how might we
How might we is a design-thinking prompt that turns a problem into an open-ended opportunity for ideas. It works best when the challenge is framed clearly enough to guide brainstorming, but broadly enough to allow multiple solutions.
Quick Scoop
A strong “How might we” question usually starts from a real problem statement, then gets broken into smaller, actionable questions. The idea is to shift from “what’s wrong?” to “what could we do?” so teams can generate many possible answers instead of jumping to one solution too early.
How it works
- Start with a clear point of view or challenge statement.
- Rephrase it into a question that invites possibilities, often beginning with “How might we…”.
- Keep it balanced: not so narrow that it blocks creativity, and not so broad that it becomes vague.
- Use several HMW questions for one challenge, then brainstorm solutions from there.
Why people use it
- It encourages creative thinking without losing focus.
- It helps teams explore different paths before choosing a solution.
- It is common in design thinking, discovery work, and innovation workshops.
Example
Instead of asking, “Why is our checkout process failing?” a better HMW version might be, “How might we make checkout feel faster and easier for first-time buyers?” That wording keeps the problem intact while opening room for many kinds of fixes.
TL;DR: “How might we” is a simple way to reframe a problem into a creative, solution-friendly question.
