix, ideation, and retrospective templates. It is not mandatory to use them, but they speed up the work.
• Comments and emoji reactions: quick, non-verbal feedback.

If you work alone, ask one or two fellow students to vote or brainstorm. It can be done alone too, but with other eyes you find more directions.

Task: the board for homework 4

1. A new page or new section: name it "4. Problem and directions".
2. Put out the essence of the brief (in one section): problem, target user, main task, success criterion, exclusions. Next to it the stakeholder table: you can use FigJam's table tool.
3. Write the user story on a separate sticky.
4. Formulate the problem statement in the structure "The problem of the [user type] is that… because of which…". Connect it with arrows to the insights of homework 2, so the evidence is visible.
5. Write at least three HMW questions on stickies of a separate color. Check for each: not too broad, not a solution.
6. Brainstorm: set the timer to 8 minutes, and for each HMW write as many ideas as possible on stickies (one idea, one sticky). There should be at least eight ideas in total. Do not evaluate them.
7. Vote: give yourself (and, if there are any, your peers) 3–5 dots, and vote for those that in your opinion solve the biggest problem.
8. Build the 2×2 matrix: draw two axes (impact and feasibility), and place the ideas on it. On the sticky write what the evidence for the impact is (which insight), and which assumption the feasibility is built on.
9. Choose a direction: mark the chosen idea or ideas, and write a justification of 3–5 sentences: why this one, what you leave out, what remains uncertain.
10. Mark the assumptions: with a separate color, to be checked later.
11. Share the board with the instructor.

Checklist

• The problem statement follows from the research, and there is no solution in it.
• There are at least three HMWs, each open and giving direction.
• There are at least eight ideas; they represent several different directions.
• On the matrix there is a justification next to the positions.
• The justification shows what is evidence and what is assumption.

Learning resources

• Figma Learn – official help: search for "FigJam templates", "timer", and "voting"