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Discovery worksheet
Seven prompts to explain your business, the people involved and what should become easier when the work is finished. Print it, or save it as a PDF, and fill it in by hand. Short, concrete answers are enough to begin.
Evergrowth Labs · Discovery worksheet
Before you build: seven questions
01
Explain the business
We help…
Name the customer and what the business does for them. Include the current website or relevant materials if they already exist, and explain what is changing: a new launch, a wider audience, a different service or a process that no longer fits.
02
Describe the problem you see
The difficult part today is…
Describe an observable situation. “We need an app” is a possible solution. “Our team cannot reliably see which jobs are assigned to them” describes a problem the project can investigate. Leave out private customer information.
03
Name the people who will use it
The main users are…
List the groups and what each needs to do. Add where the task happens: at a desk, on a phone, at a reception counter or while travelling.
04
Describe one complete journey
A person starts by… and finishes when…
Write the steps in ordinary language. Mention where a person needs help and where your team takes over.
05
List what already exists
We currently use…
The website, spreadsheets, payment provider, booking tool or other systems involved. No passwords. Also list your available content: logo files, photographs, copy, product information and previous designs, and who can approve their use.
06
Define the first useful result
The first version will be useful when…
Describe something you can observe. Keep later ideas in a separate list so they do not hide the main purpose.
07
Explain the practical constraints
We need to consider…
Any real event date, budget range for the private proposal, required integration or availability limit. Identify the person who will give consolidated feedback. If you do not know an answer, write that down too.
Your brief can begin with a conversation.
Discovery turns these answers into decisions about scope, design and delivery. It is normal for the initial request to change once the underlying job is clearer.