Synectics

Origin. Gordon and Prince, Arthur D. Little (1961).

Mechanism. Makes the familiar strange and the strange familiar via four analogy types, then returns to the problem. Its distinctive commitment is that emotional and irrational components of the creative state are functional and can be procedurally induced.

Procedure. Direct analogy (how does another domain solve this). Personal analogy (be the component; report its constraints from inside). Symbolic analogy (compress the problem to a two-word paradox: 'reliable failure', 'obedient rebellion'). Fantasy analogy (the wished-for impossible solution). Then force-fit the analogy back onto the problem.

Applies to. Mechanism-level invention; problems where the physical intuition is the bottleneck.

Limitations. Requires trained facilitation. Symbolic analogy in particular collapses into wordplay without it.