Idea Generation with SCAMPER
Use SCAMPER to explore possibilities
Scamper is a series of creativity tools to help you develop ideas.
The Scamper strategy can help you see new ideas in a different way, and build on develop new possibilities.
Steps
Select an idea for a product. It can be an existing product, or something you want to focus on improving.
Choose one of the letters randomly. It doesn't really matter which one you start with.
Make a list of things you could start to explore. For example, if you chose "S", list the elements you could substitute: Materials, users, color, parts, etc.
Draw your ideas out quickly. Use your graphic modeling skills to explore possibilities. Don't worry if the ideas are "good" or not--just sketch.
Don't stop with your first ideas--use those ideas to explore new possibilities.
Substitute
colorize, alternate, rename, replace
repackage, reposition
What can I substitute to make an improvement?
How can I change the color, shape, or texture?
How can I use different materials?
How can this be used in a different way?
Combine
join, link, package, unite, bring together
What parts of the design could be combined?
How could this product be combined with another product?
What could be combined to optimize or simplify the use of the product?
Adapt
alter, change, emulate, bend, transform, revise, modify
How could this product be used in a different way?
What existing solutions that can be added to this one?
What does the shape or function of the product resemble?
What ideas from science, humanities, arts, etc., can be incorporated into the design?
Modify
expand, grow, magnify, enlarge, increase, multiply, emphasize
What part of the product can be changed to make it better?
How can the function of the product be changed or improved?
How can the aesthetic qualities (color, form, texture, etc.) be improved?
What can be emphasized to improve the product?
Put to another use
apply, use, expand, enjoy, manage, play with, reuse, upcycle
How could this product be used in a different and new way?
How could the product be recycled or up-cycled into a new product?
How can this be used by people with different needs or abilities?
What other solutions could this product solve?
Eliminate
reduce, shrink, simplify, exclude, de-emphasize
How can the product be simplified?
What can be removed from the product without changing its function?
How can the amount and type of materials used in the product be reduced?
Rearrange
change, reverse, switch, rotate, reorder, backward, move
What different arrangements of parts are possible?
How can other parts of the product be emphasized
How can the product be changed so that it does the opposite of the user's need? Does this create a new opportunity?
How would the product function if it had the opposite aesthetic qualities? (i.e. bright colors -> dark colors; lightwieght->heavy; smooth surface -> textured surface)
