Delft Design Guide | Part 2 | Creating Product Ideas and Concepts | Checklist for Concept Generation – 2.2

Keyword SCAMPER Checklist for Concept Generation

What Is a Checklist for Concept Generation?Checklists for Concept Generation are simple tools

that support concept generation. Checklists are

series of simple questions, which can be used

either individually or in groups (see also ‘Design

Specifications (Criteria)’ in section 2.1). The checklist

aims to encourage a systematic development of

concepts. Also, the use of checklists encourages

creativity and divergence in concept generation.

The questions in a checklist need a point of focus,

which could either be an existing solution or proposed

concepts to a design problem. The questions should

be taken one at a time, to explore new ways and

approaches to the problem. You can also use the

checklists in a brainstorm session, where it can

be useful to write each statement on a card, and

randomly select a card when discussing alternative

solutions.

Two widely used checklists for concept development

are the SCAMPER technique and Osborn’s Checklist.

The SCAMPER technique was created by Bob Eberle

and written about by Michael Michalko in his book

Thinkertoys. SCAMPER is the acronym of: Substitute,

Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate

and Rearrange. The SCAMPER technique is derived

from Osborn’s Checklist, which consists of: put to

other uses?, adapt?, modify?, magnify?, minify?,

substitute?, rearrange?, and reverse?

fig. 2.35 Checklist for Concept Generation

http://mappio.com/mindmap/lucianop/creative-problem-solving-with-scamper

Delft Design Guide | Part 2 | Creating Product Ideas and Concepts | Checklist for Concept Generation – 2.2

When Can You Use a Checklist for Concept Generation?The checklist for Concept Generation is best applied

when developing an idea into a concept. As stated

earlier, the technique needs a point of focus. This

point of focus should be a product idea, already with

material features, shape and dimensions.

How to Use a Checklist for Concept Generation?Starting Point

The starting point of checklists for concept generation

is a well-defined product idea, or an existing product.

Expected Outcome

The expected outcome is a product concept which is

developed further than just its initial idea state.

Possible Procedure

• Define a product idea in detail, including material

features such as shape, dimensions etc.

• Search for and select a checklist for concept

development. Use more than one checklist.

• Systematically work through the checklist by

answering the questions in the checklist. Note: this

is a trial-and-error process; apply the question to the

product idea and verify whether the product idea is

improved. If not, try something else.

• Iteratively, improve your idea by answering the

questions in the checklist over and over again.

• Present your developed idea in an explanatory sketch.

Tips and Concerns

• Checklists can be used to support group creativity

and discussion, and can be referred to individually.

• Use more than one checklist; try to find more

checklists yourself.

References and Further Reading

Osborn, A. (1957) Applied Imagination: Principles and

Procedures of Creative Problem-solving, New York: Scribner.

Michalko, M. (1991) Thinkertoys: a Handbook of Business

Creativity, Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

Roozenburg, N.F.M. and Eekels, J. (1995) Product Design:

Fundamentals and Methods, Utrecht: Lemma.

Roozenburg, N. and Eekels, J. (1998, 2nd ed.) Product

Ontwerpen: Structuur en Methoden, Utrecht: Lemma.