The Desired Goal:
To generate a wide range of ideas quickly by encouraging divergent thinking and creativity.
The Tool's Purpose:
Crazy Eights is designed to push participants to think beyond obvious solutions by sketching eight ideas in a short amount of time. It helps teams break through creative blocks and explore multiple directions for solving a problem.
Overview:
Crazy Eights is a fast-paced sketching exercise that encourages participants to ideate freely. Each participant is given a piece of paper and folds it into eight sections. They then have eight minutes to sketch one idea per section, resulting in eight quick concepts. The emphasis is on speed and creativity, not perfect drawings. Afterward, participants share their ideas with the team for discussion, refinement, and inspiration. This exercise is ideal for the ideation phase, fostering out-of-the-box thinking and diverse perspectives.
Benefits:
- Generates a high volume of diverse ideas in a short time.
- Encourages creativity by removing the pressure for perfection.
- Sparks discussion and inspiration within teams.
- Helps uncover unconventional or breakthrough concepts.
Crazy Eights FigJam template courtesy of
Use Case Example:
Example: A GIS company wants to design a new feature for its app that simplifies map data sharing. During a Crazy Eights session, team members rapidly sketch ideas like drag-and-drop file sharing, QR code generation, a “share to social media” button, and AI-powered recipient suggestions. The exercise uncovers innovative approaches, like a feature that sends map data as an interactive link with embedded customization options. These sketches provide a foundation for further exploration and prototyping.
