Crazy 8s
Each person folds a sheet of paper into eight panels and sketches eight variations of one of their best ideas, one minute per panel. The time pressure pushes people past their first idea and gets them drawing rather than talking.
Use when people have a promising idea and need to explore many variations of it quickly before committing to one.
Solves: People fall in love with their first idea and never explore what else it could be.
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Step 1: Fold an A4 or letter sheet in half three times to make eight panels (1 min).
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Step 2: Pick one strong idea from your notes to work on (1 min).
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Step 3: Sketch a variation of it in each panel, one minute per panel, with the facilitator calling time (8 min).
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Step 4: Optionally run a second round with a different idea (8 min).
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Step 5: Each person shows their favourite panel or two to the group (5 min).
- Remind people that rough is the goal. Stick figures and boxes are fine.
- Call out each minute so nobody spends three minutes on one panel.
- Do it after people have had time to gather ideas, not cold.
- Crazy 6s or 4s for longer panels when ideas need more detail.