Generate Ideas

Crazy 8s

When to use it

Use this tool to quickly generate a wide variety of solutions to your challenge.

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What’s the purpose

Crazy 8s is an effective way to think of various different solutions to the same problem. It’s a visual exercise that encourages you to push beyond your initial idea and stretch your thinking.

How to do it

Start by adding your How Might We challenge at the top of the template.
Set a timer for 8 minutes.
This is where you put your artistic hat on, it does not matter how well it fits! Sketch one unique possible solution to your challenge in each square every minute. Add a title to each idea!
Run through each idea and identify the one thing that you like the most about it or that has the greatest potential for further development.
Finally, vote for the ideas that excite you the most, and select the best ones.

Helpful tips

You don’t need to be a brilliant artist, simple stick figures and shapes are more than acceptable!
Copy your top ideas over to an idea template to bring them to life.

Using this method in your day-to-day work

When faced with a challenge in your day-to-day work, use the Crazy 8s template to rapidly generate a wide variety of ideas for possible solutions. It’s quick and highly effective. You’ll be surprised by how creative you can be under time pressure. You can do it on your own or bring together a group of peers to do it with you.

Learning Lab

The lessons behind this method

The lesson page is open to everyone. Watching the video needs an account.

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