What it is for: Crazy 8s is a timed sketching exercise where each person folds a sheet into eight panels and draws eight different ideas for one challenge, about one minute each. The team leaves with dozens of rough sketches, a set of marked parts worth keeping, and one to three combined concepts each tied to a user need and a test question.
Who it helps: Product and design teams that need many different answers to one design question in minutes, beyond the first obvious idea.
When to use it
You have a clear how might we question and want many different answers quickly.
A team keeps circling one solution and you want to widen the options.
You are designing a screen, form, notice or other visual thing where drawing helps.
How to use it
Pin the How might we question where everyone can see it.
Fold a sheet into eight panels and hand out thick pens.
Warm up for a minute, then sketch eight different ideas in eight minutes.
Share each panel in one sentence, without selling or defending it.
Mark useful parts with stickers and combine them into testable concepts.
Tip: Use a thick marker, not a pen. It keeps sketches simple and readable from across the table.
Credits and sources: Original Tiremesù worksheet and wording. Method credit: Google Design Sprint. Further reading: Google Design Sprint Kit https://designsprintkit.withgoogle.com/methodology/phase3-sketch/crazy-8s
Full guide and film:https://www.tiremesu.com/guides/crazy-eights
