Crazy 8's Ideation – A3 Template

Crazy Eights is a structured idea generation technique often used in design sprints. A design sprint is a timeboxed (single or multi-day) workshop where participants unpack a problem, diverge on ideas to solve the problem, then converge on the solution(s).

What is Crazy Eights?

Crazy Eights is a rapid ideation activity where participants:

1. Fold a paper into 8 sections
2. Have 8 minutes to sketch 8 different ideas
3. Spend about 1 minute per idea

That’s it. Simple but powerful.

Why It Works

Forces Decision-Making

The time constraint forces decisions. You can’t overthink—you sketch quickly and move on.

Generates Quantity

In 8 minutes, you generate multiple concepts. Volume matters because quantity breeds quality.

Reduces Perfectionism

Quick sketches are rough by design. This removes the barrier of “my drawing skills aren’t good enough.” Stick figures work perfectly.

Encourages Diversity

Rapid iteration leads to diverse ideas. You might start with one concept, but by idea #5 you’ve already moved in a different direction.

Inclusive Participation

Everyone draws at the same time, so all voices are heard. No one dominates the conversation.

How to Facilitate Crazy Eights

1. Set the Challenge: Frame the problem clearly. “How might we…?” statements work well
2. Distribute Materials: Blank paper, markers, and a timer per person
3. Set the Timer: 8 minutes total (roughly 1 minute per idea)
4. Sketch Quietly: No discussion during sketching—just drawing
5. Share & Discuss: Go around and have each person briefly explain their ideas
6. Build On Ideas: Look for patterns or ideas that combine well

Pro Tips

• Use an A3 template: We’ve created a downloadable A3 template to make facilitation easier
• No art skills needed: Stick figures, arrows, and labels are perfectly fine
• Frame it as “rough sketches”: Explicitly give permission for rough visuals
• Diverge first: Get lots of ideas out before judging which are best
• Vote or dot-vote: Have the group quickly identify their top 3 ideas

When to Use Crazy Eights

• Ideation in design sprints
• Quick problem-solving sessions
• Generating multiple approaches before deciding on one
• Workshops where you need fast creative output
• Distributed teams (can be done virtually with collaborative digital tools)

The beauty of Crazy Eights is its simplicity. Time-boxed, inclusive, and effective—it’s a technique that works again and again.

Download the Template

Print the template on A3 in landscape orientation. Give yourself 8 minutes to generate 8 ideas.

Download Crazy Eights – Ideation Template (A3, PDF)