By: Ricardo Hernandez Perez — My Whiteboard Challenge Framework @rahptudio

Beat the UX Whiteboard

Challenge Using My Favorite
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(fr
Guide with Tips & Tricks
Facing a blank whiteboard in a design
challenge can be daunting.

This is where a structured framework

comes in handy. It provides a
roadmap to guide you through the
design process step-by-step, ensuring
you make the most of your time and
showcase your design skills effectively.
Intro: Sample Design Problem Statement @rahptudio

After introductions, your interviewer will

Design a dog
present a problem statement that forms
the core of the design challenge. This
statement will guide the conversation and
steer your design thinking.

walking app for You can find a sample problem statement

on the left but the problem can literally be
anything and that’s why we need to come

college students
prepared with a framework we can apply
to anything.

With this problem in mind, you're ready to

begin! Let's leverage the framework to map
out your approach on the whiteboard.
Here's an example of how you can
leverage the framework on the
whiteboard to organize your design
process and thinking.

This flexible format is a great starting

point, with sections sized to reflect the
typical time allocation for each step.

Now, let’s deep dive into each one,

starting with:
Section 1
Section #1: Why @rahptudio

Don't jump straight to solutions! Invest the

initial phase in clearly defining the

Understand
problem you're tackling. Here are some
thought-provoking questions to guide
your discussion:

Your
- What significance does this
product or feature hold?
- What specific issue are we aiming
to address?
- How will this product make a
positive impact?

Output: A concise bullet list capturing key

insights from these questions.
Section 2
Section #2: Who @rahptudio

Define Bring your target user to life for the

interviewers by crafting a vivid
description. This not only builds empathy
for the user but also establishes the

The User
foundation and purpose behind your
design. In essence, you're addressing the
core question:

- Who is this product designed to

serve?

Output: Develop 1 or 2 mini

proto-personas to represent your
intended audience.
Section 3
Section #3 Context (When & Where) @rahptudio

Understanding the user's environment is

Understand
crucial. We need to pinpoint when, where,
and how users encounter the problems our
solution addresses. Here are some key
questions to spark the discussion:

The User’s
- In what physical setting will users
interact with our product?
- Is there a specific event or situation
that triggers the need for our
solution?
- What emotional state are users likely
to be in when facing this challenge?
-
Output: Leverage these insights to enrich
your existing proto-personas with
additional context.
Section 4
Section #4 Assumptions @rahptudio

Design is an iterative process built on

Recognize
informed assumptions. Throughout the
project, we'll continuously validate these
assumptions and iterate on our designs
accordingly. Create a list of assumptions on

Your
the whiteboard regarding:

- User behavior and context

- Technical constraints:
- Business direction:

By openly acknowledging and addressing

assumptions, we demonstrate a thoughtful
and adaptable design approach.

Output: Bullet point list of assumptions

Section 5
Section #5 Constraints @rahptudio

Define The During the design exercise, be mindful of

emerging limitations. Unconstrained design
can quickly become overwhelming. With only
45 minutes, prioritize effectively. Ask

Design’s
questions to understand business priorities,
budget realities, and technical limitations.

Capture key constraints on the whiteboard

such as:
- Financial constraints
- Technical constraints
- Platform constraints

Output: Bullet point list of constraints

Section 6
Section #6 Needs & Pain Points @rahptudio

The core of any successful product lies in

Understand
understanding the user's needs.

Understand Motivations: Begin by asking:

"What is the user's fundamental reason for

The User’s
solving this problem?"

Explore Potential Solutions: Take the

high-level motivation and ask: "How could the
user achieve their desired outcome?"

Identify Pain Points: Analyze the motivations

and potential solutions to pinpoint the
specific user pain points your design will
address.

Output: Bullet point list of needs / pain points

Section 7
Section #7 What @rahptudio

It’s time to unleash your creativity and

Show Off
brainstorm solutions to address the user
needs identified earlier. Here's 3 prompts to
generate a diverse range of ideas quickly:

Product Type: Digital (app), Physical product,

All Your
"Smart" upgrade for an existing product
Platform: Web, Mobile app, Wearable, VR/AR
Interface: GUI, Voice, VR (virtual reality), AR
(augmented reality)

Remember, you've already defined the "who,

when, where, and why" on the whiteboard.
Reference these points out loud as you
brainstorm to showcase your
process-oriented approach!

Output: Bullet point list of ideas

Section 8
Section #8 Prioritize @rahptudio

Now that you've explored a range of exciting

Define The
ideas, it's time to select the one with the
strongest potential.

A rubric evaluating the ideas from the

previous step is helpful. This ensures everyone

Tasks You
in the room understands your selection logic.

Output: A popular format you can use is a 2x2

matrix plotting Impact against effort.

Will Great Good

Impact
OK Bad

Effort
Section 9
Section #9 Critical User Journeys @rahptudio

Now, let's map the primary user journeys

Define The
(CUJs) for this feature or product. These
represent the core tasks users will perform.
For example, a primary CUJ for Lyft might be
"order a rideshare to get somewhere."

Tasks You
Beyond primary CUJs, consider these
additional scenarios:
- Alternate flows
- Edge and corner cases

Will
You can verbally discuss edge and corner
cases, or list them under a separate heading
to show you've considered them.

Output: List of CUJs (and some edge cases)

with 1 primary CUJ to move forward with
Section 10
Section #10 Task Diagram @rahptudio

Time To List
Let's delve deeper! Now that you've selected
a primary CUJ, we'll break it down into the
specific tasks a user needs to complete.

The Steps of
For example, if we were designing the
controls for a digital watch, the tasks might
be:
- Set the current time (hours)
- Set the current time (minutes)

Your
- Save the current time
- Set the alarm (hours - opt - requires
cancel function)

Output: Create a list of steps for the CUJ

you chose in the previous step
Section 11
Section #11 Design @rahptudio

Time for speed sketching! Here are some tips

to help you stand out.
- Practice makes perfect and remember

It’s Time
that clarity matters
- Explain your choices and justify your
decisions
- Think out loud and ask questions

Your wireframes can take many forms. This

To
step allows you to showcase your design
thinking in various ways. You can choose to:
- Visualize task flows
- Focus on detailed screens
- Explore multiple approaches

Output: The best approach depends on what

you want to communicate most effectively for
the chosen CUJ (critical user journey).
By: Ricardo Hernandez Perez — My Whiteboard Challenge Framework @rahptudio

Hope you found this helpful &

again for all your
support! <3
~ Ricardo