SCAMPER Creative Exploration
Apply all seven SCAMPER prompts to systematically explore creative possibilities for a product, service, process, or problem.
Instructions
Work through each of the seven prompts, generating multiple ideas for each. Quantity matters—don't self-edit too early. Wild ideas often lead to practical innovations.
Output Format
Subject: [What we're SCAMPERing]
Goal: [What we're trying to achieve]
S: SUBSTITUTE
What can be replaced with something else?
| Component |
Substitute With |
New Possibility |
| [element] |
[replacement] |
[what it enables] |
C: COMBINE
What can be merged, blended, or bundled together?
| Combine This |
With This |
Result |
| [element A] |
[element B] |
[new thing] |
A: ADAPT
What can be copied, borrowed, or modified from elsewhere?
| Source |
Idea to Adapt |
How to Apply |
| [where it's from] |
[the concept] |
[application here] |
M: MODIFY / MAGNIFY / MINIMIZE
What can be changed, enlarged, or reduced?
| Element |
Change |
Effect |
| [element] |
[modification] |
[result] |
P: PUT TO OTHER USES
What else could this be used for?
| Current Use |
New Use |
New Market/Context |
| [how it's used now] |
[different use] |
[who would want it] |
E: ELIMINATE
What can be removed, omitted, or simplified?
| Element to Remove |
Why We Think We Need It |
What If Gone? |
| [element] |
[assumed reason] |
[possibility] |
R: REVERSE / REARRANGE
What can be flipped, reordered, or turned inside out?
| Current State |
Reversed/Rearranged |
Possibility |
| [how it is now] |
[flipped version] |
[what opens up] |
Idea Harvest
Top Ideas Generated
| Idea |
From (S/C/A/M/P/E/R) |
Feasibility |
Impact |
| [best idea] |
[letter] |
High/Med/Low |
High/Med/Low |
Wild Card
The craziest idea that might actually work:
[Idea]
Guidelines
- Quantity over quality during generation
- No idea is too wild—judge later
- Each prompt can generate multiple ideas
- Combining ideas from different letters often yields best results
$ARGUMENTS
