Crazy Eights

Overview

Crazy Eights is a rapid prototyping exercise developed in the Google Ventures SPRINT. Designed by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, the exercise is used by companies and organisations across the globe as part of the Google Ventures Sprint.

As an educational tool, this simple exercise allows student to rapidly design solutions to a range of issues or problems. Various versions may be used dependent on the issue you are addressing, the size of the cohort, or the time available to you.

The exercise is particularly useful in the early ideation stage and helps students to frame their thoughts and develop possible ideas for group discussion.

Crazy Eights can be picked up at a moment’s notice and takes little preparation prior to a teaching session. It takes little time to complete the exercise itself, but additional time for discussion of ideas and presentation to the cohort is advised.

What You Need:

  • A stack of A4 Paper
  • A series of pens and/or pencils
  • A timer (you can use a phone)

Workshop

10 to 30 minutes

Up to 50 people

Originator

Google Ventures

Google Ventures

The sprint is a five-day process for answering critical business questions through design, prototyping, and testing ideas with customers. Developed at GV, it’s a “greatest hits” of business strategy, innovation, behavior science, design thinking, and more—packaged into a battle-tested process that any team can use.

Tool Author

Oliver Wood

Oliver Wood

Innovation and Community Producer

Coventry University