Services
Three products. One goal.
Figure out what's wrong with your product and exactly what to do about it. Or figure out what's worth building before you commit to building it. Everything DLC does starts here.
How it works
Two paths. One destination.
Whether you've already built something or you're starting from scratch. Both paths lead to the same place: a clear plan your team can act on.
Existing product
Product Diagnosis
$4,500
Find what's broken and why
↓
Product Strategy
$18K–$28K
Build the right fix
Pre-build
Discovery Sprint
$2,500
Validate what's worth building
↓
Product Strategy
$18K–$28K
Build the right fix
The cost of your first engagement, Product Diagnosis or Discovery Sprint applies toward Product Strategy if you continue within 30 days.
Product Diagnosis
1–2 weeks
$4,500
Fixed fee
Your product launched. Something isn't working, users aren't adopting, retention is low, revenue is flat. But without a clear diagnosis, every fix is a guess. The Product Diagnosis finds what's actually broken and tells you exactly what to do about it.
Stakeholder interviews
Recorded, transcribed sessions with everyone involved. We understand the vision, the assumptions, and what the team has already tried.
Metrics & funnel review
We review the data: conversion rate, activation rate, drop-off points, and retention metrics where available. If key metrics aren't being tracked, we flag what needs to be set up. Data infrastructure is outside DLC's scope, but knowing what's missing is part of the diagnosis.
Product walkthrough & audit
We use the product the way a real user would. Fresh eyes find what familiarity hides, where value breaks down, where users get lost, and where the experience fails.
Root cause analysis
We don't just list problems. We identify why they exist: wrong audience, misaligned features, broken flow, unclear value. So the fix addresses the real issue.
What you get
— All research findings: stakeholder interviews, product audit, key insights
— Problems identified: what's not working and where
— Root cause analysis: why it's not working
— Recommendations: what to fix, what to cut, what to build next
— Readout call: we walk you through everything and answer questions
Most Product Diagnosis engagements lead to Product Strategy. Some don't and that's fine. You'll know exactly where you stand.
Product Strategy
3–5 weeks
$18K–$28K
Fixed fee · milestone payments 40% to start · 30% midpoint · 30% completion
The Product Diagnosis surfaces what needs answering. Product Strategy goes and finds the answers. From real users, in real conversations, and turns them into a buildable plan. This is where the real work happens.
User recruitment & interviews
Finding and recruiting the right people to talk to isn't easy. We handle it. Recorded, transcribed interviews with real potential users. We will not make assumptions about them. Key findings documented and synthesized.
Assumption validation
What did real users confirm? What changed? What new angles emerged? This is where the diagnosis findings get pressure-tested against real users and where pivots happen if they need to.
Pivot or proceed
Sometimes interviews surface a more immediate problem or a stronger angle. We flag those moments and make the call together on how to proceed.
Scope definition
What gets fixed first? What gets cut? What gets rebuilt? For mid-build founders this is about prioritizing the right fixes. For pre-build founders it's about defining the right v1.
Information architecture
How is the product structured? What are the main areas, how do they connect, and what does the user journey look like from onboarding through core loop? For existing products this means restructuring what's already there. For new products it means defining it from scratch.
Wireflows
Lo-fidelity, phased wireframes that map the MVP rollout in manageable steps. Not a design deliverable, a thinking artifact. A designer picks this up and opens Figma on day one with no ambiguity.
Prototype testing
One more round of testing, not for design feedback, but to confirm the wireflows solve the right problem and make sense to a real user. We document what worked, what didn't, and what to adjust.
What you get
— All research findings: interviews, synthesis, key insights
— Validated assumptions and pivot recommendations if needed
— Scope definition and priorities: what to fix, build, or cut first
— Information architecture and user flows
— Wireflows (annotated concept sketches) your dev team can act on immediately
— A written action plan that is tested, scoped, investor-ready
— Readout call where we walk you through everything
What comes next
Hand the wireflows to a designer. They'll have everything they need: structure, user flows, MVP scope. No briefing from scratch. From there the designer brings the visual layer:
— Branding & visual identity
— Copy & messaging
— Iconography & imagery
— A polished, interactive prototype
"I've seen founders take hi-fi prototypes to investors and raise capital before writing a single line of code."
— Jessica Morales, Founder of Design Labs Consulting
Product Diagnosis or Discovery Sprint fee applies toward Product Strategy if booked within 30 days.
Discovery Sprint
2–3 days
$2,500
Fixed fee
Surfaces bad assumptions, clarifies the real product vision, and ends with a clear brief. You'll know exactly what to build and why, even if you never hire DLC again.
Stakeholder interviews
Recorded, transcribed, 1+ hour sessions with everyone involved. We dig into the vision, assumptions, constraints, and definition of success. Then we flag what needs deeper investigation.
Audience mapping
Who is the user? Who is the buyer? They're not always the same person and confusing them is one of the most expensive early mistakes. We map both explicitly, so every future decision is grounded in the right foundation.
Market & opportunity research
Is this a real problem? Is there signal that people want this? Is the space too commoditized. If so, is there an adjacent opportunity worth pursuing instead? We look for where the real unmet need lives.
Strategic positioning
Who else in the market is solving this problem? Who would want to own this product or user base down the road? Understanding the competitive landscape and strategic value early shapes what you build and who you build it for.
Technology & risk scan
What tools or AI capabilities could give this product a unique advantage? What compliance or regulatory risks need to be understood before building?
What you get
— Surfaced assumptions and flagged risks
— Market context and opportunity assessment
— Audience clarity: user vs buyer mapped explicitly
— A clear brief, exactly what questions need answering before you build
— Readout call where we walk you through everything
Common questions
Things founders usually ask.
What if I don't know exactly what's wrong?
That's exactly why the Product Diagnosis exists. You don't need to know what's broken. That's our job. You just need to know something isn't working.
Do I need a fully formed idea for the Discovery Sprint?
No. You need a problem you believe is worth solving and a sense of who has it. The Discovery Sprint is designed to pressure-test early-stage thinking, not validate a finished concept.
When does Product Strategy make sense?
After either a Product Diagnosis or Discovery Sprint. Product Strategy goes deep: real user interviews, MVP scoping, concept sketches. It's the full engagement for founders who are ready to commit to building the right thing.
What happens after the Product Diagnosis?
You'll receive the full findings report and we walk through it together on a readout call. If the findings point to deeper strategy work, we'll scope and propose Product Strategy. You're never locked in. Some engagements end at the diagnosis and that's a win.
Do you do design or development?
No. DLC diagnoses and defines. Implementation is referred out. That separation keeps the recommendations unbiased. We have no incentive to recommend building anything.
How is this different from hiring a consultant hourly?
Hourly pricing penalizes being fast. Fixed fees mean you're paying for the outcome: a clear diagnosis and a concrete plan, not the hours it takes to get there.
What if the product needs to change completely?
That's the job. Sometimes the diagnosis reveals a bigger pivot is needed. You'll leave with a clear reframe, the evidence behind it, and a path forward.
Not sure where to start?
Start with a free 20-minute call. We'll talk through where you are and which product is the right fit.
Free. 20 minutes. No pitch.