The “How Might We” or HMW method is an essential Design Sprint methodology. At Google, we use it to capture opportunities during lightning talks and throughout the Understand phase. This method allows your team to take the insights and pain points they hear and positively reframe them. HMWs create an active framework for resolving the challenges.
It’s important to explain to your team how the HMW process works before Lightning Talks begin. Make sure the team understands they are looking for opportunities rather than solutions. Each word of the HMW phrase puts team members in the right mindset:
- “How” guides team members to believe the answer is out there.
- “Might” lets team members know their HMW statement might or might not work, and either possibility is okay
- “We” reminds team members that the Design Sprint is about teamwork and building on each others’ ideas
Do not spend a lot of time crafting or perfecting HMW statements. Instead, encourage your team to come up with as many HMW notes as they can, with as little self-editing as possible. This is an exercise in expansive thinking aimed at preventing the team from arriving at premature solutions. Here are a few examples of good HMWs:
STATS
Time
Explanation 5 mins
Activity
Individual
Sprint Type
All
Directions
- Use a thick Sharpie to write your HMW notes
- When you hear pain points, reframe them as opportunities
- Write only one HMW idea or opportunity per sticky note
- Aim for quantity over perfection