The Technique of Alternate Uses

Alternate Uses is an exercise to develop creativity and encourage divergent thinking when looking for solutions based on a single piece of information.

With this activity, the ability to generate new ideas or disruptive solutions from a single idea or information is practiced. This ability is believed to be one of the most important factors in creativity.

The Alternate Uses exercise requires you to come up with as many ideas as possible of how to use a given item, with a limit of 3 minutes. A great thing about it is that the more you practice, the easier it gets, because your mind starts to apply this way of thinking to any situation of life automatically.

Distribute a sheet of paper for each participant and pens. In 3 minutes, people write down as many ideas as possible about how an everyday object can be used (for example a brick.)

If the normal use of the brick is to use it for building, then alternate uses could be: use it as a grill, for self defence or even color it as your buddy, just like a Wilson ball in Cast Away movie.

Do not overcomplicate. Use a simple object that everyone knows, such as a hairdryer, chair, fork, etc.

Finally, select several participants or ask each (if the group is not too big) to present their favorite usage of the item.