10 Think Toolkits for Combining Things to Generate New Ideas

Combinatorial creativity—the ability to merge existing elements in novel ways—is one of the most powerful sources of innovation. These ten toolkits will help you systematically combine different elements to generate breakthrough ideas and solutions.

1. The Morphological Combination Matrix

Create systematic combinations by breaking concepts into components.

How to apply it:

• Break your challenge into 3-4 key dimensions or attributes
• List 4-6 options for each dimension
• Create a grid showing all possible combinations
• Randomly select combinations and explore their potential
• Focus on unusual combinations that seem counterintuitive
• Build prototypes or concepts from the most promising combinations

Example: For a new restaurant concept

• Cuisine: Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Indian
• Service style: Fast casual, Fine dining, Food truck, Buffet
• Technology: AI ordering, VR dining, Robot servers, Traditional

This generates 64 potential combinations to explore.

2. The Biomimetic Fusion Tool

Combine natural systems with human challenges to create innovative solutions.

How to apply it:

• Identify a specific function you need (adhesion, efficiency, communication)
• Research how different organisms accomplish this function
• List the mechanisms from 3-5 different natural examples
• Combine elements from multiple biological solutions
• Apply these combined principles to your specific context
• Look for synergies between different natural approaches

Example: Combining gecko feet adhesion + octopus camouflage + bird wing efficiency for new drone design.

3. The Cross-Industry Pollination Framework

Merge successful practices from completely different industries.

How to apply it:

• Identify your core challenge or opportunity
• List 5-7 industries that face similar challenges differently
• Research their best practices and unique approaches
• Extract the underlying principles from each industry
• Combine principles from 2-3 different industries
• Adapt the hybrid approach to your context

Example: Combining Netflix's recommendation algorithms + Uber's surge pricing + Airbnb's peer review system for a new service marketplace.

4. The Random Association Generator

Force connections between unrelated elements to spark unexpected combinations.

How to apply it:

• Clearly define what you want to improve or create
• Generate random words, images, or concepts (use dictionaries, magazines, walks)
• Take 3-4 random elements and force connections with your challenge
• Ask: "How could [random element A] + [random element B] solve this?"
• Build on the most intriguing combinations
• Use analogical thinking to abstract useful principles

This technique breaks logical constraints and creates surprising innovation pathways.

5. The Historical Timeline Mashup

Combine solutions, technologies, or approaches from different time periods.

How to apply it:

• Research how your challenge was addressed in different historical eras
• Identify what worked well in each time period
• List emerging technologies or approaches not yet widely adopted
• Combine old wisdom with new capabilities
• Look for timeless principles that could be enhanced with modern tools
• Create hybrids that capture the best of multiple eras

Example: Combining traditional apprenticeship models + modern VR technology + social media connectivity for new learning systems.

6. The Metaphor Mixing Laboratory

Blend different metaphors to generate novel conceptual frameworks.

How to apply it:

• Generate 5-6 different metaphors for your situation ("This is like...")
• From each metaphor, extract 2-3 key characteristics or mechanisms
• Systematically combine characteristics from different metaphors
• Ask: "What if this functioned like [metaphor A] but looked like [metaphor B]?"
• Develop the most promising metaphor combinations into concrete ideas
• Use mixed metaphors to inspire new approaches

This tool leverages the brain's pattern recognition to create innovative conceptual combinations.

7. The Cultural Fusion Engine

Merge approaches, values, or practices from different cultures.

How to apply it:

• Identify how different cultures approach similar challenges
• Extract core values and methodologies from each culture
• Look for complementary strengths across cultures
• Combine cultural approaches that balance each other's weaknesses
• Consider how cultural fusion could create entirely new approaches
• Test combinations with people from the relevant cultures

Example: Combining Japanese kaizen philosophy + Silicon Valley rapid prototyping + Scandinavian work-life balance for new organizational models.

8. The Technology Stack Combinator

Merge different technologies or tools to create new capabilities.

How to apply it:

• List existing technologies relevant to your domain
• Identify technologies from completely different domains with interesting properties
• Map the capabilities and limitations of each technology
• Explore how combining technologies could overcome individual limitations
• Look for emergent properties that arise from technological combinations
• Consider how new combinations could enable previously impossible solutions

This approach has driven innovations from smartphones (phone + computer + camera) to autonomous vehicles (AI + sensors + electric motors).

9. The Experience Stitching Workshop

Combine elements from different user experiences to create new ones.

How to apply it:

• Identify 4-5 experiences that people find delightful or memorable
• Break each experience into component elements (sensory, emotional, functional)
• Map the journey and touchpoints of each experience
• Combine elements from different experiences in new ways
• Look for unexpected experience combinations that could work together
• Prototype hybrid experiences to test their effectiveness

Example: Combining spa relaxation + gaming achievement + social media sharing + educational content for new wellness experiences.

10. The Problem-Solution Connector

Link solutions from one domain with problems in completely different domains.

How to apply it:

• Create two lists: "Elegant solutions I've seen" and "Persistent problems I know about"
• Look for unexpected connections between solutions and unrelated problems
• Ask: "How might [solution from domain A] address [problem in domain B]?"
• Adapt successful solutions to work in new contexts
• Combine multiple solutions to address complex problems
• Focus on underlying principles rather than surface similarities

This cross-pollination often leads to breakthrough innovations by applying proven solutions in new contexts.

Integration Strategy

To maximize combinatorial creativity:

1. Start broad: Use multiple combination methods to generate diverse possibilities
2. Document everything: Keep detailed records of interesting combinations for future reference
3. Build incrementally: Start with simple combinations before attempting complex multi-element fusions
4. Test early: Create quick prototypes to evaluate combination feasibility
5. Combine the combiners: Use multiple toolkit techniques together for richer results

Remember that most breakthrough innovations are novel combinations of existing elements rather than entirely new inventions. By systematically exploring combination possibilities, you're following the same creative process that has produced everything from smartphones to fusion cuisine.