Complete firstFocused challenge
The question describes a concrete use problem or moment and leaves solutions open.
A vague or leading question creates arbitrary variations.
Method guideInnovation
Crazy 8s
A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.
ComplexityLow
Time8-15 min
Participants1-10
FormatWorkshop
MaturityCanonical
01
Prerequisite
What needs to be finished first
Complete firstShared starting point
Relevant evidence, assumptions, and current concepts are visible to everyone.
Without shared context, sketches are hard to compare.
Complete firstVisible decision
The team has agreed what should happen with ideas after sketching.
Without a next step, the exercise can end with unused drawings on a wall.
02
Preparation
What needs to be ready before start
Materials
Design challenge, one eight-panel sheet per person, pens, a visible timer, and space to post and discuss sketches.
People / roles
Everyone sketches individually. Facilitation keeps time and the challenge stable; the team later interprets and selects directions to extend.
Pre-read
Name the user need, problem context, and decision that new solution directions should inform.
Time needed
The sketching exercise takes exactly eight minutes. Plan about 30–45 minutes for the full team activity, including framing, sharing, and a next step.
Setup
Prepare eight equal panels, display the timer, and explain that rough sketches are enough. No discussion during the eight minutes.
03
Core question
The one question this method answers
What different visual directions could address the focused design challenge?
04
Flow
Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall
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.
Eight Crazy 8s directions
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? |
1. Direction
- Variation 1
- Stock first
- Variation 2
- Calendar view
- Variation 3
- Map of pickup sites
- Variation 4
- Reserve on the item
- Variation 5
- Date first
- Variation 6
- Compare tools
- Variation 7
- Locker pickup
- Variation 8
- Process overview
2. Fictional sketch
- Variation 1
- A tool list shows what is available.
- Variation 2
- A weekly calendar marks pickup windows.
- Variation 3
- A map shows location and distance for each tool.
- Variation 4
- The reservation step appears on the tool card.
- Variation 5
- Search filters tools by a selected day.
- Variation 6
- A comparison shows tools and availability side by side.
- Variation 7
- The tool card offers pickup through a locker.
- Variation 8
- Steps from search through return appear on one line.
3. What changes?
- Variation 1
- Availability leads.
- Variation 2
- Time windows replace an item list.
- Variation 3
- Location becomes the entry point.
- Variation 4
- Fewer page changes.
- Variation 5
- The date shapes the results.
- Variation 6
- Comparison replaces one-at-a-time search.
- Variation 7
- Pickup outside staffed hours.
- Variation 8
- Whole flow instead of one step.
4. Follow-up question
- Variation 1
- Can people tell when stock applies?
- Variation 2
- Are windows reliable and bookable?
- Variation 3
- Which location details do people need?
- Variation 4
- Are requirements clear before reserving?
- Variation 5
- How are alternatives shown when unavailable?
- Variation 6
- Which criteria help people choose?
- Variation 7
- Which access and operating conditions apply?
- Variation 8
- Which steps must be known in advance?
Keep sketches as rough directions. Record selection rationale and testable assumption separately.
- 1
Challenge
Bound the challenge
Goal
Choose a relevant question and a workable moment.
Inputs for this step
- Write a focused design challenge that allows eight different approaches.
Actions
- Describe a user task or obstacle; remove prescribed solutions and unnecessary product scope.
Output
Visible challenge and shared work context.
Visible challenge and shared work context.
Quality check
Everyone can interpret the challenge and sketch different directions.
Pitfall
The question is too broad or prescribes a solution. Bound audience, moment, and need; reopen the solution.
Timing: 5–10 minutes to set the challenge and context
- 2
Sketch
Sketch eight variations
Goal
Fold or divide the page into eight panels and draw one idea per panel.
Inputs for this step
- Visible challenge and shared work context.
Actions
- Work individually and silently. Start the eight-minute timer; sketch roughly, vary the approach, and stop at the signal.
Output
Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Quality check
Each panel shows a different direction; sketches stay simple enough for the timebox.
Pitfall
The first idea is refined while later panels remain empty. Use each new panel as a prompt to vary the direction; polish is not the goal.
Timing: Exactly 8 minutes for sketching
- 3
Share
Share the sketches
Goal
Make ideas understandable to the group before evaluating them.
Inputs for this step
- Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Actions
- Post the sheets; give each person a short explanation and allow clarification questions first.
Output
Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Quality check
Ideas are understood before evaluation; authorship does not dominate selection.
Timing: 10–20 minutes to share and understand
- 4
Select
Select and extend a direction
Goal
Combine justified sketch elements into a testable next direction.
Inputs for this step
- Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Actions
- Compare ideas against the challenge and available evidence; note open assumptions and define a prototype or test.
Output
Selection rationale, prototype task, and open assumption.
Selection rationale, prototype task, and open assumption.
Quality check
The rationale links to the challenge and user need; assumptions remain testable.
Pitfall
A popularity vote is treated as user evidence. Label selection as a team decision and check it later with research or testing.
Timing: 10–20 minutes for selection and follow-up
05
Artifact
What comes out at the end
Sketch: what the artifact looks like
Form
Sheets with eight marked variations, short explanations, selection rationale, and a follow-up prototype or test task.
Versioning / ownership
Date the challenge and round. Attribute sketches only if ownership is needed for selection or follow-up. Document combined concepts and selection rationale separately from original sketches.
Tool alternatives
- Paper and pens or an accessible digital board with eight panels
- Eight-minute timer
- Wall or board space for explanation and clustering
crazy-8s-working-template.md
Prepare a short team exercise with eight minutes of individual work and a follow-up selection.
Crazy 8s: Worksheet
Question
To be confirmed
Desired outcome
To be confirmed
Scope
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.
Preparation for this scope
Method setup
- Materials: Design challenge, one eight-panel sheet per person, pens, a visible timer, and space to post and discuss sketches.
- Roles: Everyone sketches individually. Facilitation keeps time and the challenge stable; the team later interprets and selects directions to extend.
- Advance information: Name the user need, problem context, and decision that new solution directions should inform.
- Overall time needed: The sketching exercise takes exactly eight minutes. Plan about 30–45 minutes for the full team activity, including framing, sharing, and a next step.
- Setup: Prepare eight equal panels, display the timer, and explain that rough sketches are enough. No discussion during the eight minutes.
Prepare for the work steps
Challenge: Bound the challenge
- Write a focused design challenge that allows eight different approaches.
Sketch: Sketch eight variations
- Visible challenge and shared work context.
Share: Share the sketches
- Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Select: Select and extend a direction
- Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Eight Crazy 8s directions
| 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 |
- Variation 1: Describe one rough direction.
- Variation 2: Describe one rough direction.
- Variation 3: Describe one rough direction.
- Variation 4: Describe one rough direction.
- Variation 5: Describe one rough direction.
- Variation 6: Describe one rough direction.
- Variation 7: Describe one rough direction.
- Variation 8: Describe one rough direction.
Blank template: add the challenge at the top and eight sketch panels of your own.
Challenge: Bound the challenge
Expected artifact: Visible challenge and shared work context.
Visible challenge and shared work context.
Entry:
...
- Everyone can interpret the challenge and sketch different directions.
Sketch: Sketch eight variations
Expected artifact: Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Eight distinguishable sketches per person.
Entry:
...
- Each panel shows a different direction; sketches stay simple enough for the timebox.
Share: Share the sketches
Expected artifact: Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Shared set of variations with clarified ideas.
Entry:
...
- Ideas are understood before evaluation; authorship does not dominate selection.
Select: Select and extend a direction
Expected artifact: Selection rationale, prototype task, and open assumption.
Selection rationale, prototype task, and open assumption.
Entry:
...
- The rationale links to the challenge and user need; assumptions remain testable.
Open questions and next steps
...
Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/crazy-8s/run-sheet
06
Example output
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.
crazy-8s-beispiel.md
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional teaching example: pickup in a neighborhood lending service
All sketches and decisions are fictional. No exercise was conducted.
Design challenge: How might someone see whether a tool is available for Saturday and where to pick it up?
Eight fictional directions: 1. Stock list with pickup location; 2. weekly calendar with open windows; 3. map of lending locations; 4. reserve button on the tool card; 5. filter availability by date; 6. compare tools with stock; 7. show locker pickup; 8. steps from search to return.
Exercise observation: The variations change different things: timing, location, selection, and process display.
Fictional selection: A team combines date selection and pickup location on one tool card.
Open assumption: People understand displayed stock as a commitment.
Next step: Test a clickable prototype for this assumption with relevant users. The team choice does not prove user preference.
07
Pitfalls
Recognize symptoms and steer against them
Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow
- Bound the challengeThe question is too broad or prescribes a solution.View in phase
- Sketch eight variationsThe first idea is refined while later panels remain empty.View in phase
- Share the sketchesThe group immediately votes for the most attractive drawings.View in phase
- Select and extend a directionA popularity vote is treated as user evidence.View in phase
Trap
Bound the challenge
Symptom
The question is too broad or prescribes a solution.
What to do
Bound audience, moment, and need; reopen the solution.
Trap
Sketch eight variations
Symptom
The first idea is refined while later panels remain empty.
What to do
Use each new panel as a prompt to vary the direction; polish is not the goal.
Trap
Share the sketches
Symptom
The group immediately votes for the most attractive drawings.
What to do
Clarify purpose and differences before beginning selection.
Trap
Select and extend a direction
Symptom
A popularity vote is treated as user evidence.
What to do
Label selection as a team decision and check it later with research or testing.
08
Stop criteria
When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach
The challenge is unclear in one sentence: clarify context before starting the timer.
Participants discuss during the eight minutes: restart the work period or record the interruption separately.
There is no follow-up after sketching: decide in advance how ideas will be checked.
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