What is it?
Crazy 8s is a fast-paced and dynamic brainstorming method that encourages rapid idea generation. This technique helps bypass overthinking and self-censorship by pushing participants to think beyond their initial assumptions.
The name "Crazy 8's" derives from the structure of the exercise, which involves folding a sheet of paper into eight sections and setting a time limit of 8 minutes for participants to generate eight unique sketches or ideas. Here's a few different ways to use this activity for presentation development and design:
Visual metaphors: come up with different visual metaphors to represent a key message or theme of the presentation. These metaphors can then be used as inspiration for imagery, illustrations, and/or visual aids.
Presentation structure: brainstorm different ways to structure your presentation. For example, you could ask each participant to come up with eight different ways to open the presentation, or eight different ways to close it.
Slide content and layout: brainstorm ideas for individual slides. You could focus the activity on eight different visual aids or layouts that could be used on a specific slide.
Audience engagement: brainstorm ideas for how to engage the audience during the presentation. This can include coming up with eight interactive activities or questions to involve the audience.
When to use it
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Step-by-step: how to run a Crazy 8s session
1 |
Define the problem or topic Clearly state the problem/area you want to brainstorm about or specify the topic you want to explore. Be as specific as possible. |
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Gather materials Each participant should have a sheet of paper divided into eight equal sections. You can provide blank sheets of paper, or you can use templates that already have the sections pre-drawn. You'll also need writing utensils, a timer, and a flat surface for drawing and writing. |
3 |
Set the time limit Allocate a specific time frame for each round of idea generation. The typical duration for each round in Crazy 8s is 8 minutes, but you can adjust the time based on your preference and the complexity of the challenge. |
4 |
Start the timer Begin the timer and let the participants know they have 8 minutes to generate as many ideas as possible. It's essential to emphasize the importance of speed and quantity over quality during this process. |
5 |
Generate ideas Participants individually brainstorm and write down their ideas. Encourage them to be creative, think outside the box, and avoid self-censorship. Remind them to quickly move from one idea to the next, aiming to generate at least 8 ideas within the time limit. |
6 |
Pin-up and share After the 8 minutes are up, have each participant pin or stick their ideas on a wall or board where everyone can see them. Each participant takes turns presenting their ideas briefly, explaining them if necessary. As they present, others can ask clarifying questions or provide immediate feedback. |
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Group and cluster Once all the ideas have been shared, look for similarities or themes among the ideas. Group similar ideas together and create clusters or categories to identify common threads or patterns emerging from the brainstorming session. |
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Reflect and prioritize Take a moment to review the clusters of ideas and discuss their potential value or feasibility. Prioritize the clusters based on their relevance, potential impact, or feasibility in solving the problem at hand. |
9 |
Select ideas for further development From the prioritized clusters, choose the most promising or interesting ideas to explore further. These ideas can serve as a foundation for the next stage of the brainstorming process or be developed into actionable plans. |
