In short: When recruiting participants for a Design Sprint make sure that you have these four skills in the group:

• Number of finance: to help you crunch numbers, make some financial modeling

• Words or storytelling: to help you write text for the prototypes

• Service of front-line: to advocate for the end-users

• Digital or computer: to help with the prototyping

Numbers or finance skills

It's essential to have someone who can handle the numbers. This could be financial modeling or business modeling. Having a person who can crunch data can make a big difference in decision-making during the sprint.

Words or storytelling skills

A word wizard is invaluable. This person excels at storytelling and writing. They can take an idea and sell it effectively. Their skills are crucial when creating prototypes that need to communicate clearly and persuasively.

Service or front-line skills

Including someone who works on the front lines or understands the user experience is vital. This could be a frontline worker or even a representative of the group you aim to serve. Their insights ensure that the solutions are user-centered and meet real needs.

Digital or computer skills

Having someone who is tech-savvy is a huge plus. They don’t need to be a coder but should be comfortable using tools like Canva and organizing virtual meetings. Quick prototyping often requires these technical abilities.

You might already have those skills

As a facilitator, you might already possess some of these skills. For instance, I have strong technical and word skills in both French and English. However, I lack expertise in financial modeling, so I look for help in that area.

AI tools can assist with some of these tasks, like creating financial models or drafting text. But having a human touch always adds more strength to the team.

Remember, these skills can be spread across multiple participants or found in fewer people. The goal is to cover all bases for a successful Design Sprint.