SCAMPER Method
Creative thinking framework for innovation and problem-solving.
The 7 Lenses
| Letter |
Lens |
Prompt |
| S |
Substitute |
What can be replaced? Different material, person, process, component? |
| C |
Combine |
What can merge? Blend features, ideas, purposes, audiences? |
| A |
Adapt |
What else is like this? What could be copied or borrowed from elsewhere? |
| M |
Modify |
What can change? Size, shape, color, frequency, intensity, meaning? |
| P |
Put to other uses |
What else could this be used for? New contexts, audiences, problems? |
| E |
Eliminate |
What can be removed? Simplify, reduce, strip to essentials? |
| R |
Reverse |
What if opposite? Flip the order, roles, perspective, direction? |
Application Modes
Quick SCAMPER (default)
Pick 2-3 most relevant lenses, generate 1 strong idea each.
Use for: casual brainstorming, quick expansions
Full SCAMPER
All 7 lenses, 1-2 ideas each.
Use for: serious idea development, comprehensive exploration
Targeted SCAMPER
Enzo specifies which lens(es) to focus on.
Use for: when he knows what angle he wants
Integration Points
New Idea Saved
After saving to notes/ideas.md, offer: "Want me to SCAMPER this?"
If yes → run Quick SCAMPER, append output to the idea entry.
Framework Adaptation
When saving a framework, optionally run SCAMPER to personalize:
- Substitute: What would you swap for your industry/role?
- Combine: What other framework could this merge with?
- Adapt: Who does something similar you could borrow from?
Hackathon Ideation
For generating hackathon concepts from existing products:
- Take the product/tool
- Run full SCAMPER
- Filter for "impressive demo in 24h" feasibility
- Output top 3 concepts
Stuck Breaker
When Enzo says "I'm stuck on X":
- Clarify the blocker
- Run SCAMPER on the problem
- Focus on Reverse and Eliminate (often best for unblocking)
Output Format
### SCAMPER: [Subject]
**Substitute:** [idea]
**Combine:** [idea]
**Adapt:** [idea]
**Modify:** [idea]
**Put to other uses:** [idea]
**Eliminate:** [idea]
**Reverse:** [idea]
💡 **Strongest angle:** [which one and why]
For Quick SCAMPER, only include the 2-3 lenses used.
1---2name: scamper3description: Apply SCAMPER creative thinking method to develop ideas, adapt frameworks, generate hackathon concepts, or break through when stuck. Use when Enzo says "SCAMPER this", asks to develop/expand an idea, wants hackathon concepts from existing tools, says he's stuck, or when processing new ideas in the ideas inbox.4---5
6# SCAMPER Method
7
8Creative thinking framework for innovation and problem-solving.
9
10## The 7 Lenses
11
12| Letter | Lens | Prompt |
13|--------|------|--------|
14| **S** | Substitute | What can be replaced? Different material, person, process, component? |
15| **C** | Combine | What can merge? Blend features, ideas, purposes, audiences? |
16| **A** | Adapt | What else is like this? What could be copied or borrowed from elsewhere? |
17| **M** | Modify | What can change? Size, shape, color, frequency, intensity, meaning? |
18| **P** | Put to other uses | What else could this be used for? New contexts, audiences, problems? |
19| **E** | Eliminate | What can be removed? Simplify, reduce, strip to essentials? |
20| **R** | Reverse | What if opposite? Flip the order, roles, perspective, direction? |
21
22## Application Modes
23
24### Quick SCAMPER (default)
25Pick 2-3 most relevant lenses, generate 1 strong idea each.
26Use for: casual brainstorming, quick expansions
27
28### Full SCAMPER
29All 7 lenses, 1-2 ideas each.
30Use for: serious idea development, comprehensive exploration
31
32### Targeted SCAMPER
33Enzo specifies which lens(es) to focus on.
34Use for: when he knows what angle he wants
35
36## Integration Points
37
38### New Idea Saved
39After saving to `notes/ideas.md`, offer: "Want me to SCAMPER this?"
40If yes → run Quick SCAMPER, append output to the idea entry.
41
42### Framework Adaptation
43When saving a framework, optionally run SCAMPER to personalize:
44- **Substitute**: What would you swap for your industry/role?
45- **Combine**: What other framework could this merge with?
46- **Adapt**: Who does something similar you could borrow from?
47
48### Hackathon Ideation
49For generating hackathon concepts from existing products:
501. Take the product/tool
512. Run full SCAMPER
523. Filter for "impressive demo in 24h" feasibility
534. Output top 3 concepts
54
55### Stuck Breaker
56When Enzo says "I'm stuck on X":
571. Clarify the blocker
582. Run SCAMPER on the problem
593. Focus on **Reverse** and **Eliminate** (often best for unblocking)
60
61## Output Format
62
63```markdown
64### SCAMPER: [Subject]
65
66**Substitute:** [idea]
67**Combine:** [idea]
68**Adapt:** [idea]
69**Modify:** [idea]
70**Put to other uses:** [idea]
71**Eliminate:** [idea]
72**Reverse:** [idea]
73
74💡 **Strongest angle:** [which one and why]
75```
76
77For Quick SCAMPER, only include the 2-3 lenses used.
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