Many times when we try to be creative, we limit ourselves without even thinking about it. We accept invisible frames and assume that certain factors are inevitable. But what happens if we challenge these assumptions? What happens if we ask ourselves: What does the ideal solution look like?
This method is about provoking new thoughts by actively challenging dependencies and limitations that don’t really need to exist. It’s a powerful technique in all its simplicity that can lead to completely new ideas – ideas that would otherwise never have had the space to arise.
Why do we need to challenge our assumptions?
Think about all the times you’ve heard someone say:
“We can’t do that, because…”
It could be anything from technical limitations to economic realities to habitual ways of thinking. But what happens if we, for a moment, disregard all these “musts” and instead focus on what would be the best solution – completely without limitations?
This method acts as a creative springboard. By first painting an ideal solution, we are forced to question why we do things a certain way and whether there are really insurmountable obstacles.
How does it work?
The ideal solution method is particularly useful in product development and problem solving where there is a conflict between different characteristics. It can also be an effective way to break habitual patterns and find new innovations.
Step-by-step:
- Identify a problem or a constraint
– What is stopping us from solving this in the best possible way?
– Alternatively: What “impossible” ideas have we dismissed because of these obstacles? - Ask: “What is the ideal solution?”
– If we could create a perfect solution, without any constraints whatsoever – what would it look like?
– Write down the answer. - Ask: “If the ideal solution existed, what would the world look like?”
– How would we use it? How would it work? What benefits would it have? What must be true for it to happen?
– Write down all the ideas that come to mind. - Identify possible parts to apply today
– Is there anything in the ideal solution that can be implemented now, even though we don’t have the whole solution? - Look at opportunities to implement the ideal solution in the long term
– Can we make this possible within 1–5 years with technological or business changes?
Examples of how the method works in practice
A self-cleaning oven
Problem: The oven gets dirty and it’s a pain to clean.
The ideal solution: An oven that never needs to be cleaned.
What would it look like? Maybe it automatically burns up food residue at a certain temperature. Maybe it has a surface that repels dirt. Or maybe it’s an oven that replaces its interior regularly.
What can we do today? There are already self-cleaning ovens that burn away dirt, but can we improve on that technology? Or can we create a new material that doesn’t let dirt get stuck?
Shoelaces that never come untied
Problem: Shoelaces come untied and have to be retied.
The ideal solution: Shoelaces that never need to be tied.
What would that look like? Maybe self-locking laces? Magnetic fasteners? Or a material that changes its shape and locks itself when tied?
What can we do today? Velcro and elastic laces are already part of the solution, but can we further develop them to work even better?
Disappearing plastic waste
Problem: Plastic waste takes hundreds of years to decompose and pollutes nature.
The ideal solution: Plastic that disappears without a trace after use.
What would that look like? Maybe plastic that decomposes immediately upon contact with water? Or a type of packaging that turns into nutrients for the soil?
What can we do today? We already have plastics based on cornstarch and other biodegradable alternatives, but they are not always as durable as traditional plastics. Can we develop a material that combines the durability of plastic with complete biodegradability?
Tips and trix
- Let go of all limitations
- Easier said than done, but imagine that anything is possible.
- Be sure to really understand that the ideal solution exists
- What would it mean? What must be true?
- Be open to the fact that it may feel unfamiliar
- Thinking without frames is not always easy, but it is liberating when it comes loose.
Approach all ideas positively
It is not about what is realistic right now, but about finding new ways.
Unleash the Potential of Your Ideas
We are often our own biggest obstacles when trying to be creative. We accept frames that do not even exist and limit our thinking before we have even started.
By using the Find the Ideal Solution method, we can break these patterns, challenge invisible limitations, and discover new possibilities. It may not always lead to an immediate solution, but it opens the door to ideas we would never have otherwise considered.
So the next time you’re faced with a problem, ask yourself:
What does the ideal solution look like?
And then let your imagination take you there!
