Guided canvas · 7 questions · about 30 min

From idea to first product

Scope before you code.

For developers and solo builders with an idea and an unclear scope. Turn it into one simple flow you can test.

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1. Who is it for, and in what situation?

Describe one person and a specific moment. “Everyone” won’t help you choose useful features.

Fictional example: a news curation tool

A developer with twenty minutes for technical reading on Friday.

2. What problem have you observed?

Separate observations from assumptions. How does the person handle it today?

Fictional example: a news curation tool

She saves links across several apps and doesn’t know which to read. To check in a conversation.

3. What is the smallest useful outcome?

Describe an action the person will complete, without naming a technology.

Fictional example: a news curation tool

Choose a relevant article from five links, each explained in one sentence.

4. What is the shortest user flow?

Three to five steps, from arrival to outcome: your first test scenario.

Fictional example: a news curation tool

Open the selection → read summaries → choose a link → read the article.

5. What belongs in V1, and what waits?

Keep what makes the flow possible. Name the tempting features you’re leaving out for now.

Fictional example: a news curation tool

V1: five links, summaries and a date. Later: accounts, bookmarks and personalised recommendations.

6. What data and checks do you need?

Where does information come from? What could be wrong? Include errors and empty states to handle.

Fictional example: a news curation tool

Hand-picked links. Check URLs, dates, duplicates, mobile readability and the empty-selection message.

7. What test will help you decide what comes next?

Choose a realistic test. Define what you’ll observe and what would make you change the idea before building more.

Fictional example: a news curation tool

Show the selection to three people. Observe their choice and understand why. If no link is useful, revisit the selection before building accounts.

Before using your result

I distinguish the observed need from my assumptions.
V1 supports one useful end-to-end flow.
I know what feedback would make me change the scope.

Your next step

Choose one action: talk to someone, sketch the flow or prepare a manual test. If you use AI, give it this scope and ask for its assumptions before asking for code.