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Softronic

LIGHTNING DECISION JAM WORKSHOP

Solve any design problem in 90 minutes. Without a single argument.

Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ) is a structured workshop method developed by AJ&Smart that replaces open-ended design discussions with a precise, time-boxed sequence. We facilitate it for product and design teams who need to align on a design system audit, brand identity decision, UX problem or process change — fast.

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THE PROBLEM

Why design discussions stall.

Most design alignment meetings devolve into the loudest voice winning, the most senior person deciding, or — worst — nothing being decided at all. Teams cycle for weeks on "what color should the primary button be" and burn morale on opinions that should be settled in an hour. Lightning Decision Jam structures the conversation so the team can reach a real decision in 90 minutes, every time, regardless of who's in the room.

THE METHOD

Six steps. Strict timing. No debate.

The workshop runs through six stages, each time-boxed. The discipline is the magic — we don't skip a stage, don't extend timers, and don't allow open discussion until the end.

  1. 01

    Note problems

    4 min · silent

    Each participant writes down everything that's broken about the current design / system / process — one problem per sticky note. Silent. No discussion.

  2. 02

    Present problems

    4 min · 1 min each

    Each person reads their notes aloud. No questions, no debate. Just absorbing.

  3. 03

    Vote on problems

    5 min · 2 votes each

    Everyone places dot votes on the problems they think matter most. Top 1-2 go forward.

  4. 04

    Reframe as challenges

    3 min

    We rewrite the winning problem as a "How might we…" challenge to enable solutioning.

  5. 05

    Capture solutions

    7 min · silent

    Each person writes as many solutions as possible to the challenge. Silent. Quantity over quality.

  6. 06

    Decide & action

    15 min

    Vote on solutions. Plot the top vote-getters on an effort/impact 2x2. Convert the top-right quadrant into actionable tasks with owners and dates.

WHEN WE USE IT

High-leverage moments for LDJ.

  • Design system audit kickoff — surfacing what's broken before redesign
  • Brand identity decisions — going from 5 directions to 1 in a single session
  • Onboarding flow rework — when the team is stuck arguing over funnel structure
  • Cross-team alignment — when product, design and engineering disagree on scope
  • Quarterly retros — fixed-cadence team improvements without endless debate

OUTCOMES

What you walk out with.

  • Top 1-2 problems clearly identified and prioritized by the team
  • Top solutions plotted on effort/impact matrix
  • Concrete action items with owners and target dates
  • Visual artifact of the session (Miro / FigJam board) for reference
  • Optional: written summary doc within 24 hours
  • 3-4 weeks of opinion ping-pong avoided downstream

FAQ

Common questions. Honest answers.

Who facilitates the workshop?

A senior product designer and an engineering lead from our team co-facilitate. The designer drives the structure; the engineer probes for technical viability during step 6 so the action items are realistic, not aspirational.

How many participants?

5-9 is the sweet spot. Below 5 you don't get enough perspective diversity; above 9 the timing breaks. We can run it remote (FigJam / Miro) or on-site.

How long is the actual workshop?

90 minutes for the core LDJ. Add 30 minutes for setup and 30 minutes for post-session task structuring. Plan for a 2.5-hour block.

Is the workshop a standalone service or part of a larger engagement?

Both. We offer LDJ as a standalone $2K workshop or included in every Design Systems engagement (from $14K). Most clients use the standalone first to evaluate fit, then engage us for the full design system build.

Can you facilitate LDJ in Spanish?

Yes. We facilitate in English or Spanish. Mixed-language teams: we typically run in the team's primary working language to avoid translation overhead during the timing windows.

Do we get a recording or a written outcome doc?

Both, optionally. Recording with consent + a written outcome document (problems → top solutions → tasks → owners) within 24 hours.

NEXT MOVE

Ship the next thing. Today.

Book a 30-minute call. We tell you within the call if we can help — including an honest "no" when we can't.

Book a clarity call [email protected]