UX Integration in Scrum Sprints
UX is integrated into Scrum, not handled separately. Design and validation happen within Sprints and backlog refinement, supporting continuous, …
TL;DR; There are no special Sprints in Scrum for design or other functions; all work needed to meet the Sprint Goal, including UX and design, should happen within the Sprint or during Refinement if it is for future preparation. Segmenting Sprints by function creates silos and goes against Scrum’s purpose of delivering high-quality working software. Development managers should focus on integrating design and architecture work into the regular Sprint flow rather than isolating it.

I’m still surprised how often I get asked about “Design Sprints” in Scrum. Let’s be clear, there are no special Sprints. No Sprint 0. No release Sprint. No hardening Sprint. And definitely no Design Sprint.
Scrum is a social technology for solving complex problems. Trying to segment Sprints by function (design, test, build) reflects a Taylorist approach rooted in the Industrial Revolution, not the realities of modern product development.
If your UX work is critical to delivering the Sprint Goal, then it belongs in the Sprint. If it’s about preparing for the future, then it’s part of Refinement. But none of it needs a dedicated, isolated timebox.
The goal is high-quality working software, not siloed ceremonies.
How are you integrating UX, design, and architecture into your Sprint without breaking the flow?
Each classification [Concepts, Categories, & Tags] was assigned using AI-powered semantic analysis and scored across relevance, depth, and alignment. Final decisions? Still human. Always traceable. Hover to see how it applies.
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Trayport
Boxit Document Solutions

Alignment Healthcare

Healthgrades

Slaughter and May

Kongsberg Maritime

Lockheed Martin

ProgramUtvikling

SuperControl

Boeing

YearUp.org

Deliotte
NIT A/S

Emerson Process Management

Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd

Brandes Investment Partners L.P.

Big Data for Humans

MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.

Department of Work and Pensions (UK)

New Hampshire Supreme Court

Washington Department of Transport

Nottingham County Council

Ghana Police Service

Royal Air Force

Emerson Process Management

Brandes Investment Partners L.P.

Ericson
CR2

SuperControl

Illumina