Tree Table
Vehicle ideas (summarize your creative challenge here)
  SIZE
    Full-sized
      Compact
        Subcompact
          Mini
  VEHICLE TYPE
    Sedan
      Coupe
        Sports car
          Convertible
            SUV
              Minivan
                Full-sized van
                  Crossover
                    Truck
  BODY STYLE
    Aerodynamic
      Angular
        Geometric
          Asymmetrical
            Luxury
              Weird
  MECHANISM
    Gas engine
      Diesel engine
        Solar powered
          Fuel cell
            Electric
              Hybrid
  INSTRUCTIONS
One of the most powerful ways to generate killer ideas is to combine existing ideas and concepts in new ways. One of the best ways to do that in a structured yet creative way is via a brainstorming tool called morphological analysis.
While it may sound vaguely scientific and boring, it’s actually a fast-paced and fun creative problem-solving technique. Best of all, you can easily create one to explore new possibilities in a matter of minutes, using an org chart type of diagram in Xmind.
.Here’s how it works:
1. Select your primary attributes: Rename the top-level categories based on the attributes of your creative challenge. Add more if you need to by using the "add topic" button in the application's toolbar.
For a physical product, for example, attributes could include characteristics such as size, material, shape and mechanism.
2. List all possible variations: Using the "add subtopic" command, add as many variations within each category as you can think of. Try to list as many variations of each attribute as possible. When it comes to morphological analysis, more is definitely better!
3. Start brainstorming! To use this diagram for brainstorming, randomly select one item from each column, and be sure to record any combinations that appear to be promising product ideas. For example, randomly picking one attribute from each column of the morphological box on the previous page could result in a compact SUV with a luxury body style, powered by a hybrid engine.
Repeat this random selection process multiple times for best results. This is a powerful way to explore a large number of possible variations and combinations quickly and easily. Plus, it’s fun!
Chuck Frey
Visual Velocity
(formerly the Mind Mapping Software Blog)
mindmappingsoftwareblog.com
chuck@chuckfrey.com