Fast Feedback Loops

The Trap

Over-building on assumptions before testing any of them.

The Reframe

Compress the cycle from research to prototype as much as possible, so you get real feedback quickly and stay responsive to what you learn.

In Practice

In one real project, the full cycle from user research to working prototypes took four days. The point wasn't the speed for its own sake. A short cycle means you find out sooner that you're wrong, while changing course is still cheap.

Why It Works

It keeps the whole user-centric approach honest. Testing early and often means you're responding to what users actually do, instead of validating a plan you already finished.