Design Sprints Explained: Rapid Innovation for Real Results

Our Business GM has commissioned Harmony & Resonance to deliver a series of training workshops to introduce VCSFE organisations, freelancers, and social entrepreneurs to the design sprint process, to help those looking to trade.

A design sprint is a time-constrained process (used commonly by teams) to solve big problems, test new ideas, and build prototypes in a matter of days, by following structured phases of understanding, defining, sketching, deciding, prototyping, and validating with real users.

By the end of the workshops, you will have defined your income challenge, including what's holding you back from becoming more financially sustainable, and explored opportunities to generate new income.

To help realise learning, attendees will then be invited to attend two follow-up workshops to help identify strategies to help price your product/service, refined your offer and practice pitching your concept.

By the end of the three workshops you will

• Have a strong, well-defined offer
• Know how to pitch and present your offer with confidence
• Understand how to price your offer and identify routes to generate income
• Leave with a set of realistic, actionable goals you begin implementing straight away

Phase 1: Sprint to Sustain

This 3-hour workshop will introduce you to the design sprint methodology and help you

• Use new creative thinking tools (e.g. “How Might We” prompts, wild idea generation, analogue examples) to spark innovative income idea
• Narrow down and shape promising ideas into practical product/service offers
• Test assumptions and map monetisation route
• Identify customer needs, test desirability, and sketch out lightweight plans for how the offer could generate income.

Phase 2: Shaping the Offer & Pitching with Confidence

This 3-hour workshop will help you turn your idea into a clear, purposeful offer — and equips you with the confidence to communicate it.

• Define the offer: What is it? Who is it for? Why does it matter?
• Identify the value for the customer/community.
• Learn the basics of storytelling and how to connect emotionally with your audience.
• Build and practice a short pitch: what you’re offering, why it matters, and how people can engage. Develop confidence skills for presenting ideas authentically and powerfully.

Phase 3: Pricing, Selling & Routes to Income

This 3-hour workshop focuses on the practical next steps for generating income from the idea.

• Understand different pricing approaches: fixed, tiered, sliding scale, Pay What you Can (PWYC).
• Explore what feels fair and viable in your context.
• Learn basic sales strategies: how to find your first customers, start small, and build momentum.
• Map simple routes to the sale — whether that's direct sales, partnerships, events, or digital tools.
• Create a mini action plan: 3 things to do in the next 30 days to start testing or earning.

Also check out other Workshops in Manchester, Business events in Manchester, Contests in Manchester.