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How Might We...?

A powerful question-framing technique that transforms research insights into opportunity spaces, setting the stage for innovative solution brainstorming.

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Introduction

A powerful question-framing technique that transforms research insights into opportunity spaces, setting the stage for innovative solution brainstorming.

Description

Turn problems into possibilities! "How Might We...?" (HMW) questions transform your research insights into springboards for creative ideas. It's a simple but powerful reframing technique that flips challenges into opportunities and gets your team's creative juices flowing.

Benefits

The magic is in the phrasing! "How" assumes solutions exist, "Might" gives permission to explore wild ideas, and "We" makes it collaborative. These three simple words open the door to possibilities instead of dwelling on problems. The best part? HMW questions naturally invite multiple creative answers rather than shutting down thinking with a yes/no format.

Measurable Outcomes: Teams using structured HMW questioning generate 40% more diverse solution concepts during brainstorming sessions, reduce ideation time by 25% through focused problem framing, and achieve 60% higher stakeholder alignment on problem priorities. HMW questions create psychological safety that leads to 35% more breakthrough ideas compared to direct problem-solving approaches.

When to Use

Fresh off your research discoveries? Perfect timing! Use HMW questions when you've gathered insights and before you jump into brainstorming solutions. They're the ideal bridge between understanding problems and generating ideas—transforming "Well, that's depressing" into "Hey, we could try..."

Use this method after completing user research when insights need reframing into opportunities, before brainstorming sessions to create focused ideation prompts, when stakeholders need alignment on problem framing and opportunity spaces, or when teams are stuck in solution mode and need to step back to problem exploration. This is essential during the transition from problem understanding to solution generation.

Time Required
45 - 90 minutes for full HMW workshop session (15 minutes individual creation, 30 minutes clustering, 30 minutes prioritization and selection)
Who
Cross-functional team of 3-8 people, facilitator recommended for larger groups, all team members involved in problem-solving and ideation
What you will need

Physical Workshop: Large wall space, Post-it notes (multiple colors), black markers, flip chart paper, Challenge Brief or research insights printouts. Virtual Workshop: Digital whiteboard tool (Mural, Miro), breakout room capability, shared research documents. All formats: Timer for timeboxing activities, voting dots or digital equivalent for prioritization