Shaping Process Implementation
Kontent.ai
Collaborative problem-solving framework encouraging cross-functional teams to explore solutions before detailed design begins – significantly improving project kick-off efficiency.
🎯 What is Shaping?
"Shaping" is a collaborative process where designers, product managers, and technical leaders work together to define problems and explore initial solution directions before committing to detailed design and development.
🔄 Process Structure
We typically meet with the project manager (PM) and technical leader (TL) to shape the solution to a state where a designer can take it and iterate further. This usually involves a series of workshops.
🧰 Common Techniques Used
Workshop techniques for effective shaping sessions.
- JTBD drill-down – Understanding jobs to be done
- User story mapping – Visualizing user journeys
- Crazy 8's – Rapid ideation exercises
- Design Studio – Collaborative sketching sessions
- Finding rabbit holes – Identifying potential pitfalls and edge cases
✨ Benefits
Key advantages of the shaping process.
- Promotes Collective Thinking – Cross-functional perspectives from the start reduce blind spots and rework
- Tangible Starting Point – Projects begin with initial prototypes rather than abstract requirements
- Problem Definition – Team alignment on what problem we're solving before jumping to solutions
- Rapid Concept Development – Generate and validate multiple approaches quickly before detailed design investment
🌊 Impact
Shaping process became standard practice at Kontent.ai, significantly improving project kick-off efficiency and reducing mid-project pivots caused by misalignment or missed requirements.