The Clarity Sprint
Two weeks of research. A decision you can defend.
Mixed-methods research, remote or in person, built around the questions that actually matter.
- Duration
- Minimum 2 weeks
- Scope
- Fixed, agreed up front
- Methods
- Mixed, remote or in person
- Output
- Findings, recommendations and a highlight reel
Fit
Who it's for
The Clarity Sprint is built for product, service and digital teams in government, NFPs and mid-sized organisations who need to make a timely decision and want evidence behind it.
A good fit if you:
- Have a specific decision coming up in the next few months
- Can give access to your users, customers or the people affected
- Want a clear recommendation, not a long report that sits in a drive
Probably not the right fit if you:
- Need a large-scale quantitative study or ongoing tracking
- Are looking for research to confirm a decision that's already been made
Deliverables
What you get
- 01
A sharpened research brief
Agreed in the first days, so the work is aimed at the decisions that matter.
- 02
Early signals during fieldwork
Short updates as patterns emerge, so there are no surprises at the end.
- 03
Findings and prioritised recommendations
Clear themes, what they mean for your decision, and what to do first.
- 04
A video highlight reel
Short clips of real users that make the findings impossible to ignore in a stakeholder meeting.
- 05
A presentation session
A working session with your team and stakeholders, focused on next steps.
Timeline
How the two weeks run
Before we start A 30-minute scoping call, then a short proposal with the question, methods, participants and fixed price.
Week one: Frame and field
- Kick-off to confirm the decision, the question and what success looks like
- Research plan, recruitment and discussion guides finalised
- Fieldwork begins: interviews, testing or surveys
Week two: Find and decide
- Fieldwork completes
- Analysis and synthesis into themes and recommendations
- Highlight reel edited
- Findings presentation and decision session with your team
Methods
Methods, chosen to fit the question
I combine methods to suit what you need to know, rather than applying a standard package.
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Understanding people
In-depth interviews, contextual inquiry, in-person observation
-
Testing ideas and designs
Usability testing, concept testing, preference testing, first-click testing
-
Measuring at scale
Surveys, comprehension testing, unmoderated remote testing
-
Comparing options
Competitor and comparative product studies
In-person or remote sessions can be run across Melbourne, and remote sessions work nationally and internationally.
In practice
A sprint in practice: a Victorian water authority
- 01
The question
Why weren't residents engaging with flood risk information?
- 02
What we did
12 qualitative interviews plus a 100-person survey combining preference, first-click and comprehension testing.
- 03
What we found
Residents weren't missing information. They were overwhelmed by it, and the order it appeared in worked against them.
- 04
What changed
The fix became an information architecture and prioritisation review rather than a new build, with recommendations aimed at reducing avoidable calls and complaints.
Questions
Common questions
Can't we get this from AI tools now?
AI is useful for summarising what's already known. It can't tell you what your specific users will do, why they hesitate, or why they won't switch from a competitor. That only comes from talking to and observing real people, and it matters more as AI-generated insight becomes the default.
Is two weeks really enough?
For a focused question, yes. The sprint works because the question is sharp and the methods are matched to it. If a question needs more time, I'll tell you at the scoping stage.
What can extend the timeline?
The two weeks start once participants are booked. If participants need external recruitment, this can add a week or more before week one. Timelines can also extend if access to your users depends on internal approvals, if participants are hard to reach, or if key stakeholders aren't available for kick-off or the presentation. Anything like this is flagged at scoping and built into the proposal, so the timeline you agree to is realistic.
What if the research doesn't answer our question?
Every sprint includes the Clarity Guarantee: a week-one checkpoint where you can stop and pay only for that week, and an extra round of research at no cost for my time if the reporting falls short.
We already know our users. Why research?
Then the sprint confirms it quickly and your team moves with confidence. If it doesn't, you've avoided an expensive mistake.
Who finds the participants?
Either your team provides access to your users, or I arrange external recruitment. We'll agree the best approach in the proposal.
What do you need from our team?
A decision owner, access to your users or customers, and a few hours across the two weeks for the kick-off, early signal updates and the presentation.
Can you build on research or data we already have?
Yes. I review what you have first, so the sprint fills gaps rather than repeating work.
Do you work in person or remotely?
Both. In-person or remote sessions can be run across Melbourne, and remote sessions work nationally and internationally.
How is participant information handled?
Participants give informed consent, and recordings and data are handled in line with your organisation's privacy requirements.
Can you work alongside our agency or delivery partner?
Yes. Findings are shaped so designers and developers can act on them directly.
What happens after the sprint?
Many teams act on the recommendations directly. Where the findings raise a bigger question, I can help with a strategy follow-on or run regular sprints as an ongoing research partner.
Investment
Investment
Every Clarity Sprint is fixed-price. Cost depends mainly on the number and type of participants, the methods involved and whether sessions are in person. After a scoping call you'll receive a short proposal with a fixed price, so there are no surprises.
Start with a conversation
Tell me about the decision you're facing. In 30 minutes we'll work out whether a Clarity Sprint is the right fit and what it would need to answer.