Innovation Workshop method
Crazy 8s generates eight distinct solution directions in eight minutes.
Crazy 8s is an individual, time-boxed sketching exercise. A clear design challenge becomes eight quick, rough variations. The exercise opens the solution space; it does not evaluate ideas or replace selection and prototyping.
What different visual directions could address the focused design challenge?
The phase bar groups the challenge, silent sketches, sharing, and follow-up.
Challenge
Choose a relevant question and a workable moment.
Sketch
Fold or divide the page into eight panels and draw one idea per panel.
Share
Make ideas understandable to the group before evaluating them.
Select
Combine justified sketch elements into a testable next direction.
After silent sketching, review and discuss the ideas. Select a direction or combine justified elements, then develop a testable prototype.
Use Crazy 8s when a focused problem or design question is ready and a team wants to quickly broaden visual possibilities. Prior research or a chosen flow helps people get started.
Eight distinguishable rough directions per person.
Selected direction and an open assumption for the next prototype.
Fictional teaching example
Compare variations without treating a team choice as user evidence.
| Sketch panel | Direction | Fictional sketch | What changes? | Follow-up question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variation 1Describe one rough direction. | Stock first | A tool list shows what is available. | Availability leads. | Can people tell when stock applies? |
| Variation 2Describe one rough direction. | Calendar view | A weekly calendar marks pickup windows. | Time windows replace an item list. | Are windows reliable and bookable? |
| Variation 3Describe one rough direction. | Map of pickup sites | A map shows location and distance for each tool. | Location becomes the entry point. | Which location details do people need? |
| Variation 4Describe one rough direction. | Reserve on the item | The reservation step appears on the tool card. | Fewer page changes. | Are requirements clear before reserving? |
| Variation 5Describe one rough direction. | Date first | Search filters tools by a selected day. | The date shapes the results. | How are alternatives shown when unavailable? |
| Variation 6Describe one rough direction. | Compare tools | A comparison shows tools and availability side by side. | Comparison replaces one-at-a-time search. | Which criteria help people choose? |
| Variation 7Describe one rough direction. | Locker pickup | The tool card offers pickup through a locker. | Pickup outside staffed hours. | Which access and operating conditions apply? |
| Variation 8Describe one rough direction. | Process overview | Steps from search through return appear on one line. | Whole flow instead of one step. | Which steps must be known in advance? |
Keep sketches as rough directions. Record selection rationale and testable assumption separately.
Write a focused design challenge that allows eight different approaches.
With only a few minutes available and a still-fuzzy solution search, the method forces a wide range of variants. It produces fast sketches before the first idea can settle in, making different directions directly comparable and open to further development.
A tight time window increases pressure toward simplification and prevents individual thoughts from being developed too early. Because each round allows only a rough sketch, several competing patterns emerge instead of one fully worked-out favorite solution. The value lies in fast variation, visible comparison, and pulling together the strongest elements afterward.
Crazy 8s uses time pressure and a fixed eight-cell grid to reduce self-censorship and early attachment to a single favorite. Sketches do not need to be pretty; they should quickly make variants, principles, and possible interactions visible. After sketching, participants briefly share them, similar approaches are grouped, and promising directions are selected by dot voting, heat map, or discussion. This yields a broad solution space that can be translated into storyboards, solution sketches, or prototypes.
Before starting, clarify very precisely which problem area or screen is being worked on so the fast pace stays productive. The critical point comes with a drive for perfection; then the group must be steered back toward variety and direction instead of clean execution. Close with a short gallery walk and mark the approaches that get combined or prototyped further.
The method guide walks execution through 4 phases, timing, 4 pitfalls, and clear stop criteria.
Open method guideYour perspective
Your feedback helps shape the next improvements to methodatlas.
Prepare a short team exercise with eight minutes of individual work and a follow-up selection.
To be confirmed
To be confirmed
One Crazy 8s team exercise Time: About 30–45 minutes, including framing, exactly eight minutes of sketching, and follow-up planning.
Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.
| Sketch panel | Direction | Fictional sketch | What changes? | Follow-up question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variation 1 | ||||
| Variation 2 | ||||
| Variation 3 | ||||
| Variation 4 | ||||
| Variation 5 | ||||
| Variation 6 | ||||
| Variation 7 | ||||
| Variation 8 |
Blank template: add the challenge at the top and eight sketch panels of your own.
Expected artifact: Visible challenge and shared work context.
Visible challenge and shared work context.
Entry:
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Expected artifact: Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Entry:
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Expected artifact: Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Entry:
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Expected artifact: Selection rationale, prototype task, and open assumption.
Selection rationale, prototype task, and open assumption.
Entry:
...
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Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/crazy-8s/run-sheet
Fitting alternatives with decision guidance, followed by other related methods.
Instead of Crazy 8s, when ideas should emerge in writing and in parallel, without forcing eight sketches in a very short time.
A strict timebox pushes quick idea volume first, then clusters and selects options after the burst is complete.
Deliberately collects bad ideas, reverses their mechanics, and turns them into usable approaches.
Parallel design teams turn a shared challenge into comparable concepts, open questions, and a consolidated direction.
Brings problem space, prototype, and test findings together in a few days, enabling a well-founded decision.
Expands a core question into topic fields, filters out patterns, and condenses interesting paths into a shortlist.
