Short on time? Plan Any UX Project in 15 Minutes

Hey designer!

How has your week started? Mine - pretty roughly, hence, delayed newsletter issue.

I’ve taken on a new project recently and noticed, that it always starts the same.

A new brief or idea is in front of me, and for a moment, I just stare at it.
Tabs open. Figma waiting. My baby’s finally asleep in my arms.
And my brain? A total swirl of ideas, unknowns, and “Where do I even begin?”

I used to let that feeling sit for hours.
Now? I give myself 15 minutes.

Over time, I crafted a simple Notion ritual that brings structure to the madness. It’s my go-to when I need to shift from messy beginnings to a focused plan—quickly, calmly, and without overthinking.

Even when I’m balancing design strategy with nap schedules.

Here’s the exact 4-step flow I use to plan any UX project with clarity—fast:

🧩 Step 1: Define the Problem
I open my template and start with prompts like:
→ What problem are we solving?
→ Who’s affected?
→ What does success look like?

The key: don’t overthink—just write what you know. Trust your instincts. You’ll sharpen it later.

🎯 Step 2: Set Goals & Key Questions
Next, I add clarity around the unknowns:
→ What do we want to learn?
→ What’s unclear right now?
→ What outcomes are we hoping for?

This naturally guides the scope and methods for research or design. It’s where strategy starts to take shape.

📅 Step 3: Rough Timeline
I quickly build a timeline view in Notion with four blocks:
• Research
• Design
• Review
• Delivery

Even rough time estimates help reduce decision fatigue later.

🧰 Step 4: Add Your Tool Stack
The final touch: I drop links to all the key tools and docs in one place.
→ Figma files
→ Research docs
→ Testing platforms

Because when your brain is juggling a million tabs (or you’re running on baby naps and coffee), you need a single source of truth.

✨ One Notion doc. Fifteen minutes. Full clarity.
This little ritual has saved me hours of confusion—and kept my projects moving forward, even in the most chaotic seasons.

Want the exact template I use?
Stay tuned, it will be launched soon!

That’s all for this week! Stay tuned for more insights - learn how to transform and evolve your design workflow.

Talk soon,

Lisa

P.S. Have a specific challenge in your design workflow? Hit reply—I’d love to hear about it!

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