What the Heck is a SCAMMPER(R) Diagram—and Why It Belongs in Every Engineering Design Toolkit

LinkedIn Article: June 26, 2025

Student Project Top Three Solutions based on SCAMMPER(R)

In the world of product design and innovation, tools that spark fresh thinking are invaluable. Whether you’re leading a student design challenge, prototyping a new device, or iterating on a legacy product, you’ve likely hit the moment where your team asks:

“What else could we do here?”

That’s where SCAMMPER(R) comes in—a deceptively simple but incredibly effective technique for systematic idea generation in engineering and beyond.

 So… What Is SCAMMPER(R)?

SCAMMPER(R) is an acronym for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Magnify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse/Rearrange. It’s a creative thinking framework that guides engineers, designers, and students through structured brainstorming by challenging them to look at a product or process from seven fresh angles.

Think of it as a mental Swiss Army knife for innovation: 

Letter - Prompt - Sample Engineering Question

S – Substitute What can be replaced? Can we swap this material for something lighter?

C – Combine What can be merged? Can we integrate two features into one component?

A – Adapt What else is like this? Can we borrow a mechanism from another industry?

M – Modify How can we change the form? Can a different shape alter its use?

M – Magnify  What if we scaled it up or down? Can we make it larger or extend it somehow?

P – Put to another use New function? Could this component serve a different market?

E – Eliminate What’s unnecessary? Can we reduce parts to simplify production?

R – Reverse/Rearrange Flip the order or orientation? Can we redesign the sequence to increase efficiency?

How Engineers Use SCAMMPER(R)

In engineering education, SCAMMPER(R) encourages divergent thinking before diving into CAD models or prototypes. In product development, it pushes teams past the obvious and into iterative, innovation-focused design.

It’s particularly effective in:

• Design sprints

• Root cause analysis

• Prototype iteration cycles

• Sustainable engineering (e.g., rethinking materials or eliminating waste)

SCAMMPER(R) works beautifully alongside tools like the Engineering Design Process and Design Thinking—fitting into the ideation phase before technical constraints dominate the conversation.

SCAMMPER(R) in the Classroom

As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand how SCAMMPER(R) helps high school students generate unexpected, creative solutions—especially when they’re stuck or think their first idea is their best one.

Students often light up when they realize innovation isn’t just about wild ideas—it’s about systematically exploring possibilities.

Student SCAMMPER(R) Diagram Based on Specification Priority

Final Thought: Structure that Sparks Innovation

In an age where AI can generate thousands of ideas in seconds, the value of human creativity lies in how we question, frame, and explore. SCAMMPER(R) is a reminder that breakthrough thinking doesn’t have to be random—it can be taught, practiced, and refined.

Whether you’re designing a robot, reimagining a water purification device, or improving the ergonomics of a power tool—SCAMMPER(R) invites you to ask:

“What haven’t we considered yet?”

And that’s the question where innovation begins.