Innovation

Reverse Brainstorming

How could we cause the problem?

Example

How could we make new-user onboarding worse, on purpose?

Ways to break it (then invert)

Make users sign in twice before they see anything
Hide the most useful action behind a settings menu
Send 5 emails in 24 hours, none with actual value
Auto-invite all teammates without asking
Hide pricing until the third visit
Invert each → clear single sign-in, surface key action, one email, ask before invite, show price up front

Provocations to break logic

Substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other use, eliminate, reverse

Facts, feelings, risks, benefits, creativity, process

Want to fill in your own Reverse Brainstorming?