Loops Home // Resources
Resources
Thanks for buying a copy of the book. Below you will find PDF downloads and links to books and other resources I mention in the book.
If you’re looking for more help, you should check out The Loops Course.
Downloadables
Empathy Map
Originally developed by the fine people at XPlane, the Empathy Map is the go-to tool for documenting and understanding how people think.
Download or visit xplane.com
VALUE PROPOSITION CANVAS
Created by the fine people at Strategyzer, the Value Proposition Canvas has become the best way to visualize how your product’s features and benefits relate to your customer’s pains and gains.
Download or visit strategyzer.com
BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS
Also developed by Strategyzer, the Business Model Canvas has become the best way to visualize all the important moving parts of your business model and how they relate to each other.
Download or visit strategyzer.com
EMPATHY MAP, VALUE PROPOSITION, BUSINESS MODEL RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM
Created at Nine Labs, here’s how the Empathy Map, Value Proposition Canvas, and Business Model Canvas all fit together.
CUSTOMER INTERVIEW QUESTION SWIPE FILE
Dozens of proven interview questions you can use to understand your customer and their needs.
WORKSHOP AND EXERCISE SUPPLIES*
MOD Timer
Keeping track of time can be hard when you're thinking about other things. The MOD Timer keeps you on track.
Whiteboards or Post-it Pads
You will want a lot of whiteboard or other workspace for drawing and collaborating. You should consider getting:
- Double-sided rolling Whiteboard
- Post-It pads or Magic Whiteboard sheets with easels
- Idea Paint to turn your walls into whiteboards
- Or just tape up a bunch of white butcher paper.
Portable Audio Recorder
When doing customer interviews and other work sessions you'll want a reliable way to record the audio. This recorder is easy to use and has built-in USB to make transferring audio files to your computer nice and easy.
Black Whiteboard Markers
Nothing beats having a stockpile of quality black markers. You'll use these for exercises on whiteboards and on paper. The thick tip keeps your drawings and sketches loose and keeps you from trying to add too much detail. Get at least 12.
Felt Tip Pens
These are great for sketching on your sticky notes or regular paper. The wider point keeps you from trying to get too detailed. It's good to have a few colors on hand for making notes or marking up sketches.
Yellow Sticky Notes
You can't have too many yellow sticky notes. Seriously, the more you have around the better. The standard square ones are good, but the 3x5 size is even better.
Buy from Amazon
Colored Sticky Notes
We recommend yellow sticky notes for most things, but colored notes will help you keep things organized for some of the exercises. One box of assorted colors will be enough to get you started.
Colored Sticky Dots
Using colored dots is a fast and simple way to make notes or groupings, vote on ideas, and create basic visual heat maps during some of the exercises.
Plain White Copy Paper
No need to buy fancy paper. You'll just use it for quick notes and sketches. You can buy some here or just steal some from the nearest copier. One ream is probably more than enough for now.
Mobile UI Notebook
This is a great notebook to have on hand when it's time to do paper prototyping. It gives you 6 screens per page which is enough for a simple workflow or to show several options of one screen.
Field Notes - Our Favorite Pocket Notebook
Field Notes brand notebooks have been our go-to for over a decade. They're just the right size and the dot grid paper (important - get the dot grid) makes it super easy to take notes or create simple sketches.
Plain Masking Tape
Nothing too fancy, but you want the stuff that's sticky enough to stay on the wall over and over again, because you'll probably be moving things around a bit.
Design Tools and Resources
Design Process and Collaboration
Books and Other Resources*
Talking to Humans by Giff Constable
The User's Journey: Storymapping Products That People Love - by Donna Linchaw
Mapping Experiences by James Kalbach
Designing for Emotion by Aarron Walter
Prototyping: A Practitioner’s Guide by Todd Zaki Warfel
The Culting of Brands: Turn Your Customers into True Believers by Douglas Atkin
Disclaimers
- Some links above are affiliate links. Other than any payment though the affiliate programs, we have not been compensated in any way for including links to these products and resources. They are genuine recommendations based on our experience using or reading them.
- We do not guarantee the effectiveness of using these tools or the quality of the outcomes you may have from using them.