SCAMPER is a structured ideation method that can be used to spark new ideas during brainstorming as well as to address specific design issues during a design process. The method was first described in detail by Bob Eberle in his book SCAMPER: Games for Imagination Development as a method for educators to encourage creative and critical thinking in children1.
In recent years, the SCAMPER method has been widely used by designers who praise the method’s simplicity and capacity to generate a large amount of new ideas. In our experience, the SCAMPER method can be most valuable when you encounter ‘creative block’ or find yourself seemingly ‘going in circles’ when working on a project or trying to overcome a particularly tricky design problem.
We have provided a template that follows the SCAMPER acronym, which can be used for ideation in your projects.
References
- Eberle, Bob. 1996. Scamper: Games for Imagination Development. Prufrock Press Inc.