Encouragement of healthy exploration of ideas and potential concepts by starting problem statements with “How might we . . .” often abbreviated as HMW.
- HMW helps to set the stage for brainstorming, and is most often used following exploratory and generative research to advance from insights to potential concepts.
- Common steps of HMW are sequenced as follows:
- Specify the material you are exploring.
- Reframe the problem or insight into one or more HMW statements, iterating until there is consensus.
- Brainstorm solutions in response to the HMW statement, allowing for a range of ideas.
- Work to prioritize the ideas, recognizing that this is a first step toward further creative exploration and iterative development of concepts. ...