# brainstorm experiments existing
## Metadata

- Canonical URL: https://6ducklearn.com/skills/brainstorm-experiments-existing/
- Markdown URL: https://6ducklearn.com/skills/brainstorm-experiments-existing/index.md
- Product: skills
- Category: product-management
- Tags: pm-product-discovery, product-management, pm-skills
- Updated: 2026-07-14T03:00:00.357428+00:00
## Summary
Design experiments to test assumptions for an existing product — prototypes, A/B tests, spikes, and other low-effort validation methods. Use when validating assumptions, testing feature ideas cheaply, or planning product experiments.
## Content
## Design Experiments (Existing Product)

Design low-effort experiments to test product assumptions before committing to full implementation.

### Context

You are helping a product team design experiments for **$ARGUMENTS**. The team has a feature idea and assumptions that need validation.

If the user provides files (PRDs, assumption lists, designs), read them first.

### Instructions

The user will describe their idea and assumptions. Work through these steps:

1. **Clarify the idea and assumptions**: Confirm what the team wants to build and what they need to validate.

2. **Suggest experiments** for each assumption. Consider methods like:
   - First-click testing or task completion with a prototype
   - Feature stubs or fake door tests
   - Technical spikes
   - A/B tests on production (with risk mitigation)
   - Wizard of Oz approaches
   - Survey-based validation (behavioral, not opinion-based)

3. **Key principles to follow**:
   - Measure actual behavior, not users' opinions
   - Test responsibly — don't put users or the business at risk
   - For production tests (e.g., A/B tests), explain risk mitigation strategies
   - Aim for maximum validated learning with minimal effort

4. **For each experiment**, specify:
   - **Assumption**: What do we believe?
   - **Experiment**: What exactly will we do to validate it?
   - **Metric**: What will be measured?
   - **Success threshold**: The expected value if we are right

Think step by step. Present experiments in a clear table or structured format. Save as markdown if substantial.

---

### Further Reading

- [Testing Product Ideas: The Ultimate Validation Experiments Library](https://www.productcompass.pm/p/the-ultimate-experiments-library)
- [Assumption Prioritization Canvas: How to Identify And Test The Right Assumptions](https://www.productcompass.pm/p/assumption-prioritization-canvas)
- [What Is Product Discovery? The Ultimate Guide Step-by-Step](https://www.productcompass.pm/p/what-exactly-is-product-discovery)
- [Continuous Product Discovery Masterclass (CPDM)](https://www.productcompass.pm/p/cpdm) (video course)

## Related Skills

- [interview script](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/interview-script/index.md): Create a structured customer interview script with JTBD probing questions, warm-up, core exploration, and wrap-up sections. Follows The Mom Test principles — no leading questions, no pitching, focus on past behavior. Use when preparing for user interviews, creating interview guides, or planning discovery research.
- [analyze feature requests](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/analyze-feature-requests/index.md): Analyze and prioritize a list of feature requests by theme, strategic alignment, impact, effort, and risk. Use when reviewing customer feature requests, triaging a backlog, or making prioritization decisions.
- [brainstorm experiments new](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/brainstorm-experiments-new/index.md): Design lean startup experiments (pretotypes) for a new product. Creates XYZ hypotheses and suggests low-effort validation methods like landing pages, explainer videos, and pre-orders. Use when validating a new product idea, creating pretotypes, or testing market demand.
- [brainstorm ideas existing](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/brainstorm-ideas-existing/index.md): Brainstorm product ideas for an existing product using multi-perspective ideation from PM, Designer, and Engineer viewpoints. Use when generating new feature ideas, brainstorming solutions for an identified opportunity, or ideating with a product trio.
- [brainstorm ideas new](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/brainstorm-ideas-new/index.md): Brainstorm feature ideas for a new product in initial discovery from PM, Designer, and Engineer perspectives. Use when starting product discovery for a new product, exploring features for a startup idea, or doing initial ideation.
- [identify assumptions existing](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/identify-assumptions-existing/index.md): Identify risky assumptions for a feature idea in an existing product across Value, Usability, Viability, and Feasibility. Uses multi-perspective devil's advocate thinking. Use when stress-testing a feature idea, doing risk assessment, or preparing for assumption mapping.