Short answer: when comparing design sprint providers in the UK, look at five things: who actually facilitates on the day, whether they will run the sprint with your team rather than for it, how they recruit and run user tests, what you have in writing at the end, and the total price for the whole sprint. Expect to pay roughly £10,000 to £16,000 for a facilitated three to five day sprint from a specialist, and more if the provider also builds the product afterwards.
Design sprints have become a popular way to test a new product, service or process before committing serious money to it. That popularity means the label now covers very different offers, from a single facilitator running your team through the process to agencies that run the sprint themselves and then sell you the build. This guide explains the main types of provider and how to compare them.
What you are buying
A design sprint takes one well-defined challenge through five stages - map, sketch, decide, prototype and test - usually in three to five days. The outputs should be a realistic prototype, feedback from around five real users, and a clear decision about whether to go ahead, stop or change direction.
Most of the value comes from two things a provider brings: a facilitator who keeps a mixed group moving and stops the most senior voice from dominating, and a disciplined testing day that produces evidence rather than opinion.
The four types of design sprint provider in the UK
| Type | What they do | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product and digital agencies | Run the sprint, often with their own designers, then offer to build the product | Teams that want a delivery partner afterwards | A sprint that leans towards solutions the agency can build |
| Innovation consultancies | Sprints as part of wider innovation or strategy programmes | Large organisations running several sprints | Higher fees and junior facilitators on the day |
| Independent facilitators | Design and facilitate the sprint with your own team doing the work | Teams that want to own the result and build internal capability | You need people with the right skills available for the full sprint |
| Training providers | Teach your staff to run sprints themselves | Organisations planning to run many sprints internally | Training is not the same as an experienced facilitator on a high-stakes challenge |
Five questions to compare providers
- Who facilitates on the day? The person who sells the sprint is not always the person who runs it. Ask for the facilitator's name and background.
- Will our team do the work? If the provider's own designers do most of the thinking, your team learns less and may not own the outcome.
- How are user tests run? Ask who recruits the five test users, who interviews them and how the findings are recorded. Weak testing turns a sprint into an expensive brainstorm.
- What do we have in writing at the end? Look for the prototype, recorded test findings and a written decision with next steps and owners.
- What is the total price? Ask for a price for the whole sprint, including preparation and follow-up, not just a day rate.
What a design sprint costs in the UK
Prices vary with length, team size and whether the provider also designs or builds. As a guide:
- a facilitated three to five day sprint from a specialist typically costs around £10,000 to £16,000 for the whole team
- agency sprints that include design and prototype production by the agency's own staff usually cost more
- training courses for staff are priced per person and are a different product
When a design sprint is the wrong choice
A design sprint assumes the team agrees on the problem and that one person can decide. If your leaders disagree about what the problem is, or it is unclear who has the authority to choose, a sprint will stall in the first morning. In that case, start with a short decision workshop to agree priorities and decision rights, then sprint on what comes out of it. Our guide design sprint or decision workshop? explains the difference.
How Echelon runs design sprints
Echelon Facilitation is an independent UK practice. Its Design Sprint runs for three or five days with 5-8 people from your organisation and a decider, all facilitated by Dr Andrew Greenland, a medical doctor trained in design sprint and workshop methods. Your team does the work, so it owns the result. The sprint ends with a tested prototype, recorded user feedback, a written decision log with owners and a 30-day follow-up call. It costs £10,000 to £16,000 for the whole team, with founding client rates available - see pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a design sprint cost in the UK?
A facilitated three to five day design sprint from a specialist typically costs around £10,000 to £16,000 for the whole team. Agency sprints that include design and build work by the agency usually cost more.
How do I choose a design sprint agency?
Ask who facilitates on the day, whether your team does the work, how user tests are run, what you will have in writing at the end and what the total price is. These five answers separate a useful sprint from an expensive brainstorm.
Should we hire an agency or an independent facilitator for a design sprint?
Hire an agency if you want them to design and build the product afterwards. Hire an independent facilitator if you want your own team to do the work and own the result.
How long does a design sprint take?
Usually five days, or three days in a compressed format for teams that have already defined the challenge well.
What should a design sprint produce?
A realistic prototype, feedback from around five real users, and a written decision to go ahead, stop or change direction, with next steps and owners.