Map
Attribute listing
  Descriptive
    Substance
    Structure
    Color
    Shape
    Texture
    Sound
    Taste
    Odor
    Space
    Density
  Process
    Marketing
    Manufacturing
    Selling
    Function
    Time
  Social
    Responsibilities
    Politics
    Taboos
  Price
    Cost to manufacturer
    Cost to wholesaler
    Cost to retailer
    Cost to consumer
  Ecological
    Positive impact on environment
    Negative impact on environment
  INSTRUCTIONS
Your goal with this brainstorming technique is to break your current problem or challenges down into its elements or attributes. These topics and subtopics are listed only as suggestions or idea-starters.
Depending upon the nature of your creative challenge, other attributes may include technology trends, customer personas, political climate, regulatory trends and other factors.
The trick is to look at your topic or challenge as if it's a set of building blocks. What makes it up? What are its pieces or elements? How can it be subdivided into smaller bits. Record them in this mind map.
Once you've deconstructed your topic or challenge, consider each of its elements in turn. What ideas or opportunities does it suggest? How could it be a stepping stone to a useful idea or solution? Is there some part of it that you could solve?
Happy idea hunting!
Chuck Frey
Visual Velocity
(formerly the Mind Mapping Software Blog)
mindmappingsoftwareblog.com
chuck@chuckfrey.com