Brian Chesky Product Design Sprint

Brian Chesky's product design sprint focuses on storyboarding, rapid prototyping, and extreme customer experience mapping. Use this 90-minute block to refine your core user journey.

5 time blocks, 90 minutes in total.

Time blocks

Extreme Journey Mapping: 15 min
Map out the ideal scenario from initial trigger to completed goal
Disney Style Storyboarding: 20 min
Sketch key emotional touchpoints in sequential visual panels
Core Flow Simplification: 20 min
Remove secondary clutter and focus on one primary action
Rapid Prototype Build: 20 min
Construct a clickable wireframe or tangible paper prototype
Friction Audit and Polish: 15 min
Review edge cases, copy clarity, and visual alignment

About this routine

Brian Chesky's product design sprint is built around visual storyboarding and relentless attention to detail. At Airbnb, Chesky famously hired an animator to draw out every stage of the host and guest experience, inspired by Walt Disney's movie production style. This focus on mapping emotional touchpoints helped shape the core product.

Rather than starting with code or complex wireframes, this sprint begins by mapping out ideal scenarios, including Chesky's famous extreme experience exercise. You then strip away unnecessary UI elements until only the essential action remains.

Running this structured sequence gives teams a clear framework for prototyping and reviewing products. By focusing on narrative flow before fine details, you create products that resonate on an emotional level.

Why this routine works

Clarifies the end to end user experience through visual storyboarding
Eliminates unnecessary interface features before development
Highlights critical emotional touchpoints in the customer journey
Accelerates design reviews with structured feedback blocks

FAQ

What is Brian Chesky's product design sprint?

It is a focused design framework where product teams storyboard user journeys, map out extreme ideal experiences, and rapidly prototype key screens.

Why does Brian Chesky use storyboarding for product design?

Storyboarding forces teams to focus on emotional touchpoints and real world context rather than just digital UI screens.

How long does this product design sprint take?

This design sprint structure runs for 90 minutes across journey mapping, storyboarding, prototyping, and friction reviews.

Sources

Brian Chesky on Storyboarding Airbnb's User Experience, First Round Review
How Airbnb Designs for Trust, TED Talk by Brian Chesky