How Might We Statements: Ideate on the right questions
As someone who has been facilitating design thinking workshops for over five years, I’ve come to understand the power of ‘How Might We’ (HMW) statements. How Might We statements are a key component of the design thinking process.
These seemingly simple prompts can unlock a world of innovation and creativity, sparking ideas that might not have emerged otherwise. They are used to reframe problems as opportunities for creative solutions. In this article, I’ll share with you what ‘How Might We’ statements are, and what they are not as well as guide you with some examples so you can create them yourselves.
Key Take Aways
- HMW statements inspire innovation: They push the boundaries of what is possible by encouraging people to think outside the box. In my experience, the use of HMW statements has led to some of the most innovative solutions to complex challenges.
- They foster collaboration: Through my years of running workshops, I’ve observed that HMW statements break down barriers between team members, fostering an environment of collaboration and mutual respect.
- HMW statements keep the focus on the user: By their very nature, these statements keep the focus on the user, their needs, and their experiences. They act as a constant reminder that we’re designing for people, not just solving problems.
What are how might we statements?
I want to start by saying that they are not statements – but questions! That’s right, “How Might We” (HMW) are indeed questions, not statements. The ‘How; in the statement implies that a solution is possible. The ‘Might’ in the statement encourages open-mindedness and exploration of multiple solutions. The ‘We’ in the statement emphasizes collaboration and teamwork.
So, you might be wondering: what exactly are ‘How Might We’ statements?
In essence, HMW statements are open-ended questions crafted to invite broad exploration of possibilities. They are the springboards for ideation, propelling us into the realm of what could be, rather than confining us to what is.
How Might We statements should be specific, actionable, and focused on the user’s needs. When writing a how might we statement it’s important to remember that there are two ways to write a how might we statement: the right way and the wrong way! Which is why in the next section I will cover how not to write and how to write a how might we statement.
How not to write a how might we statement
At this point, you might be thinking: “I’ve got this! I will just convert all my problem statements into ‘how might we’ questions.” Well, hold your horses. As someone who has observed and facilitated countless design thinking workshops, I can tell you that there’s a subtle art to crafting ‘how might we’ statements. It’s not as simple as it seems. Before we delve into the best practices, let’s take a look at some common mistakes to avoid. These are instances where a ‘how might we’ statement can lead us astray.
1. Being too Vague or too Specific
One of the most common mistakes is creating ‘how might we’ statements that are either too vague or too specific. Being too vague will not provide enough direction and being too specific might limit the range of potential solutions.
For instance, “How might we improve our business?” is too broad. On the other hand, “How might we increase our Instagram followers by 20% in two weeks?” is overly specific.
Example 1: Too Broad
“How might we make our product better?”
This statement is too vague and doesn’t focus on any particular aspect of the product. It’s essential to narrow down the focus to a specific feature or user experience that needs improvement. A more effective statement might be, “How might we improve the user interface of our product to enhance user experience?”
2. Making Assumptions
Another pitfall is making assumptions about the problem or the solution. When you’re creating a ‘how might we’ statement, it’s crucial to stay open to all possibilities and not predefine the solution space.
For example, “How might we create a mobile app to boost our sales?” already assumes that a mobile app is the solution. A better way to phrase it might be: “How might we boost our sales through digital channels?”
Example 2: Implies a Solution
“How might we create a mobile app for our product?”
This statement already implies a solution – creating a mobile app. It limits the team’s ability to explore other potentially innovative solutions. Remember, ‘how might we’ statements should be problem-focused, not solution-focused. Here’s a better alternative: “How might we make our product more accessible to users on-the-go?”
3. Including Multiple Challenges in One Statement
Keep in mind that each ‘how might we’ question should focus on one challenge. If you try to cram multiple challenges into one statement, you may end up confusing your team and diluting the focus.
Avoid statements like: “How might we improve customer service and increase sales while reducing costs?” This attempts to tackle three challenges at once, and it would be more effective to break it down into separate ‘how might we’ questions.
Example 3: Too Complex
“How might we improve our product’s user interface, increase customer satisfaction, and boost sales all at once?”
This statement is trying to tackle multiple issues simultaneously, making it overly complex and difficult to address effectively. It’s better to break down such a complex issue into smaller, more manageable ‘how might we’ statements. For instance, “How might we enhance our product’s user interface to improve user experience?”
As your experience and understanding of ‘how might we’ statements grows, you’ll get better at crafting effective questions that stimulate creativity and innovation. Always remember that practice makes perfect!
My step-by-step approach to writing how might we statements
Following the step-by-step process below will lead you to craft how might we statements the right way:
Step 1: Begin with a Point-of-View or Problem Statement
The initial step in creating an effective “How Might We” (HMW) statement is to gain a clear understanding of the problem you’re trying to address. This may seem apparent, but from my experience, many teams hastily jump into ideation without fully comprehending the issue they’re facing.
So, it’s crucial to clearly articulate the problem in a straightforward, non-prescriptive manner. For example, “Our students have trouble navigating their future career paths.”
But how can we enhance this problem statement? That’s where a point-of-view (POV) statement comes into play. A POV statement allows you to focus on your users and their needs.
From your research, you should identify the vital needs or pain points of your users. To construct this, you can combine three elements: User, Need, and Insight into a fill-in-the-blank model.
A model to use for this is: User (fill in user) needs to (fill in need) because (fill in insight).
For example, take this situation: “A high school student (user) needs to choose a career path (need) because they want to have a clear direction for their future studies but are confused by the plethora of choices and lack of personal guidance (insight).”
By starting with a POV statement, you not only identify the problem but also gain deep insight into your users’ needs, setting a strong foundation for your HMW statements.
Step 2: Turn the POV or problem statement into a how might we question
After identifying and understanding the issue at hand, the next move is to convert it into a question. This is where the concept ‘How Might We’ comes into the picture.
As an example, if your students are having difficulty navigating their future career paths, your HMW statement could be: “How might we make the process of exploring future career paths easier for our students?”
It’s important at this point to break down the problem into smaller, actionable questions that can ensure that we tackle all aspects of the issue. For example, if your research showed students exploring their career paths need to narrow down their choices but are overwhelmed by choice, we could break this down into a few areas:
- Helping with choice
- Helping with the process
- Helping with what each job entails
- Helping with education on career paths
Step 3: Write as many How Might We’s as you can (Practice makes perfect)
With our problem statement broken down into digestible chunks, we embark on the journey of crafting our How Might We (HMW) statements. This stage in the process is not just about creating a few HMWs, it’s about immersing yourself in the process and allowing the creative juices to flow. Trust me, from my experience, the more HMWs you create, the more your mind opens up to innovative possibilities.
Over the years, I’ve found a model that has proven effective in generating impactful HMW statements. It’s a simple, yet powerful formula:
How might we [intended experience] for [user] so that [desired effect].
The beauty of this model is that it allows you to harness the power of your smaller ideas by inserting “how might we” in front of them.
Remember, the goal is not just to create HMW statements but to create ones that are rooted in empathy and tailored to the user’s needs and desires.
Allow me to illustrate this with some examples:
- How might we simplify the exploration of future career paths for our students to boost their confidence in their choices?
- How might we make the process of identifying future career options more straightforward, so our students don’t feel overwhelmed?
- How might we educate our students about potential career paths in a way that dispels confusion and promotes understanding?
Each statement not only targets a specific user need, but also proposes a desired experience, fostering a sense of purpose and direction in our design process.
Step 4: Ideation
Once you and your team have generated the HMW statements and chosen one or two to proceed with, it’s time to gear up for the subsequent phase – Ideation! This is a group activity.
The main objective here is to conceive of as many solutions as possible that appropriately address each selected HMW statement. Remember, this is the time to let your creativity flow and sketch out every potential solution that comes to mind.
Instructions on how to ideate:
- Think of solution(s) to the challenge(s)
Pro Tip: Do not limit your creativity, there is no such thing as a stupid solution. Just allow your imagination to go wild!
Making the Final Selection
If the final round generates a surplus of ideas, don’t fret. This is actually a good thing! All you need to do is conduct another round of voting within your team. The aim here is to whittle down the options and select the two best ideas that emerge as winners in this democratic process.
Key Considerations For Successfully writing how might we statements
How Might We statements can be used throughout the design thinking process, from ideation to prototyping and testing. Creating ‘How Might We’ (HMW) statements can indeed seem daunting at times. Even as a seasoned design-thinking workshopper, I’ve faced my share of challenges. But don’t let this deter you.
How to get creative with how might we questions?
Have you ever felt stuck while crafting your How Might We (HMW) statements? Don’t worry; it happens to the best of us. Stanford’s d.school suggests ways to make the most HMW by changing the questions’ goal.
Amplify the Good
How might we make the entire career exploration process exciting for students?
Remove the Bad
How might we present only the relevant career options to students based on their interests and skills?
Explore the Opposite
How might we make discovering unconventional career paths the most thrilling part of career exploration for students?
Question an Assumption
How might we make career counseling more interactive and less prescriptive?
Go After Adjectives
How might we make the process of narrowing down career options simple instead of overwhelming?
Identify Unexpected Resources
How might we use social media platforms to make researching about careers more accessible for students?
Create an Analogy from Need or Context
How might we make the journey of choosing a career path feel like an adventure game?
Play Against the Challenge
How might we make researching for different career paths something students look forward to?
Change the Status Quo
How might we make the career counseling sessions more engaging and less monotonous?
Break POV into Pieces
- How might we make researching for careers fun and engaging for students?
- How might we make it possible for students to explore careers on-the-go?
- How might we reduce time spent by students in finding the right career path?
They keep the spark alive and encourage you to push boundaries. Once the creative dust settles, you can trim the edges and weed out the ideas that don’t quite fit. And remember, just like in an improv session, our mantra is “Yes, and…”. Embrace every idea, then build upon it.
Conclusion
I cannot emphasize enough the transformative power these simple, yet thought-provoking questions can have on your brainstorming sessions. Having facilitated countless workshops over the past five years, there’s a profound difference, a kind of creative spark, that ignites when teams start using HMW statements.
“How Might We statements are not just questions; they are invitations to explore, innovate, and push boundaries. They are the doorways to design possibilities.”
In conclusion, embrace the power of How Might We statements. Utilize them in your brainstorming sessions, in your design thinking workshops, and see how they shift the dynamics of your team’s creative process. From my personal experience, the impact they bring is unparalleled.
FAQ
Can How Might We statements be used outside of design thinking?
When we talk about “How Might We” (HMW) statements, it’s easy to only associate them with the field of design thinking. However, I’ve found that these powerful problem-framing tools can be applied in a range of different scenarios, beyond just design thinking.
Here’s why: The essence of a HMW statement is to turn a problem into an opportunity. It’s about shifting perspective and sparking innovation. This approach is universally applicable.
- In business management, for example, HMW statements can help to identify new growth areas or to rethink operational processes.
- In education, they can help students and teachers alike to approach difficulties in learning or teaching from a new angle.
- Even in our personal lives, HMW statements can support us in overcoming obstacles or achieving goals.
So, the answer is yes – HMW statements can definitely be used outside of design thinking. It’s all about embracing them as a mindset for problem-solving and innovation.
How do you prioritize How Might We statements?
As a design thinking workshopper with five years of experience, prioritizing ‘How Might We’ (HMW) statements has always been an interesting challenge. However, over time, I’ve found a method that works effectively.
Prioritizing ‘How Might We’ statements is all about identifying the problems that provide the maximum value when solved.
Here are the steps I usually follow:
- Brainstorm and list all HMW statements: Start by collating all the HMW statements generated during the ideation phase.
- Consider the user value: Ask yourself, which of these problems, when solved, will provide the most value to the user?
- Consider the business value: You also need to check which problems, once addressed, will bring the most value to the business.
- Vote: Allow all team members to vote on the problems they feel should be prioritized.
Using this approach, you can effectively prioritize HMW statements based on user value, business value, and the collective opinion of your team.
What is the role of How Might We statements in the design thinking process?
In the journey of design thinking, How Might We (HMW) statements play an incredibly vital role. They are the stepping stones that lead us from understanding the problem to exploring a myriad of innovative solutions.
“How might we” statements are designed to open up the floor for creative thinking, stimulate collaborative discussions, and promote solution-focused approaches.
As a professional design thinking workshopper, I often use HMW statements as a tool to transform perceived challenges into opportunities. To illustrate, a statement like “How might we improve customer service?” shifts the team’s focus from the problem – poor customer service, to possible solutions.
- Engages the team: These statements help to engage every team member in the brainstorming process, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration.
- Invites creativity: By framing challenges as questions, we invite innovative and out-of-the-box thinking.
- Focuses on solutions: Instead of dwelling on the problems, we shift our focus to potential solutions, leading to more productive discussions.
Overall, HMW statements are catalysts for creativity and collaboration in the design thinking process.
