The “How Might We” Method: Crafting Powerful Questions For Innovative Solutions

Are you tired of encountering problems in your design projects without a clear path to solve them? Do you find yourself struggling to come up with creative solutions that truly address the root issues? If you’re looking for a proven way to transform your design process, the “How Might We” (HMW) method is your answer.

In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore the power of the “How Might We” Method, commonly used in design thinking. You’ll discover how to craft effective HMW questions, avoid common pitfalls, and unlock the potential for innovative solutions. By the end of this article, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to apply the HMW method successfully, setting your team up for success in framing design challenges and solving the right problems.

Unveiling the HMW Method

The “How Might We” Method, often abbreviated as HMW, is a powerful technique that empowers design teams to identify and address the most critical problems and challenges they face. This method guides teams in formulating open-ended questions that frame design challenges, encourage creativity, and stimulate innovative solutions.

The Power of HMW Questions

When used effectively, HMW questions can:

• Focus your team’s attention on real user problems.
• Prevent premature solution suggestions.
• Broaden your perspective and stimulate creativity.
• Keep your design efforts aligned with the desired outcomes.
• Encourage positive and solution-agnostic thinking.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the five essential tips for crafting effective HMW questions.

1. Start with the Problems You’ve Uncovered

One of the fundamental principles of the HMW method is to start with the problems or insights that your team has uncovered during the discovery phase. Crafting HMW questions that directly address these issues ensures that your design efforts are grounded in real user needs and relevant to the project.

Example:

• Problem: Users aren’t aware of the full product offerings.
• HMW Question: How might we increase awareness of the full product offerings?

By aligning your HMW questions with discovered problems, you pave the way for solutions that are more likely to have a meaningful impact.

2. Avoid Suggesting a Solution in Your HMW Question

It’s easy to inadvertently restrict your thinking and suggest solutions within your HMW questions. However, this can limit the range of ideas that emerge. To foster innovation, it’s essential to keep your HMW questions solution-agnostic.

Example:

• Insight: Users are often unsure about which form to complete when they file their taxes.
• Poor HMW Question: How might we tell users which form to complete to file their taxes?
• Good HMW Question: How might we make users feel confident they are filing their taxes correctly?

The good HMW question allows for a broader range of creative solutions beyond mere communication enhancements, such as automated tax filing or streamlining the forms.

3. Keep Your HMWs Broad

While HMW questions should be focused on specific problems, they should also be broad enough to encourage creativity. The broader your HMW question, the more diverse and innovative ideas it can generate.

Example:

• Insight: Users often spend a long time checking their submission for mistakes.
• Good HMW Question: How might we make it quick and easy for users to check their work for mistakes?
• Better HMW Question: How might we support users to efficiently draft submissions that they’re happy with?

Striking the right balance between specificity and breadth is crucial to ensure you address the core problem effectively.

4. Focus Your HMWs on the Desired Outcome

A common pitfall in crafting HMW questions is losing sight of the desired outcome. It’s essential to ask whether your HMW question focuses on achieving the desired result, not just addressing surface-level symptoms.

Example:

• Problem: Users often call because they’re unsure about the application process.
• Poor HMW Question: How might we stop users from calling us?
• Good HMW Question: How might we make users feel confident they have all the information they need?

The good HMW question directs your efforts towards the root problem—user uncertainty—rather than a superficial solution like hiding contact information.

5. Phrase Your HMW Questions Positively

Stating your HMW questions in a positive manner can inspire more optimistic and creative solutions. Avoid negative verbs like “reduce” or “prevent,” and use positive action verbs like “increase,” “create,” “enhance,” or “promote.”

Example:

• Problem: Users find the return process difficult.
• Poor HMW Question: How might we make the return process less difficult?
• Good HMW Question: How might we make the return process quick and intuitive?

Positively framed HMW questions can lead to more inventive and user-centric solutions.

Collaborative HMW Question Crafting

Crafting effective HMW questions is a collaborative process. Here’s how you can involve your team in writing and selecting the best HMWs:

1. Generate HMWs Together: Encourage everyone in your team to contribute their HMW questions, based on the problems and insights identified.
2. Checklist for Selection: Evaluate each HMW question against the following checklist to determine the best version:
   • Is it based on an existing problem or insight?
   • Does it track a desired outcome?
   • Is it written positively?
   • Is it broad enough to ensure many creative ideas?
   • Does it suggest a solution?
3. Prioritize Your HMWs: If you end up with numerous HMW questions, prioritize them based on their potential impact on the project’s success. This helps you focus your efforts on the most critical challenges.

Conclusion: Unlocking Design Success with HMW Questions

The “How Might We” Method is a game-changer for design teams seeking innovative solutions to real user problems. By using this simple yet effective technique at the end of your discovery process, you can set your team up for success in framing design challenges correctly.

Incorporating the HMW method into your design thinking process will help you:

• Address problems with precision.
• Encourage creative thinking.
• Stay solution-agnostic.
• Focus on desired outcomes.
• Maintain a positive and user-centric approach.

With these skills in your toolkit, you’ll be better equipped to deliver outstanding user experiences and solve the right problems effectively.

Here are a few resources related to How Might We Method that you may find helpful to share in this post:

1. How Might We? Template and guide
2. How Might We Statements: Asking the Right Questions
3. UI UX Design 101: The Dos And Donts You Need To Know

Feel free to check out these resources for additional insights and perspectives on How Might We Method.

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