SCAMPER

Santiago Martínez
Nov 4 · 2 min read

It’s not just creativity, everything has a reason.

SCAMPER is the acronym of Substitute-Combine-Adapt-Modify-Putt on other uses-Eliminate-Reverse

To carry out this method of creativity, you need a product or base idea with which to work the method, we will go through this idea through the different steps.

Beyond creativity, innovators should see SCAMPER as a method which mainly focuses on finding the characteristics of the product, deciding which characteristics are useful and which are not, in this way you are able to re-create/raise the direction of the project.

One of the ways to explain this method is through an example, and for the first time it is this blog, I will show you a proper example:

Let’s start by choosing a product, as an example I choose …

Coffee maker

Substitute:

  • It occurs to me to change coffee seeds for some other type of seed so that we can make a drink of any type of seed.

Combine

  • We could combine a coffee maker with an oven, maybe you can impregnate what is baked with the bitterness of coffee (or another seed) to make interesting combinations.

Adapt

  • The coffee makers have an integrated filter class, water can pass through fine particles that give certain characteristics to the water and in turn by several layers that remove imperfections.

Modify

  • What do you think if instead of increasing the temperature to dilute coffee, we increase the speed and flow of water, so that it is stirred with coffee and it is diluted without heating (for those who like cold coffee)?

Putt on other uses

  • Coffee makers would be amazing flavorings.

Eliminate

  • In places of continuous coffee consumption, it would be useful to remove the water tanks and connect the coffee maker directly to the faucet.

Reverse

  • Staying a little, and if instead of diluting things we solidify them? You could create coffee pills or some candy (with the temperature and a high-pressure device).

This little exercise may give you some product ideas, but also we can look forward to find the key characteristics of the main product to take into considerations for future phases. Also, remember that Scamper is a method, so it can be used in different innovation methodologies in the ideas part.

Santiago Martínez

Written by

A daydreamer with tools for the impossible.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade