If you’re trying to create something new, or just trying to improve a design, it’s all about asking the right questions. Sometimes it can be hard to find new ideas or you might find yourself stuck on a new assignment. In these cases it’s really helpful to have some methods, or guidelines, to help you out, and get the creativity started again!
Alex Osborn was the first to identify the nine principle ways to manipulate a subject, and get to the best solution. Bob Eberle later arranged them into the SCAMPER method. [1]
You can use the method not only on physical goods, but can also be used on processes, service and people. It’s like brainstorming with yourself and the point is to choose the good ideas and explore them.
S – substitute something
C – combine with something else
A – adapt something to it
M – modify or magnify it
P – put it to some other use
E – eliminate something
R – reverse or rearrange it
Information about the SCAMPER method is taken from https://www.interaction-design.org
SUBSTITUE
What can I substitute so as to make an improvement?
How can I substitute the place, time, materials or people?
Can I substitute one part for another or change any parts?
Can I replace someone involved?
Can I change the rules?
Should I change the name?
Can I use other ingredients or materials?
Can I use other processes or procedures?
Can I change its shape, colour, roughness, sound or smell?
Can I use this idea for other projects?
Can I change my feelings or attitude towards it?
COMBINE
What ideas, materials, features, processes, people, products, or components can I combine?
Can I combine or merge this or that with other objects?
What can I combine so as to maximize the number of uses?
What can I combine in order to lower the costs of production?
Which materials could I combine?
Where can I build synergy?
Which are the best elements I can bring together so as to achieve a particular result?
ADAPT
Which part of the product could I change?
Could I change the characteristics of a component?
Can I seek inspiration in other products or processes, but in a different context?
Does the history offer any solutions?
Which ideas could I adapt, copy, or borrow from other people’s products?
What processes should I adapt?
Can I adapt the context or target group?
What can I adapt in this or that way in order to make this result?
MODIFY OR MAGNIFY
What can I magnify or make larger?
What can I tone down or delete?
Could I exaggerate or overstate buttons, colours, size…?
Could I grow the target group?
What can be made higher, bigger, or stronger?
Can I increase its speed or frequency?
Can I add extra features?
How can I add extra value?
What can you remove or make smaller, condensed, lower, shorter or lighter—or streamline, split up or understate?
What can I change in this way or that way so as to achieve such and such a result?
PUT IT TO SOME OTHER USE
What else can it be used for?
How would a child use it?—an older person?
How would people with different disabilities use it?
Which other target group could benefit from this product?
What other kind of user would need or want my product?
Who or what else may be able to use it?
Can it be used by people other than those it was originally intended for?
Are there new ways to use it in its current shape or form?
Would there be other possible uses if I were to modify the product?
How can I reuse something in a certain way by doing what to it?
ELIMINATE
What can I remove without altering its function?
Can I reduce time or components?
What would happen if I removed a component or part of it?
Can I reduce effort?
Can I cut costs?
How can I simplify it?
What’s non-essential or unnecessary?
Can I eliminate the rules?
Can I make it smaller?
Can I split my product into different parts?
I can eliminate what by doing what?
REVERSE OR REARRANGE
What can I rearrange in some way – can I interchange components, the pattern, or the layout?
Can I change the pace or schedule?
What would I do if part of your problem, product or process worked in reverse?
I can rearrange what in what way such that this happens?
The SCAMPER method
[1] https://www.noroff.no/student/fagskole/lc/dmk/1/en/dmk1/GRA102/week-2-2016/idea-development.html