The Digital Double Diamond
My approach makes project management simple, fast and, dare I say it, enjoyable.
It’s the Design Council’s Double Diamond you know and love, adapted for the realities of digital design delivery.
Based on the classic four-phase model: Discover, Define, Design and Deliver, this version gives PMs the visibility they need to stay in control. You can see where work is, spot delays early and guide teams through to delivery without second guessing.
Unlike the traditional model, I split the Design phase into two clear parts:
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Low-fidelity design is where we explore options and solve the problem. It ends with fully signed-off wireframes, so everyone is aligned before moving into visual design.
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High-fidelity design is where we create the final design for approval. This becomes the reference point for remaining breakpoints and developer handoff.
That split makes a huge difference. It shows you exactly where work is in the process, which tasks are blocked, and how fast you’re really moving.
It also lets you back up what you’re saying with data. No more vague guesses or debates over timelines. With this model in place, you can use past data to confidently answer the questions that matter, like how long something will take, or how many more sprints it’s likely to need.
The real flow of digital delivery (and the PM powers that bring it to life)
This is the part no one ever explains properly. What actually happens in each phase? Where does design really begin and end? And why do some tickets move like lightning while others feel like they’re stuck in the Upside Down?
Here’s how the digital double diamond actually plays out, with the right structure, the right mindset, and the right project management superpowers at every step.
PM superpowers by phase
Discover – Asking great questions, gathering facts, aligning people
Define – Prioritising problems, shaping the brief, getting to ‘yes’
Low-Fidelity – Driving decisions, scheduling reviews, keeping flow
High-Fidelity – Managing approvals, clearing blockers, syncing with devs
Deliver – Checking details, closing the loop, keeping the bar high
The importance of backlogs
The circles represent the different backlogs you need as a PM in order to create, refine, assign and track the progress of each phase properly. These four phases and the backlogs make up the foundation of the Digital Double Diamond. By breaking a programme up like this, you can control precisely what’s happening when.
Reporting
Because everything’s set up neatly in phases, you can monitor and report on progress
at a very high level, or a very detailed level, by sprint or by workstream.
Why do I love the DDD and recommend it to every Digital PM?
I'm glad you asked! Because it’s:
- adapted to agile workflows and all the backlogs that ‘should’ go along with them
it helps minimise scope creep - it enables everyone to work to the same, clear set of rules
- and it makes tracking and reporting a doddle
Goodbye complexity - hello getting sh*t done
Forget Six Sigma, LEAN, and all your by-the-book PM methods. The DDD is my practical, real-life solution to running fast-paced, successful projects.
In less than half a day, you'll have the knowledge you need to get in control of your Digital Design programme. No need for weeks of studying. No exams. Instant results - with minimum faff!
More than just a framework: with you every step of the way
In my DDD framework course there's 4 hours of training, activities and all my tips to get the most out of projects run in this way.
It's EXACTLY what you need in order to be successful with your delivery and Programme Management approach.
1:1 support with a digital delivery expert (that’s me)
Struggling to fix your Jira setup, automate reporting or get control of a runaway programme? You don’t have to figure it out alone.
I offer private 1:1 coaching for ambitious delivery managers, PMs and agile leads who want smarter systems, less stress and real results, super fast.
Let’s sort the chaos and set you up for calm, confident delivery.
