How Might We
Turn problems into possibilities.
How Might We reframes a problem statement into an open invitation. The phrasing is precise: "How" assumes it's possible. "Might" removes pressure — it's exploration, not commitment. "We" is collaborative. The best HMW questions are wide enough to invite surprising solutions but narrow enough to exclude the irrelevant. Getting the frame right is most of the work.
How to run this
- Start with a problem or insight from your research.
- Generate 5+ HMW reframes — vary the angle, don't self-censor.
- Vote on the most interesting frame — not the most obvious one.
- Use the winning HMW to generate solutions below.
- Select the most promising direction to develop or prototype.
How Might We
Min Basadur · IDEO · popularised via design thinkingHMW questions that are too narrow. "HMW make our app faster" gives you engineering ideas. "HMW make users feel like the wait is worthwhile" opens an entirely different solution space.
A HMW that makes the room pause. If it's immediately obvious how to solve it, the frame is too narrow. If no one knows where to start, it might be perfect.
When you have a HMW that generated at least 5 diverse solution ideas and one direction that's worth prototyping or testing.
Try it interactively with WAiDE
WAiDE will help you reframe your problem from multiple angles — asking the questions that expose whether your frame is too narrow or too broad. You'll leave with a winning HMW and a session report.