Crazy Eights

Supplies needed: Computer paper, Sharpie, Bit Timer app or large clock

Estimated time: 5 min

Best to use when

Crazy Eights work really well for coming up with a lot of varied ideas or iterative ideas on an interface very quickly. The time limit doesn't allow for participants to weed out any crazy ideas. It works great early on in the ideation process because it loosens up creative muscles and generates lots of ideas quickly.

They are part of the Google Ventures Diverge day cycle along with Mind Mapping, Storyboards, Silent Critique.

Originally based on the 6-8-5 game.

Instructions

1. Hand out blank paper and Sharpies to all participants.

2. Have everyone fold a sheet of paper in half 4 times so they all have 8 panels

   on the sheet.

3. Give 5 minutes total to draw eight sketches of user interaction,

   40 seconds for each panel.

   Sketches should be really rough.

4. Throughout the exercise continue to remind people of the time and make sure

   that it is clear which sketch they should be on.

5. Repeat as necessary.

Examples