Today’s goal
Pressure test your three directions.
You already have three. Today someone else finds the soft spot in each one.
Nobody picks your capstone for you. Not your partner, not me.
3
The partner rule
Ask. Do not choose.
- 01One question each
Your partner gets one clarifying question per direction. Three total.
- 02Questions, not opinions
“Who would watch this?” not “I think you should do the second one.”
- 03The owner answers
You say it out loud. If you cannot answer, that is useful information.
A question you cannot answer yet is not a failure. It is the thing you go find out.
Worked example
What a real question sounds like.
- 01“Who is this for?”
Finds out whether there is an actual audience or just a topic.
- 02“What would done look like?”
Finds out whether the finish line exists yet.
- 03“What part worries you?”
Finds the unknown faster than any praise would.
Weak question: “That sounds cool, right?” It gives the owner nothing to work with.
Why we do this
Saying it out loud finds the hole.
Every direction sounds equally good. Nothing is tested.
The vague one gets vague fast. You can hear it.
You find out which one you actually want to defend.
This is critique, not approval. Your partner is not deciding whether your idea is allowed.
Partner work
Run it both ways.
- 01Read your three directions out loud.
Short. One or two sentences each.
- 02Partner asks one question per direction.
Write down each question next to that direction.
- 03Switch and do it again.
Same rules. Ask, do not choose.
Keep exploring on paper. You are not committing to a capstone today.
Before you leave
One direction, one small test.
1
Pick the direction you most want to defend.
Then name the smallest thing you could make that would tell you whether it is worth continuing. Paper prototyping counts. A sketch counts. A single page counts.
“Three directions, plus: the smallest test for __________ is __________.”