How Might We (HMW) Brainstorm
PurposeTurn user problems, observations, or pain points into open-ended, opportunity-framed questions that invite creative solutions.
🎯 Objective
Clearly define the goal of this session.Example: Identify ways to improve the onboarding experience for new users.
👀 Input: Key Observations or Pain Points
List what you’ve learned from user research, testing, or real-world scenarios.
Observation / Insight
Source
Users feel overwhelmed on first login
Usability testing
Many skip the product tour entirely
Onboarding analytics
Confusion around the “Start Project” button
Support tickets
✍️ Turn Observations into “How Might We” Questions
Reframe each problem as a solution-oriented HMW prompt.
Insight
How Might We…
Users feel overwhelmed
HMW make the onboarding process feel less overwhelming?
Product tour is skipped
HMW encourage users to complete the product tour?
Confusing CTA label
HMW clarify the first action users should take?
💡 Idea Generation
Generate as many ideas as possible for each HMW question. Go for volume, not perfection.
📌 Next Steps
List what you’ll do with the outcomes of this brainstorm.
Cluster similar ideas
Select top 3 to test
Share with broader team
Table
HMW Question
Ideas
Vote
HMW make onboarding less overwhelming? - Break steps into a checklist- Offer a “lite” mode- Show progress bar
HMW encourage tour completion? - Gamify the tour- Add incentives- Auto-start guided walkthrough
HMW clarify first action? - Rename button- Add a tooltip- Use animation to guide attention