Thinking Tools/Reversals
Many innovations can be inspired and imagined by reversing the viewpoint, components, users, and other elements of an existing product or solution. Consider how the various reversals listed here might transform an old idea into a new one, identify an opportunity, or offer a new viewpoint that can help reframe a problem.
Cause ↔ Effect
Customer ↔ Supplier
Bottom up ↔ Top down
Emergent ↔ Designed
Social constructs ↔ Brute facts
Distributed ↔ Centralized
Giver ↔ Recipient
Scarce ↔ Abundant
Awful ↔ Awesome
Payer ↔ Collector
Share ↔ Hoard
Talk ↔ Listen
Input ↔ Output
In ↔ Out
Top ↔ Bottom
Upright ↔ Sideways
Left ↔ Right
Big ↔ Small
Close ↔ Distant
Near ↔ Far
Fast ↔ Slow
Strong ↔ Weak
Forward ↔ Backward
Movable ↔ Fixed
Dynamic ↔ Static
Linear ↔ Circular
Linear ↔ Radial
Circular ↔ Spiral
Spiral ↔ Helix
Helix ↔ Möbius strip
Microscope ↔ Telescope
Focused ↔ Circumspect
Complex ↔ Simple
Black ↔ White
Objective ↔ Subjective
Light ↔ Dark
Day ↔ Night
Light ↔ Heavy
Foreground ↔ Background
Forest ↔ Trees
Headline ↔ Footnote
Push ↔ Pull
Assignment ↔ Invitation
Fall ↔ Rise
Obvious ↔ Cryptic
Obvious ↔ Incorrect
Known ↔ Unknown
Master ↔ Slave
Powerful ↔ Powerless
Own ↔ Rent
Democracy ↔ Tyranny
Comedy ↔ Tragedy
Play ↔ Work
Teacher ↔ Student
Teach ↔ Learn
Doctor ↔ Patient
Expert ↔ Novice
Predator ↔ Prey
Victim ↔ Perpetrator
Guilty ↔ Innocent
Male ↔ Female
Rich ↔ Poor
Growing ↔ Shrinking
Fearful ↔ Confident
Timid ↔ Bold
Costly ↔ Free
Constrained ↔ Free
Reader ↔ Writer
Problem ↔ Solution
Good ↔ Bad
Good ↔ Evil
Certain ↔ Unlikely
Rich ↔ Poor
Rough ↔ Smooth
Soft ↔ Hard
Sharp ↔ Round
Edgy ↔ Cozy
Frightening ↔ Comforting
Maximize ↔ Minimize
Negative ↔ Positive
Cost ↔ Benefits
Difficult ↔ Easy
Active ↔ Passive
Accuser ↔ Accused
Competition ↔ Cooperation
Win Win ↔ Zero Sum
Not ↔ Now
Specialize ↔ Generalize
Temporary ↔ Permanent
Aggregate ↔ Separate
Isolate ↔ Congregate
Divide ↔ Unite
Component ↔ System
Minority ↔ Majority
Old ↔ Young
Generous ↔ Greedy
Secret ↔ Transparent
Copyright ↔ Copy left
Kind ↔ Cruel
Helpful ↔ Hurtful
Humble ↔ Arrogant
Vindictive ↔ Compassionate
Authority ↔ Expertise
Loyalty ↔ Fairness
Me ↔ You
Ideological ↔ Empirical
Theory ↔ Practice
Rigid ↔ Flexible
Near ↔ Far
Fast ↔ Slow
Fear ↔ Curiosity
Local ↔ Global
Tribal ↔ Global
War ↔ Peace
Love ↔ Hate
Reification ↔ Instantiation
Symptom ↔ Cause
Power ↔ Reason
Passion ↔ Reason
Anecdote ↔ Representative evidence
Despair ↔ Hope
Advocate ↔ Criticize
Personal ↔ Communal
Strange ↔ Charm
Tuba ↔ Sousaphone
Left-handed ↔ Right-handed
Noun ↔ Verb
Verb ↔ Preposition