Explore
Attribute Variation
Change one attribute of an idea at a time to find new versions.
What is Attribute Variation?
Creating new versions of an idea by changing one of its attributes at a time.
What you learn
Change one attribute at a time to find new versions.
When it helps
you have an existing concept and want to explore how changing its user, timing, material or medium could improve it.
Use it at work
- List the idea’s attributes: who, when, where, how and what it’s made of.
- Change one attribute.
- Describe the new version and what it would do.
- Repeat for each attribute, and keep the promising versions.
Your output
List your product’s attributes: who, when, where, how and what. Change each one in turn and note the versions worth testing.
Watch for
Changing only the surface, or brainstorming without structure.
Related practices
Sources
- Nine Easy Ways to Get Ideas
- Developing Imagination Through Scamper (1972)
- Thinkertoys — publisher contents and introduction
- The Techniques of Creative Thinking: How to Use Your Ideas to Achieve Success
Enable JavaScript to try the interactive activity.