What is TRIZ? The Science of Systematic Innovation
TRIZ (Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch, or Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) represents one of the most powerful and scientifically-grounded innovation methodologies ever developed. Unlike creative thinking techniques that rely on random idea generation, TRIZ is based on systematic analysis of over 200,000 patents, revealing that innovation follows predictable patterns and that the same fundamental principles solve problems repeatedly across different industries and time periods.
Developed by Genrich Altshuller starting in 1946 while working in the Soviet Navy's patent office, TRIZ emerged from a simple but profound question: "Is there a systematic way to innovate?" Through decades of research, Altshuller discovered that successful inventors unknowingly use the same problem-solving strategies, which he formalized into the 40 Inventive Principles - universal patterns that transcend specific technologies or industries.
As a design engineer with over 100 patents developed during 30+ years at companies like DeWalt, Black & Decker, Stanley, and ResMed, I've used TRIZ extensively throughout my career. It's particularly valuable when facing technical contradictions - situations where improving one parameter worsens another. TRIZ doesn't just help you generate ideas; it shows you how similar contradictions were resolved in thousands of successful innovations across history.
The 40 Inventive Principles: Complete Guide with Real Patent Examples
Principle 1: Segmentation
The Concept: Divide an object into independent parts, make it sectional, or increase the degree of segmentation.
Real Application: In power tool battery development, we applied segmentation by dividing battery packs into individual cells that could be monitored and managed independently. This segmentation enabled intelligent battery management systems that could identify failing cells, balance charging, and optimize performance. The principle led to patents covering modular battery architectures, individual cell monitoring systems, and segmented thermal management.
Classic Examples: Sectional furniture that adapts to different spaces, modular smartphones with replaceable components, segmented aircraft fuselages for easier manufacturing and maintenance.
Principle 2: Taking Out (Extraction)
The Concept: Separate an interfering part or property from an object, or extract only the necessary part or property.
Real Application: When developing medical devices at ResMed, we extracted the noise-generating components from patient-contact areas, separating them into remote modules. This extraction principle led to quieter patient interfaces without compromising functionality. The patents covered physical separation methods, vibration isolation, and acoustic dampening through component extraction.
Classic Examples: Cordless tools extract the power source from the tool body, self-checkout systems extract cashier functions for customer operation, ransomware extraction tools remove malicious code while preserving data.
Principle 3: Local Quality
The Concept: Change an object's structure from uniform to non-uniform, make different parts serve different functions, or make each part operate under optimal conditions.
Real Application: Power tool grip design exemplifies local quality - we use different materials and textures in different grip zones based on pressure points, heat generation, and user contact patterns. Soft rubber where hands grip, hard plastic for structural support, textured surfaces where slip resistance matters. This principle generated patents covering multi-material grips, zone-specific surface treatments, and position-optimized material properties.
Classic Examples: Golf clubs with different flexibility along the shaft, tires with variable tread depth, multi-focal eyeglasses with different correction zones.
Principle 4: Asymmetry
The Concept: Change the shape from symmetrical to asymmetrical, or increase the degree of asymmetry.
Real Application: Traditional power tools were symmetrically designed, but applying asymmetry improved ergonomics dramatically. Asymmetrical handle placement, motor positioning, and weight distribution created more comfortable, better-balanced tools. We patented asymmetrical grip geometries that matched natural hand positions, asymmetric motor placement for optimal balance, and asymmetric cooling vents that directed heat away from users.
Classic Examples: Computer mice designed for right or left hands, asymmetric aircraft wings for improved aerodynamics, asymmetric tire treads for better water evacuation.
Principle 5: Merging (Consolidation)
The Concept: Bring closer together identical or similar objects, or merge operations in space or time.
Real Application: The development of combination tools represents pure merging - drill plus impact driver, saw plus sander, vacuum plus blower. But merging goes deeper than obvious combinations. We merged charging systems so one charger handles multiple battery types, merged battery management with tool motor control, and merged user interfaces so one control system manages multiple functions. Each merger generated multiple patents covering integration methods and unified control systems.
Classic Examples: Swiss Army knives merging multiple tools, smartphones merging phone, camera, and computer, combination printer-scanner-copiers.
Principle 6: Universality
The Concept: Make an object perform multiple functions, eliminating the need for other objects.
Real Application: We designed universal battery platforms that power entire tool families - the same battery works in drills, saws, lights, radios, and fans. This universality required standardizing interfaces, voltage management, and communication protocols across product lines. Patents covered universal battery interfaces, adaptive voltage systems, and cross-product compatibility protocols.
Classic Examples: Adjustable wrenches replacing fixed-size wrenches, convertible furniture serving multiple purposes, universal remotes controlling multiple devices.
Principle 7: Nested Doll (Matryoshka)
The Concept: Place one object inside another, or make objects pass through cavities in other objects.
Real Application: Telescoping power tool components exemplify nested doll design - extension poles that collapse for storage, nested battery cells within larger packs, nested cooling ducts within motor housings. We patented nested gear systems where smaller gears operate inside larger ones, nested dust collection systems, and telescoping handles with nested reinforcement structures.
Classic Examples: Telescoping antennas, Russian nesting dolls, collapsible measuring cups, retractable pens.
Principle 8: Anti-Weight (Counterweight)
The Concept: Compensate for an object's weight by merging with another object that provides lift, or use environmental forces.
Real Application: Heavy power tools become difficult to use over extended periods. We applied anti-weight by designing counterbalancing systems - battery placement that counterweights the motor, handle positioning that creates leverage advantage, and using motor rotation forces to counteract tool weight. Patents covered dynamic counterbalancing systems, weight-compensating handle geometries, and rotation-based anti-weight mechanisms.
Classic Examples: Counterweights in elevators, balanced camera stabilizers, counterbalanced construction cranes.
Principle 9: Preliminary Anti-Action
The Concept: If an action will cause both useful and harmful effects, replace it with anti-actions to control harmful effects in advance.
Real Application: Power tool kickback is dangerous - when a blade binds, the tool violently jerks. We applied preliminary anti-action by creating pre-emptive braking systems that detect binding conditions before kickback occurs. The system applies counter-rotation before the harmful effect manifests. This generated patents covering predictive kickback prevention, pre-emptive braking algorithms, and anticipatory safety systems.
Classic Examples: Pre-stressed concrete countering future stress, vaccines preventing disease, anti-corrosion coatings applied before exposure.
Principle 10: Preliminary Action
The Concept: Perform required changes to an object in advance, or arrange objects so they can come into action immediately.
Real Application: Pre-charged batteries ready for immediate use, pre-programmed tool settings that activate instantly, pre-aligned components that snap together without adjustment. We patented preliminary action systems including self-calibrating sensors that pre-adjust before operation, pre-tensioned mechanisms ready for immediate activation, and pre-configured user profiles that load automatically.
Classic Examples: Pre-paid cards, pre-formed products, adhesive strips with pre-applied glue, pre-configured software installations.
Principle 11: Beforehand Cushioning
The Concept: Prepare emergency means beforehand to compensate for relatively low reliability of an object.
Real Application: Medical devices must never fail catastrophically. We incorporated beforehand cushioning through redundant systems - backup sensors, fail-safe mechanical systems, emergency power reserves. If the primary system fails, pre-positioned backup systems activate automatically. Patents covered redundant sensor arrays, mechanical fail-safe mechanisms, and automatic backup activation systems.
Classic Examples: Airbags pre-positioned for crashes, backup parachutes, redundant aircraft systems, surge protectors.
Principle 12: Equipotentiality
The Concept: Change operating conditions to eliminate the need to raise or lower objects in a gravitational field.
Real Application: Traditional manufacturing required lifting heavy components vertically. We redesigned assembly processes to keep components at the same height throughout assembly, using horizontal movements instead. This equipotentiality principle reduced worker strain and improved ergonomics. Patents covered horizontal assembly systems, gravity-neutral component handling, and equipotential manufacturing workflows.
Classic Examples: Moving sidewalks instead of stairs, horizontal assembly lines, gravity-fed systems eliminating pumping.
Principle 13: The Other Way Round (Inversion)
The Concept: Invert the action used to solve the problem, make movable parts fixed and fixed parts movable, or turn the object upside down.
Real Application: Traditional sanders move the sandpaper while the workpiece remains stationary. We inverted this - creating stationary sanding surfaces while moving the workpiece, or making both move in coordinated patterns. Inversion also led to stationary motors with rotating housings, inverted cooling where cold air is pushed out rather than pulled in. Each inversion generated patents covering reversed motion systems and inverted component relationships.
Classic Examples: Inverted umbrellas that trap water when closed, rotating restaurants where the floor moves instead of diners, inverse molding where molds form exteriors.
Principle 14: Spheroidality (Curvature)
The Concept: Replace linear parts with curved ones, flat surfaces with spherical ones, or use rollers, balls, or spirals.
Real Application: Sharp edges on tool housings cause discomfort and stress concentrations. We replaced linear edges with curves, creating ergonomic spheroidal grips and stress-distributing curved surfaces. Spheroidality extends to curved air paths for improved cooling, curved reinforcement ribs for better strength-to-weight ratios, and curved bearing surfaces for reduced friction. Patents covered spheroidal grip geometries, curved structural elements, and spherical bearing systems.
Classic Examples: Ball bearings replacing sliding surfaces, curved phone screens, spherical pressure vessels, rounded car designs for aerodynamics.
Principle 15: Dynamics
The Concept: Make characteristics of an object or environment automatically adjust for optimal performance at each stage of operation.
Real Application: Static tool designs force users to adapt to the tool. We applied dynamics through auto-adjusting components - variable-speed motors that adapt to material resistance, auto-adjusting clutches that modify torque based on application, dynamic cooling that increases airflow as temperature rises. Patents covered dynamic motor control systems, adaptive clutch mechanisms, and self-adjusting ergonomic features.
Classic Examples: Auto-adjusting office chairs, adaptive cruise control, self-adjusting eyeglasses, dynamic suspension systems.
Principle 16: Partial or Excessive Actions
The Concept: If 100% of an objective is hard to achieve, use slightly less or slightly more to simplify the problem.
Real Application: Achieving exact tolerances is expensive. We applied partial action by designing components with intentional excess material that's removed during assembly, or partial features that complete during use. Spray painting applies excessive material, then removes excess. This principle led to patents covering intentionally oversized components with removal features, partial forming with completion systems, and excessive action with automatic correction.
Classic Examples: Overfilling containers then removing excess, painting slightly outside lines then cleaning edges, oversized keys that work in worn locks.
Principle 17: Another Dimension
The Concept: Move from one dimension to two dimensions, or from two dimensions to three dimensions, or use multi-layer arrangements.
Real Application: Limited space on tool surfaces restricts control placement. We applied another dimension by stacking controls vertically, creating multi-layer battery packs, and using 3D curved surfaces for grip features instead of 2D profiles. Moving to additional dimensions created space for features impossible in 2D. Patents covered multi-layer component arrangements, 3D control interfaces, and dimensional transformation mechanisms.
Classic Examples: Multi-story parking garages, 3D integrated circuits, multi-layer PCBs, stacked shipping containers.
Principle 18: Mechanical Vibration
The Concept: Cause an object to oscillate or vibrate, or increase frequency to ultrasonic.
Real Application: Impact drivers exemplify mechanical vibration - rotational motion converts to high-frequency impacts, dramatically increasing driving force. We extended this principle to ultrasonic cutting, vibratory material settling, and oscillating sanding. Each application generated patents covering vibration generation mechanisms, frequency control systems, and vibration application methods.
Classic Examples: Ultrasonic cleaners, vibrating conveyors, resonant drills, ultrasonic welding, vibratory feeders.
Principle 19: Periodic Action
The Concept: Replace continuous action with periodic or pulsed action, or change frequency or amplitude if already periodic.
Real Application: Continuous motor operation wastes energy and generates excess heat. We implemented periodic action through pulsed operation - motors running in optimized duty cycles, intermittent cooling activation, pulsed power delivery. Periodic action reduces average power consumption while maintaining performance. Patents covered pulsed motor control, periodic cooling systems, and optimized duty cycle algorithms.
Classic Examples: Pulsed lasers, intermittent windshield wipers, pulsed irrigation, strobe lights, periodic medication dosing.
Principle 20: Continuity of Useful Action
The Concept: Carry out action without breaks, or make all parts of an object work at full capacity.
Real Application: Traditional manufacturing has idle time between operations. We applied continuity by designing continuous-flow processes, eliminating setup times, and keeping all systems productive. In tools, continuity means maintaining cutting action through the entire motion cycle, continuous cooling rather than intermittent, continuous power delivery without gaps. Patents covered continuous-action mechanisms, gap-eliminating systems, and continuous-flow processes.
Classic Examples: Continuous casting, rotary engines, continuous production lines, always-on systems.
Principle 21: Skipping (Rushing Through)
The Concept: Conduct a process or certain stages at high speed to avoid harmful or dangerous effects.
Real Application: Some operations must complete before harmful effects occur. We applied skipping through rapid-start systems that reach operating temperature before moisture condenses, quick-action clamps that engage before workpieces shift, high-speed safety systems that activate before injury occurs. Patents covered rapid-action mechanisms, fast-transition systems, and high-speed safety devices.
Classic Examples: Flash freezing, quick-drying paint, rapid prototyping, express lanes, fast-acting circuit breakers.
Principle 22: Blessing in Disguise (Convert Harm into Benefit)
The Concept: Use harmful factors to achieve a positive effect, amplify harmful factors until they cease to be harmful, or eliminate one harmful factor by adding another.
Real Application: Motor waste heat is typically harmful. We converted this harm to benefit by using waste heat to warm handles in cold environments, pre-heat batteries for better performance, or dry moisture from components. The harmful effect becomes beneficial. Patents covered waste heat recovery systems, thermal benefit conversion, and harm-to-advantage mechanisms.
Classic Examples: Using waste heat for heating, composting turning waste to fertilizer, using wind resistance for electricity generation.
Principle 23: Feedback
The Concept: Introduce feedback to improve a process or action, or change feedback magnitude or influence.
Real Application: Modern power tools incorporate extensive feedback - torque sensors that detect binding and reduce speed, temperature sensors that activate cooling, battery sensors that adjust power delivery. Feedback systems prevent problems before they occur. Patents covered sensor-based feedback systems, adaptive control algorithms, and multi-parameter feedback integration.
Classic Examples: Thermostats, cruise control, autopilot systems, pressure regulators, adaptive headlights.
Principle 24: Intermediary
The Concept: Use an intermediary carrier article or process, or temporarily connect an object to another that's easy to remove.
Real Application: Direct connections often cause problems - wear, incompatibility, or stress concentrations. We use intermediaries like flexible couplings between rigid components, interface adapters between incompatible systems, temporary connection mechanisms for assembly. Intermediaries absorb stresses, adapt interfaces, and facilitate processes. Patents covered intermediary connection systems, adapter interfaces, and temporary coupling mechanisms.
Classic Examples: Adapters between incompatible connectors, catalysts enabling reactions, mediators in negotiations, middleware in software.
Principle 25: Self-Service
The Concept: Make an object serve itself by performing auxiliary functions, or use waste resources, energy, or substances.
Real Application: Self-service means tools maintain themselves - self-lubricating bearings, self-cleaning filters, self-sharpening blades, self-diagnostics. Motor rotation generates cooling airflow serving itself. Cutting action generates chips that indicate blade condition. Patents covered self-maintaining systems, self-diagnostic mechanisms, and self-service auxiliary functions.
Classic Examples: Self-winding watches, self-cleaning ovens, self-lubricating bearings, self-healing materials, self-checkout systems.
Principle 26: Copying
The Concept: Use simplified or inexpensive copies instead of complex, expensive, or fragile originals, or replace objects with optical copies.
Real Application: Testing on actual products risks damage. We use copies - digital simulations, scale models, virtual prototypes. Testing occurs on copies, preserving originals. This extends to using photographs instead of physical samples, digital representations instead of physical prototypes. Patents covered virtual testing systems, simulation-based validation, and copy-based development processes.
Classic Examples: Scale models for testing, digital twins, simulation software, holograms, virtual reality training.
Principle 27: Cheap Short-Living Objects
The Concept: Replace an expensive object with multiple inexpensive ones, compromising certain qualities like service life.
Real Application: Expensive permanent filters require cleaning and maintenance. We replaced them with cheap disposable filters, eliminating maintenance at the cost of replacement. Disposable blades instead of resharpening, replaceable components instead of repair. This principle generated patents covering quick-replacement systems, disposable component interfaces, and low-cost replacement mechanisms.
Classic Examples: Disposable razors, paper cups, temporary structures, disposable batteries, single-use products.
Principle 28: Mechanics Substitution
The Concept: Replace mechanical systems with optical, acoustic, thermal, or chemical systems, or use electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic fields.
Real Application: Mechanical clutches wear and require adjustment. We substituted electronic clutches using magnetic fields - no mechanical wear, instant adjustment, precise control. Mechanical switches became electronic sensors, mechanical linkages became electromagnetic actuators. Each substitution generated patents covering electro-mechanical replacement, field-based actuation, and non-mechanical control systems.
Classic Examples: Electronic locks replacing mechanical keys, magnetic levitation, optical sensors replacing mechanical switches, electromagnetic brakes.
Principle 29: Pneumatics and Hydraulics
The Concept: Use gas or liquid parts instead of solid parts, or use pneumatic or hydraulic systems for functions.
Real Application: Solid springs have fixed characteristics. We substituted pneumatic springs with adjustable pressure, hydraulic dampening with variable characteristics, air cushions that adapt to loads. Fluid and gas systems offer adjustability impossible with solid components. Patents covered pneumatic actuation systems, hydraulic control mechanisms, and gas-based adjustable components.
Classic Examples: Pneumatic tools, hydraulic brakes, air suspensions, inflatable structures, hydraulic presses.
Principle 30: Flexible Shells and Thin Films
The Concept: Use flexible shells or thin films instead of traditional structures, or isolate objects using shells or films.
Real Application: Rigid tool housings are heavy and expensive. We substituted flexible shells that absorb impacts, thin films that protect without bulk, membrane seals that flex with movement. Flexible shells enable designs impossible with rigid structures. Patents covered flexible housing systems, thin-film protective layers, and membrane-based sealing.
Classic Examples: Inflatable rafts, shrink wrap, membrane roofs, plastic film packaging, flexible electronics.
Principle 31: Porous Materials
The Concept: Make an object porous or add porous elements, or fill pores with useful substances.
Real Application: Solid materials trap heat. We use porous materials for lightweight insulation, porous filters for fine filtration, porous grips for moisture management. Pores can be filled with lubricants, coolants, or reinforcing materials. Patents covered porous cooling systems, controlled-porosity structures, and functional-fill porous materials.
Classic Examples: Foam insulation, porous filters, zeolites, activated carbon, breathable fabrics, porous bearings.
Principle 32: Color Changes
The Concept: Change the color of an object or environment, or use colored additives to observe phenomena.
Real Application: Color indicates state - batteries change color when charged, overheating components change color to warn users, chemical indicators change color to show conditions. Color provides feedback without complex sensors. Patents covered color-change indicators, thermal chromatic warnings, and color-based state communication.
Classic Examples: Mood rings, thermochromic baby bottles, color-change battery indicators, pH indicators, thermal paint.
Principle 33: Homogeneity
The Concept: Make objects interact with given objects made of the same material or material with identical properties.
Real Application: Dissimilar materials cause galvanic corrosion and compatibility issues. We use homogeneous materials - same metal throughout to prevent corrosion, compatible plastics to prevent chemical reactions, matching thermal expansion coefficients to prevent stress. Homogeneity eliminates interface problems. Patents covered homogeneous material systems, compatible material selections, and mono-material designs.
Classic Examples: Titanium bolts in titanium structures, plastic gears in plastic housings, stainless steel contact surfaces.
Principle 34: Discarding and Recovering
The Concept: Make portions of an object that have completed their functions disappear or be discarded, or restore consumable parts during operation.
Real Application: Packaging that disappears after opening, temporary supports that dissolve after use, consumable components that regenerate during operation. We designed self-consuming temporary fasteners, dissolving assembly aids, regenerating filters. Patents covered self-discarding components, automatic restoration systems, and regenerative consumables.
Classic Examples: Dissolving stitches, biodegradable packaging, self-destructing messages, regenerative braking, ablative heat shields.
Principle 35: Parameter Changes
The Concept: Change physical state, concentration, density, flexibility, or temperature.
Real Application: Materials with fixed properties limit design options. We use phase-change materials that transition between solid and liquid to store/release heat, variable-density foams that adapt to pressure, temperature-responsive materials that change stiffness. Parameter changes enable adaptive functionality. Patents covered phase-change thermal management, variable-density structures, and temperature-responsive mechanisms.
Classic Examples: Phase-change cooling, memory foam, thermostats, shape-memory alloys, temperature-activated switches.
Principle 36: Phase Transitions
The Concept: Use phenomena occurring during phase transitions like volume changes, heat absorption or release.
Real Application: Phase transitions create or absorb heat without temperature change. We use phase-change materials for thermal management - materials that melt to absorb motor heat, then solidify to release it. Water evaporation cools components. Solidification releases stored energy. Patents covered phase-transition thermal systems, evaporative cooling, and solidification energy recovery.
Classic Examples: Evaporative coolers, freeze-drying, heat pipes, phase-change cooling vests, ice packs.
Principle 37: Thermal Expansion
The Concept: Use thermal expansion or contraction, or use multiple materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion.
Real Application: Thermal expansion typically causes problems - we turn it into functionality. Bimetallic strips that bend with temperature activate switches, thermal expansion creates interference fits, differential expansion creates self-adjusting clearances. Patents covered thermal-expansion actuators, bimetallic control systems, and expansion-based adjustment mechanisms.
Classic Examples: Thermostats using bimetallic strips, thermal circuit breakers, expansion joints, thermal actuators.
Principle 38: Strong Oxidants (Accelerated Oxidation)
The Concept: Replace common air with oxygen-enriched air, or replace enriched air with pure oxygen.
Real Application: Combustion efficiency increases with oxygen concentration. We use oxygen enrichment for cutting torches, enhanced oxidation for chemical processes, controlled oxidation for surface treatments. This extends metaphorically to "enriching" any process with higher concentrations of active elements. Patents covered oxygen-enriched processes, controlled oxidation systems, and enhanced reaction methods.
Classic Examples: Oxygen-enriched combustion, oxy-fuel cutting, ozone treatment, peroxide oxidation, oxygen therapy.
Principle 39: Inert Atmosphere
The Concept: Replace normal environment with inert atmosphere, or add neutral parts or inert additives.
Real Application: Oxygen causes corrosion and unwanted reactions. We use inert atmospheres for storage, manufacturing, and operation - nitrogen-filled battery packs prevent corrosion, inert gas welding prevents oxidation, neutral gas purging protects sensitive components. Patents covered inert atmosphere packaging, nitrogen purging systems, and protective gas environments.
Classic Examples: Nitrogen-filled tires, inert gas welding, vacuum packaging, argon-filled windows, nitrogen storage.
Principle 40: Composite Materials
The Concept: Change from uniform to composite materials.
Real Application: Single materials compromise between properties - strong OR light, flexible OR rigid. Composite materials deliver both - carbon fiber provides strength, resin matrix provides formability. We use composites throughout power tools: fiberglass-reinforced plastic housings (strong and light), rubber-overmolded grips (comfortable and durable), metal-reinforced polymer gears (quiet and strong). Each composite application generated patents covering material combinations, bonding methods, and composite structures.
Classic Examples: Carbon fiber composites, fiberglass, reinforced concrete, plywood, composite armor, dental composites.
How to Use TRIZ Effectively: Professional Methodology
Step 1: Define Your Technical Contradiction
TRIZ works best when applied to contradictions - situations where improving one parameter worsens another. Examples: making it stronger makes it heavier, making it faster makes it less precise, making it cheaper reduces quality. Clearly define what you want to improve and what currently prevents that improvement.
Step 2: Identify Relevant Inventive Principles
Review the 40 Inventive Principles to find those most relevant to your contradiction. TRIZ includes a contradiction matrix that maps contradictions to suggested principles, but experienced practitioners can often identify relevant principles intuitively based on the problem characteristics.
Step 3: Study Cross-Industry Examples
For each relevant principle, study how it solved similar contradictions in other industries. The power of TRIZ lies in cross-pollination - solutions from aerospace might solve your consumer product problem. Don't limit yourself to your industry.
Step 4: Apply Principles to Your Specific Problem
Translate general principles to your specific situation. This requires creativity - principles provide direction, not exact solutions. Ask: "How could segmentation solve MY problem?" not "Does segmentation apply?"
Step 5: Generate Multiple Solutions
Apply multiple principles to the same problem. Each principle generates different solutions. Some will be impractical, some brilliant. The goal is comprehensive exploration of solution space.
Step 6: Combine Principles
The most powerful innovations often combine multiple TRIZ principles. Once you have solutions from individual principles, look for ways to combine them into even better solutions.
Step 7: Evaluate and Refine
Assess generated solutions against technical feasibility, cost, manufacturability, and market needs. Refine promising concepts into detailed designs worth prototyping.
TRIZ vs Other Innovation Methods
TRIZ vs SCAMPER
SCAMPER provides seven general creative directions; TRIZ provides 40 specific technical strategies based on patent analysis. Use SCAMPER for broad ideation and initial exploration. Use TRIZ when you face specific technical contradictions or need to solve defined engineering problems. TRIZ is more analytical and systematic; SCAMPER is more intuitive and accessible.
TRIZ vs Design Thinking
Design Thinking focuses on user needs and iterative prototyping; TRIZ focuses on technical problem-solving and systematic innovation. Design Thinking asks "What do users need?" TRIZ asks "How can we solve technical contradictions?" Best practice: Use Design Thinking to identify problems worth solving, then use TRIZ to solve the technical challenges that emerge.
TRIZ vs Brainstorming
Brainstorming generates random ideas through free association; TRIZ provides structured guidance based on proven patterns. Brainstorming says "think of ideas"; TRIZ says "here's how 200,000 successful inventions solved similar problems." TRIZ is particularly superior for complex technical problems where random ideation rarely finds optimal solutions.
When to Use TRIZ
Use TRIZ when you face technical contradictions, when brainstorming has stalled, when you need systematic solution exploration, when developing complex engineering systems, or when you want to leverage historical innovation patterns. TRIZ is essential for professional engineering innovation.
TRIZ and Patent Development
Since TRIZ is derived from patent analysis, it's exceptionally valuable for generating patentable innovations. Here's why:
TRIZ Generates Non-Obvious Solutions
Patent eligibility requires novelty and non-obviousness. TRIZ principles guide you beyond obvious solutions to approaches that are non-obvious yet proven effective. Applying principle 13 (Inversion) or principle 28 (Mechanics Substitution) often generates solutions that meet patent criteria.
TRIZ Reveals Multiple Patent Opportunities
Each TRIZ principle applied to a problem can generate separately patentable solutions. A single technical challenge might yield 10-15 different approaches through systematic TRIZ application, each potentially patentable.
TRIZ Helps Avoid Prior Art
By showing how similar problems were solved historically, TRIZ helps you identify solution paths already taken (and therefore potentially protected by existing patents) versus unexplored approaches that might be patentable.
TRIZ Builds Patent Families
Applying multiple TRIZ principles to the same problem generates related but distinct solutions - perfect for building patent families that protect core innovations from multiple angles.
Common TRIZ Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Applying TRIZ Too Literally
TRIZ principles are patterns, not recipes. Don't expect direct application - translate principles to your context. Segmentation doesn't mean literally cutting things apart; it means finding ways to make systems more modular or manageable.
Mistake 2: Stopping at One Principle
Apply multiple principles to each problem. The first principle might not generate the best solution. Systematic exploration through many principles reveals the full solution space.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Cross-Industry Examples
TRIZ's power comes from cross-pollination. Don't limit yourself to your industry. Aerospace solutions might solve consumer product problems; medical device innovations might apply to industrial equipment.
Mistake 4: Forcing TRIZ on Every Problem
TRIZ excels at technical contradictions but isn't always the best tool. For user experience issues, try Design Thinking. For quick ideation, try SCAMPER. For systematic combination exploration, try Morphological Analysis. Use the right tool for each problem.
Mistake 5: Working Solo
TRIZ benefits from diverse perspectives. Different engineers interpret principles differently, generating more comprehensive solutions. Collaborate across disciplines for best results.
About the TRIZ Tool Creator
This TRIZ tool was created by Richard Jones, a design engineer with 100+ patents and 30+ years of professional product development experience. Throughout his career at DeWalt, Black & Decker, Stanley, and ResMed, Richard has used TRIZ extensively to resolve technical contradictions and generate patentable innovations across power tools, medical devices, and consumer products.
Richard's approach integrates TRIZ with other professional methodologies including SCAMPER, Design Thinking, and Morphological Analysis. This tool represents decades of experience applying systematic innovation methods in real-world engineering environments where innovations must be not just creative, but also technically feasible, commercially viable, and patentable.
All innovation tools on InventionPath are free to use with no subscriptions or registrations required, representing Richard's commitment to sharing professional-grade invention methodologies with aspiring inventors, engineers, and entrepreneurs worldwide.