How to do NDD with Miro

Getting started with NDD Miro

This document describes how to quickly get started with NDD using a Miro board. This guide assumes you are familiar with the basic concepts of NDD and/or have read the introductory material.

NDD is a flexible practice that does not require specialized tooling to provide value. While you can get productive with NDD even just using a whiteboard and stickies, Miro provides several features that distributed teams in particular will appreciate.

• High bandwidth collaboration without needing physical presence.
• More persistent compared to ephemeral whiteboard sessions.
• Easy sharing and revision history tracking.
• A friendly and familiar interface.

If you choose to start your journey by using Miro, we recommend using the NDD Miro template.

Components of the Miro Template and Their Role in NDD

Starting point

The Narrative Script is your starting point. Place the outcome using a sticky note at the end of the context lane. And then complete your user Narrative pulling from the Holistic Palette.

Holistic Palette

The Holistic Palette is where you define the Constructs and Transitions that bring your narrative to life. Begin with Moments to establish the timeline and context, then layer on Interfaces and Actions to detail the user interactions and system operations. This palette helps ensure that all aspects of the narrative are considered, from user experience to system functionality.

Attachments to Constructs

Enhance your narrative by adding Attachments to Constructs. Start by assigning Actors to specific Moments, providing clarity on who is involved in each part of the process.

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Reference Example

Use the example provided in the template as a guide. It demonstrates how to begin with Moments and Actors, then expand the narrative with Interfaces, Actions, and any necessary Branches in the timeline. This reference helps teams understand how to apply the template to their own projects effectively.

Limitations

While Miro is highly effective for initial collaboration, it may become challenging to manage as projects grow in complexity. Miro might be the best-in-class diagramming tool, but NDD is ultimately about creating models, not diagrams. Large, long term projects, or projects undergoing a lot of change, will benefit from more advanced tools like the purpose-built Narrative Modelling Studio.

it’s worth mentioning here that Miro is the best-in-class diagramming tool and we have a lot of respect for it. However Narrative modeling is as the name suggest “modeling”

Additional Resources

To maximize your understanding and application of NDD with Miro, be sure to explore additional resources and guides. The NDD Facilitation Play by Play article and this community huddle in particular provide deeper insights into the methodology and can help you navigate more complex projects with confidence. 

Next Steps

We encourage you to try using Miro for NDD, especially for initial project planning and one-off collaborations. However, as your project grows, be mindful of the platform’s limitations and consider transitioning to Narrative Studio.

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