It's dark, a ray of light is shining through a gap in the door, and you have no idea that you are only a few inches away from an extremely painful experience. All you wanted was to kiss your daughter good night. You have long forgotten the afternoon spent building castles with Maxi, the child from next door. Then all of a sudden the inevitable happens: You tread on one of those small, colourful LEGO bricks and nearly faint from the pain.
- Double black diamond: Expert Only Extremely Difficult These trails are even more difficult than Black Diamond, due to exceptionally steep slopes and other hazards such as narrow trails, exposure to wind, and the presence of obstacles such as steep drop-offs or trees. They are intended only for the most experienced skiers.
- Double Diamond is a casino slot, provided by IGT. The gaming platform is a reputable player on the online slot market, offering a wide variety of gambling. IGT features appealing designs, easy gameplay, and big cash rewards that lure players into falling in love with the gaming process.
The Double Diamond is a visualisation of a creative process, or a design sprint, and allows any UX designer to understand and respond to the users' needs. Double Diamond Resorts, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a developer and operator of upscale resort communities. Our six communities sit on more than 16,000 acres of land in Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania, and we're proud to serve more than 20,000 property owners who live worldwide.
If only the Danish toy manufacturer had used the Double Diamond process in 1949, the blocks might have been made of soft rubber, repelling feet magnetically, or even sweeping themselves out of the way entirely. While this LEGO example isn't meant entirely seriously, it illustrates something that happens in countless companies every day. Except that it tends to happen much less noticeably, loudly and colourfully.
In other words, products are often developed that work ideally for certain target groups (playing children), while at the same time completely ignoring other users (parents in pain). Often, this happens unintentionally and is due to a lack of time for the project. This is where the Double Diamond process can come in handy. We will start off with an introduction explaining the Double Diamond process and the story behind it. In the second part of this article, we will explain the four process phases and their applications in more detail.
What is the Double Diamond process and how can it help you in everyday life?
The Double Diamond is a visualisation of a creative process, or a design sprint, and allows any UX designer to understand and respond to the users' needs. The process helps teams work together towards a common goal and can be used effectively as a means of communication in meetings, such as when you need to inform your supervisor about the current status of the UX process, or when you want to show a UX stranger where and how user knowledge is being used in your organisation. The Double Diamond process was developed by the British Design Council in 2005. As the British government's official design advisor, the charity is actively involved in the country's future development and conceptualises solutions addressing social, environmental and economic issues. The Double Diamond process was developed internally to unite and visualise creative processes from a wide variety of fields.
Double Diamond Poster
The Double Diamond process poster for user-centred design. Print it out and hang it on the wall at your office. Gift it to your colleagues. Or use it as a reminder at strategy meetings.
The four phases of the Double Diamond process
The Double Diamond process consists of two diamond-shaped areas and is divided into four phases. The first diamond consists of two phases and is dedicated to gathering information and user research, i.e. asking, listening and sorting. The second diamond consists of two phases that are dedicated to information processing and the iterative design process. Creating, testing and designing are the main tasks here.
Ideally, the process starts with a trigger (such as a new project or design sprint), moves into the second diamond with a clearly defined problem, and ends with a finished design solution at the end of the second diamond. As you may already have guessed, this is often less linear in real working environments. It is often necessary to switch back and forth between phases and repeat certain steps if the desired results have not yet been achieved. The following sections discuss and examine all four phases in detail:
- Phase one: Understanding the problem
- Phase two: Defining the problem
- Phase three: Developing possible solutions
- Phase four: Choosing and developing the solution
The solution (i.e. the final result) does not necessarily have to be a response to the original trigger, because in the course of the design process new sources of problems are often found through continuous user feedback. In these cases, an alternative definition of the problem would be determined at the beginning of the second diamond. It is not a strictly linear process. Although it is possible to work straight through from start to finish, it is often necessary to switch back and forth between phases and repeat a step if the desired results have not yet been achieved.
Phase one: Understanding the problem – User research
As mentioned above, each new design project starts with a trigger. This can take a number of different forms. These can include user-reported usability problems, new product ideas, or the improvement of an existing product. Any of these might be a possible starting point. The first phase is usually dedicated to user research, market research and, consequently, understanding the problem you want to solve. During this process, you collect as much information as possible on the topic and talk to all potential target groups. For example, you might want to find out why an assumed customer group does not use your own product or why a target group that is not directly addressed is showing a lot of interest.
In this phase, the focus is on the user. We aim to understand their preferences, motivations and problems in the best possible way. There are a number of well-established user research methods that can be used for this purpose. Combine multiple user research methods to confirm your hypotheses and get the best results.
Double Double Diamond Free Slots
Common first-phase user research methods:
- Contextual inquiries
- Online surveys
Common pitfalls
Biased research – One of the challenges in the first phase is to eliminate existing assumptions about core problems and solution ideas and to start the research completely unbiased. You may have been working on the problem for months and want to find a solution as quickly as possible. However, this is the wrong mindset for the first phase of user research. At this point, it is about questioning everything. It is about reaching out as far as possible in all directions and also exploring areas that at first glance do not appear to be obviously relevant.
Too much research – Obtaining user feedback is important. But beware, you can quickly end up getting lost here. Collecting excessive amounts of data can make you become virtually addicted to more information, with no end in sight. It is impossible to grasp everything. There will always be questions that you could explore in more detail, and there will always be experts who come up with yet more well-intentioned advice and hypotheses. This is why it helps to set a fixed deadline for you to complete your research before moving on to the next phase. As mentioned earlier, the Double Diamond process is not necessarily linear. Whichever way you proceed, there will be opportunities for you to research again in the next phase. However, it is helpful to define from the beginning when which phase should start and when it should be completed.
Phase two: Defining the core problem
Data collection is followed by the phase where we sort our feedback, identify common patterns, and create initial hypotheses that define the problem. You will find that the collected feedback will reveal many more problems than those you defined at the start. It's crucial to question whether the original problem is still relevant or whether any other issues you uncover have more potential to improve the user experience.
In the second phase, the most helpful research methods are those that can be used to narrow down the problem and define goals which help tackle the problem.
Double Double Diamond Slots Jackpots
Commonly used methods in this phase
- Pinboards with post-its allow you to show, move and iterate patterns and groupings.
- Project plan including defined goals and milestones
Common pitfalls
Prioritising is essential – In the first phase, it was important to be as open as possible. This phase requires the exact opposite: Now you have to be as pragmatic as possible. It's dangerous to try to pack multiple problems into one definition and create a one-size-fits-all solution. Focus and clarity are the most important goals when nearing the end of this phase. A clear definition of the problem will help you narrow down your approach in the next phase. A poorly defined problem that tries to solve everything all at once will inevitably lead to an unclear starting point and to an unsatisfactory, wishy-washy solution. All areas that you're not able to cover in the process this time around, you can of course use as starting points for future projects. This ensures they are not lost. So be disciplined and concentrate on the most promising problem you have identified.
Phase three: Developing possible solutions
Once you have arrived at a clearly defined problem, you are ready to begin the search for possible solutions. At first, it will be a question of quantity over quality. Brainstorming, ideation and workshops with your team (or even with users) will help generate a variety of ideas that may serve as potential solutions.
When you have identified three to four solid solutions for your users' problem, it's time to put your ideas to a quick test. Develop easy low-fidelity prototypes or mock-ups and show your target group the three to four options that you have developed. The aim is to get relevant feedback as quickly as possible. Which prototype best gets to the heart of your users' problem and solves it? In what areas are users still experiencing uncertainties or a lack of clarity? Guerilla testing and remote user testing are two methods that can help you find this out.
Commonly used methods in this phase
- Guerilla Testing
Common pitfalls
Double Diamond Online
Narrowing down the solution too quickly – After minimising the flood of data in the first part, it is tempting to jump straight to a solution. However, it is important that you once again allow yourself some creative freedom. Consider many ideas and don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Brainstorming and ideation skills improve the more you practise. It is important not to judge too soon, or to reject any ideas too quickly, since you risk discarding possible solutions before they have had a chance to develop. Don't hesitate to remind others, too, when you're working and brainstorming in teams. Sentences such as ‘that will never be possible', ‘that isn't technically feasible' or ‘that costs far too much money' are toxic in this phase. No matter how exaggerated or seemingly impossible a suggested solution is, it may be inspiring or lead to other ideas.
Navel-gazing – Another obstacle to watch out for is navel-gazing, which frequently happens within teams and companies. If there is something that ‘has always been done this way' or ‘was never possible', then that can restrict the thinking process. This is where fresh ideas from outside may be of help. These don't necessarily always need to come from experts or creatives. People from outside the industry have a completely different way of thinking and therefore also bring interesting approaches into play. Future users of the product can also provide valuable input and can help generate new ideas.
Phase four: Selection and development of the final solution
Phase four represents the last step in the process and therefore should produce a concrete solution. After narrowing down your solutions to three to four favourites in the previous phase, it is now time to evaluate the feedback from your rapid user tests and to correlate it with a list of criteria. It is absolutely fine to iterate again at this point, e.g. with another round of brainstorming, in order to develop more concrete solutions.
If one or two promising solutions emerge, begin developing your prototypes to a higher level of detail. Depending on the product or service, you can then evaluate these hi-fi (clickable) prototypes with suitable UX testing methods. For example, moderated remote or in-house user tests can be particularly useful. Here, again, it is important to not start the tests with a bias. Listen to your test users. Are there still confusing functions or user journeys? Do the users understand the benefit of the presented solution? It is better to recognise and fix such uncertainties in this phase than during the development process or even after the product launch.
Commonly used methods in this phase:
- Grids and lists of criteria can help with the selection process
- High-fidelity prototypes, clickable prototypes
- Various testing methods (depending on the product/service, e.g. moderated user tests
Common pitfalls
‘Kill your darling' – you may have already fallen in love with an idea in the development phase. Often, this will be an idea which would personally bring you the most pleasure. This might be because it would be particularly exciting to implement or because it's particularly innovative. But beware, this will quickly make you less open to user feedback, which needs to be considered in this phase. No matter how innovative a product is, the entire development will be for nothing if the user doesn't understand it. This is why it's important to remain rational and objective. It may help you to evaluate feedback from the users in your team. That way, you don't run the risk of unconsciously highlighting opinions that you may like but which aren't relevant.
Conclusion: User-centred thinking and acting require a consistent process.
The Double Diamond process is the ideal guide to design processes in every team. Additionally, the visualisation of the process helps everybody in the team to understand what stage they are currently at and what steps are still to come. The process helps to define a clear roadmap and incorporate user feedback right from the beginning. The Double Diamond also serves as a visual tool when communicating with stakeholders in meetings.
The four phases again at a glance:
- Phase one: Understanding the problem
- Phase two: Defining the core problem
- Phase three: Developing possible solutions
- Phase four: Choosing and developing the solution
The process allows for a lot of flexibility and potential, but keep in mind: Practice makes perfect. Give your team and yourself time to absorb the user-centred process. You will see that you naturally become more confident in your product development decision-making abilities, because they are no longer based on assumptions but, rather, on carefully collected and evaluated feedback from those who will eventually use the product. As a matter of fact, there are actually design changes under way at LEGO. For example, they have specifically developed the Serious Play methodology for visualising the user experience. Perhaps soon there will be new and pain-free Lego bricks available to buy. I look forward to hearing any feedback, questions or suggestions. How does the design or UX process work in your team? What are your best practices?
Double Diamond Poster
The Double Diamond process poster for user-centred design. Print it out and hang it on the wall at your office. Gift it to your colleagues. Or use it as a reminder at strategy meetings.
If you are looking to deepen your knowledge: Dan Nessler has written a very interesting post on the subject: How to rethink the Design process, fail, reflect and iterate.
Play More Free Slots in PA
This slot review introduces you to a game that is so basic that you will feel like you are back in time when slots were in their infancy.
What makes Double Diamond unique among games of its genre is that the Double Diamond is not only the game's highest paying symbol; it's also a wild symbol.
So, what could otherwise be a boring and repetitive game becomes an entertaining trip down memory lane.
Double Diamond takes you back to basics
One of the fantastic features of modern slot technology is that online slot games today can be as simple or as complicated as the player wants. However, the emphasis nowadays is clearly on games of an intricate nature, with manufacturers going all out to make customers say, 'Wow, this game is completely different from anything I have ever played before.'
The majority of the hundreds of online slot varieties available have five reels, many paylines and multiple special bonus features. But what if you have a hankering for a simple three-reel machine like your grandma might have played? Or maybe one like you played at the penny arcades back in the day?
This IGT-created slot Double Diamond fits the description.
Double Diamond basics
This is online slot play at its purest. Double Diamond consists of three reels and one payline.
IGT originally developed the Double Diamond slot game in 2005 for use in Vegas land-based casinos. The game was subsequently adapted for online and mobile use.
Depending on where you play the game, the minimum and maximum bets vary. However, the bet range is wide enough to accommodate most player's preferences.
RTP and volatility
The manufacturer lists the return to player (RTP) of this game as 94.44%. Compared with other online slots, this rate of return is about average. Many online slots offer a higher RTP.
The RTP is a measure of the type of results you can expect in the long run rather than in any given playing session. So, for those playing with limited bankrolls, choosing games with a higher-than-average RTP is highly recommended.
Double Diamond has medium volatility. It offers enough variance to keep the game interesting, but not so much that a bad run is likely to deplete your entire bankroll quickly.
No bonus features or progressive jackpot
Double Diamond is a no-frills game; what you see is what you get. If you're hoping for a mega-sized payday, don't waste your time.
Likewise, if your favorite slot games are filled with suspense and the potential for action and excitement on every spin, Double Diamond comes up short.
There are only a handful of symbols and not very imaginative ones: cherries, bars, sevens and, of course, the Double Diamond symbol. Slots don't get any more old school than this.
27 ways to win
You have seen and perhaps played slots with 243 ways to win and even 1,024 ways to win. Double Diamond only has 27 ways to win.
According to the manufacturer, the maximum payout possible is 1,000x your bet. But for that to happen, the Double Diamond symbol has to land in triplicate across the reels exactly on the designated center payline. Though it is highly unlikely.
Double Diamond is the type of game to play if you have a little extra time on your hands, and you would like to have some fun while experiencing a taste of nostalgia. I don't recommend this slot for prolonged or frequent play.
Double Diamond paytable
Keep in mind that Double Diamond has three reels rather five, which is more common. While, in most instances, you need three symbols of a kind to line up across the reels, in this game, having four- or five-of-a-kind land is impossible.
Furthermore, the game only has one payline. If the matching symbols land outside the payline, as they often will, the spin is a loser.
Here are all of the possible regular symbol payouts, from highest to lowest:
- Three Double Diamonds: 1,000x your bet
- 777: 80x your bet
- Three triple bars: 40x your bet
- Three double bars: 25x your bet
- Three single bars: 10x your bet
- Three cherries: 10x your bet
- Three nonmatching bars (e.g., two double bars and one single bar): 5x your bet
- Two cherries: 5x your bet
- One cherry: 2x your bet
Note that the bar symbols don't necessarily have to match to produce a payout. As long as three bars of any type line up on the payline, it is a winning combination.
In addition, the lowest paying symbol, the cherry, is a winner even if just one of them appears on a payline.
Double Diamond wild symbol
Double Diamond does include one special feature that distinguishes it in a big way from other slots with three reels. That is the inclusion of a wild symbol with a multiplier.
In addition to being the highest-paying regular symbol when three of them land on the payline, one or two Double Diamonds on a payline has the potential to substitute for any other symbol to complete a winning combination.
Triple & Double Diamond Jackpots 2020
A winning combination completed with the help of a single Double Diamond symbol will multiply the regular winning payout by two.
Furthermore, a winning combo completed with the help of two Double Diamond symbols will multiply the regular winning payout by four.
Thus, for example, a single seven symbol on the payline would be worthless. But if it lands together with two Double Diamonds, you would receive a whopping 320x your bet size.
The bottom line: A summary of Double Diamond pros and cons
Even when the RTP is less than my minimum requirement for recommending for real-money play, whenever possible, I will still play it in demo mode as part of my overall evaluation. However, in this case, I wasn't able to perform my customary three sessions in demo mode since the default setting does not provide a sufficient bankroll for the minimum bet.
Although the bankroll is preset at only $1,000, the smallest demo mode bet possible is $100. Having just 10 units to work with is woefully inadequate for this game and would result in a very high probability of tapping out.
The main advantage of playing a game like Double Diamond is its simplicity. You are not overwhelmed by choices like you are in many other slot games.
You have only two decisions to make during the entire game: The first is your bet size and the second is when you will stop playing, although that could be decided for you if you are not sufficiently capitalized to withstand a long sequence of non-winning spins.
Personally, I find being restricted to just a single payline too confining. It is frustrating to keep having the symbols land either just above or just below where they need to land. I also prefer games with a lot more action and adventure or at least a theme that means something to me.
The four phases of the Double Diamond process
The Double Diamond process consists of two diamond-shaped areas and is divided into four phases. The first diamond consists of two phases and is dedicated to gathering information and user research, i.e. asking, listening and sorting. The second diamond consists of two phases that are dedicated to information processing and the iterative design process. Creating, testing and designing are the main tasks here.
Ideally, the process starts with a trigger (such as a new project or design sprint), moves into the second diamond with a clearly defined problem, and ends with a finished design solution at the end of the second diamond. As you may already have guessed, this is often less linear in real working environments. It is often necessary to switch back and forth between phases and repeat certain steps if the desired results have not yet been achieved. The following sections discuss and examine all four phases in detail:
- Phase one: Understanding the problem
- Phase two: Defining the problem
- Phase three: Developing possible solutions
- Phase four: Choosing and developing the solution
The solution (i.e. the final result) does not necessarily have to be a response to the original trigger, because in the course of the design process new sources of problems are often found through continuous user feedback. In these cases, an alternative definition of the problem would be determined at the beginning of the second diamond. It is not a strictly linear process. Although it is possible to work straight through from start to finish, it is often necessary to switch back and forth between phases and repeat a step if the desired results have not yet been achieved.
Phase one: Understanding the problem – User research
As mentioned above, each new design project starts with a trigger. This can take a number of different forms. These can include user-reported usability problems, new product ideas, or the improvement of an existing product. Any of these might be a possible starting point. The first phase is usually dedicated to user research, market research and, consequently, understanding the problem you want to solve. During this process, you collect as much information as possible on the topic and talk to all potential target groups. For example, you might want to find out why an assumed customer group does not use your own product or why a target group that is not directly addressed is showing a lot of interest.
In this phase, the focus is on the user. We aim to understand their preferences, motivations and problems in the best possible way. There are a number of well-established user research methods that can be used for this purpose. Combine multiple user research methods to confirm your hypotheses and get the best results.
Double Double Diamond Free Slots
Common first-phase user research methods:
- Contextual inquiries
- Online surveys
Common pitfalls
Biased research – One of the challenges in the first phase is to eliminate existing assumptions about core problems and solution ideas and to start the research completely unbiased. You may have been working on the problem for months and want to find a solution as quickly as possible. However, this is the wrong mindset for the first phase of user research. At this point, it is about questioning everything. It is about reaching out as far as possible in all directions and also exploring areas that at first glance do not appear to be obviously relevant.
Too much research – Obtaining user feedback is important. But beware, you can quickly end up getting lost here. Collecting excessive amounts of data can make you become virtually addicted to more information, with no end in sight. It is impossible to grasp everything. There will always be questions that you could explore in more detail, and there will always be experts who come up with yet more well-intentioned advice and hypotheses. This is why it helps to set a fixed deadline for you to complete your research before moving on to the next phase. As mentioned earlier, the Double Diamond process is not necessarily linear. Whichever way you proceed, there will be opportunities for you to research again in the next phase. However, it is helpful to define from the beginning when which phase should start and when it should be completed.
Phase two: Defining the core problem
Data collection is followed by the phase where we sort our feedback, identify common patterns, and create initial hypotheses that define the problem. You will find that the collected feedback will reveal many more problems than those you defined at the start. It's crucial to question whether the original problem is still relevant or whether any other issues you uncover have more potential to improve the user experience.
In the second phase, the most helpful research methods are those that can be used to narrow down the problem and define goals which help tackle the problem.
Double Double Diamond Slots Jackpots
Commonly used methods in this phase
- Pinboards with post-its allow you to show, move and iterate patterns and groupings.
- Project plan including defined goals and milestones
Common pitfalls
Prioritising is essential – In the first phase, it was important to be as open as possible. This phase requires the exact opposite: Now you have to be as pragmatic as possible. It's dangerous to try to pack multiple problems into one definition and create a one-size-fits-all solution. Focus and clarity are the most important goals when nearing the end of this phase. A clear definition of the problem will help you narrow down your approach in the next phase. A poorly defined problem that tries to solve everything all at once will inevitably lead to an unclear starting point and to an unsatisfactory, wishy-washy solution. All areas that you're not able to cover in the process this time around, you can of course use as starting points for future projects. This ensures they are not lost. So be disciplined and concentrate on the most promising problem you have identified.
Phase three: Developing possible solutions
Once you have arrived at a clearly defined problem, you are ready to begin the search for possible solutions. At first, it will be a question of quantity over quality. Brainstorming, ideation and workshops with your team (or even with users) will help generate a variety of ideas that may serve as potential solutions.
When you have identified three to four solid solutions for your users' problem, it's time to put your ideas to a quick test. Develop easy low-fidelity prototypes or mock-ups and show your target group the three to four options that you have developed. The aim is to get relevant feedback as quickly as possible. Which prototype best gets to the heart of your users' problem and solves it? In what areas are users still experiencing uncertainties or a lack of clarity? Guerilla testing and remote user testing are two methods that can help you find this out.
Commonly used methods in this phase
- Guerilla Testing
Common pitfalls
Double Diamond Online
Narrowing down the solution too quickly – After minimising the flood of data in the first part, it is tempting to jump straight to a solution. However, it is important that you once again allow yourself some creative freedom. Consider many ideas and don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Brainstorming and ideation skills improve the more you practise. It is important not to judge too soon, or to reject any ideas too quickly, since you risk discarding possible solutions before they have had a chance to develop. Don't hesitate to remind others, too, when you're working and brainstorming in teams. Sentences such as ‘that will never be possible', ‘that isn't technically feasible' or ‘that costs far too much money' are toxic in this phase. No matter how exaggerated or seemingly impossible a suggested solution is, it may be inspiring or lead to other ideas.
Navel-gazing – Another obstacle to watch out for is navel-gazing, which frequently happens within teams and companies. If there is something that ‘has always been done this way' or ‘was never possible', then that can restrict the thinking process. This is where fresh ideas from outside may be of help. These don't necessarily always need to come from experts or creatives. People from outside the industry have a completely different way of thinking and therefore also bring interesting approaches into play. Future users of the product can also provide valuable input and can help generate new ideas.
Phase four: Selection and development of the final solution
Phase four represents the last step in the process and therefore should produce a concrete solution. After narrowing down your solutions to three to four favourites in the previous phase, it is now time to evaluate the feedback from your rapid user tests and to correlate it with a list of criteria. It is absolutely fine to iterate again at this point, e.g. with another round of brainstorming, in order to develop more concrete solutions.
If one or two promising solutions emerge, begin developing your prototypes to a higher level of detail. Depending on the product or service, you can then evaluate these hi-fi (clickable) prototypes with suitable UX testing methods. For example, moderated remote or in-house user tests can be particularly useful. Here, again, it is important to not start the tests with a bias. Listen to your test users. Are there still confusing functions or user journeys? Do the users understand the benefit of the presented solution? It is better to recognise and fix such uncertainties in this phase than during the development process or even after the product launch.
Commonly used methods in this phase:
- Grids and lists of criteria can help with the selection process
- High-fidelity prototypes, clickable prototypes
- Various testing methods (depending on the product/service, e.g. moderated user tests
Common pitfalls
‘Kill your darling' – you may have already fallen in love with an idea in the development phase. Often, this will be an idea which would personally bring you the most pleasure. This might be because it would be particularly exciting to implement or because it's particularly innovative. But beware, this will quickly make you less open to user feedback, which needs to be considered in this phase. No matter how innovative a product is, the entire development will be for nothing if the user doesn't understand it. This is why it's important to remain rational and objective. It may help you to evaluate feedback from the users in your team. That way, you don't run the risk of unconsciously highlighting opinions that you may like but which aren't relevant.
Conclusion: User-centred thinking and acting require a consistent process.
The Double Diamond process is the ideal guide to design processes in every team. Additionally, the visualisation of the process helps everybody in the team to understand what stage they are currently at and what steps are still to come. The process helps to define a clear roadmap and incorporate user feedback right from the beginning. The Double Diamond also serves as a visual tool when communicating with stakeholders in meetings.
The four phases again at a glance:
- Phase one: Understanding the problem
- Phase two: Defining the core problem
- Phase three: Developing possible solutions
- Phase four: Choosing and developing the solution
The process allows for a lot of flexibility and potential, but keep in mind: Practice makes perfect. Give your team and yourself time to absorb the user-centred process. You will see that you naturally become more confident in your product development decision-making abilities, because they are no longer based on assumptions but, rather, on carefully collected and evaluated feedback from those who will eventually use the product. As a matter of fact, there are actually design changes under way at LEGO. For example, they have specifically developed the Serious Play methodology for visualising the user experience. Perhaps soon there will be new and pain-free Lego bricks available to buy. I look forward to hearing any feedback, questions or suggestions. How does the design or UX process work in your team? What are your best practices?
Double Diamond Poster
The Double Diamond process poster for user-centred design. Print it out and hang it on the wall at your office. Gift it to your colleagues. Or use it as a reminder at strategy meetings.
If you are looking to deepen your knowledge: Dan Nessler has written a very interesting post on the subject: How to rethink the Design process, fail, reflect and iterate.
Play More Free Slots in PA
This slot review introduces you to a game that is so basic that you will feel like you are back in time when slots were in their infancy.
What makes Double Diamond unique among games of its genre is that the Double Diamond is not only the game's highest paying symbol; it's also a wild symbol.
So, what could otherwise be a boring and repetitive game becomes an entertaining trip down memory lane.
Double Diamond takes you back to basics
One of the fantastic features of modern slot technology is that online slot games today can be as simple or as complicated as the player wants. However, the emphasis nowadays is clearly on games of an intricate nature, with manufacturers going all out to make customers say, 'Wow, this game is completely different from anything I have ever played before.'
The majority of the hundreds of online slot varieties available have five reels, many paylines and multiple special bonus features. But what if you have a hankering for a simple three-reel machine like your grandma might have played? Or maybe one like you played at the penny arcades back in the day?
This IGT-created slot Double Diamond fits the description.
Double Diamond basics
This is online slot play at its purest. Double Diamond consists of three reels and one payline.
IGT originally developed the Double Diamond slot game in 2005 for use in Vegas land-based casinos. The game was subsequently adapted for online and mobile use.
Depending on where you play the game, the minimum and maximum bets vary. However, the bet range is wide enough to accommodate most player's preferences.
RTP and volatility
The manufacturer lists the return to player (RTP) of this game as 94.44%. Compared with other online slots, this rate of return is about average. Many online slots offer a higher RTP.
The RTP is a measure of the type of results you can expect in the long run rather than in any given playing session. So, for those playing with limited bankrolls, choosing games with a higher-than-average RTP is highly recommended.
Double Diamond has medium volatility. It offers enough variance to keep the game interesting, but not so much that a bad run is likely to deplete your entire bankroll quickly.
No bonus features or progressive jackpot
Double Diamond is a no-frills game; what you see is what you get. If you're hoping for a mega-sized payday, don't waste your time.
Likewise, if your favorite slot games are filled with suspense and the potential for action and excitement on every spin, Double Diamond comes up short.
There are only a handful of symbols and not very imaginative ones: cherries, bars, sevens and, of course, the Double Diamond symbol. Slots don't get any more old school than this.
27 ways to win
You have seen and perhaps played slots with 243 ways to win and even 1,024 ways to win. Double Diamond only has 27 ways to win.
According to the manufacturer, the maximum payout possible is 1,000x your bet. But for that to happen, the Double Diamond symbol has to land in triplicate across the reels exactly on the designated center payline. Though it is highly unlikely.
Double Diamond is the type of game to play if you have a little extra time on your hands, and you would like to have some fun while experiencing a taste of nostalgia. I don't recommend this slot for prolonged or frequent play.
Double Diamond paytable
Keep in mind that Double Diamond has three reels rather five, which is more common. While, in most instances, you need three symbols of a kind to line up across the reels, in this game, having four- or five-of-a-kind land is impossible.
Furthermore, the game only has one payline. If the matching symbols land outside the payline, as they often will, the spin is a loser.
Here are all of the possible regular symbol payouts, from highest to lowest:
- Three Double Diamonds: 1,000x your bet
- 777: 80x your bet
- Three triple bars: 40x your bet
- Three double bars: 25x your bet
- Three single bars: 10x your bet
- Three cherries: 10x your bet
- Three nonmatching bars (e.g., two double bars and one single bar): 5x your bet
- Two cherries: 5x your bet
- One cherry: 2x your bet
Note that the bar symbols don't necessarily have to match to produce a payout. As long as three bars of any type line up on the payline, it is a winning combination.
In addition, the lowest paying symbol, the cherry, is a winner even if just one of them appears on a payline.
Double Diamond wild symbol
Double Diamond does include one special feature that distinguishes it in a big way from other slots with three reels. That is the inclusion of a wild symbol with a multiplier.
In addition to being the highest-paying regular symbol when three of them land on the payline, one or two Double Diamonds on a payline has the potential to substitute for any other symbol to complete a winning combination.
Triple & Double Diamond Jackpots 2020
A winning combination completed with the help of a single Double Diamond symbol will multiply the regular winning payout by two.
Furthermore, a winning combo completed with the help of two Double Diamond symbols will multiply the regular winning payout by four.
Thus, for example, a single seven symbol on the payline would be worthless. But if it lands together with two Double Diamonds, you would receive a whopping 320x your bet size.
The bottom line: A summary of Double Diamond pros and cons
Even when the RTP is less than my minimum requirement for recommending for real-money play, whenever possible, I will still play it in demo mode as part of my overall evaluation. However, in this case, I wasn't able to perform my customary three sessions in demo mode since the default setting does not provide a sufficient bankroll for the minimum bet.
Although the bankroll is preset at only $1,000, the smallest demo mode bet possible is $100. Having just 10 units to work with is woefully inadequate for this game and would result in a very high probability of tapping out.
The main advantage of playing a game like Double Diamond is its simplicity. You are not overwhelmed by choices like you are in many other slot games.
You have only two decisions to make during the entire game: The first is your bet size and the second is when you will stop playing, although that could be decided for you if you are not sufficiently capitalized to withstand a long sequence of non-winning spins.
Personally, I find being restricted to just a single payline too confining. It is frustrating to keep having the symbols land either just above or just below where they need to land. I also prefer games with a lot more action and adventure or at least a theme that means something to me.
The graphics and soundtrack for this game are pleasant enough to engage my attention momentarily. But cherries, bars and sevens don't excite me sufficiently for long-term play.
I suspect most of today's slot players agree and prefer slots that deliver more bang for their buck. Double Diamond is fine if you feel like taking a brief trip down memory lane, but as one of your favorite go-to slots, you can do so much better.
