Attribute listing is a flexible tool used to brainstorm solutions / innovations for a problem or product. The idea is to break down the subject or subjects into their component features, list the attributes of each of those features, and brainstorm by looking at individual or combinations of attributes. Thinking can happen either by examining individual features and ways to improve them or by mixing and matching different features to create innovative new designs.

In class we listed the attributes of various products designed to change the way we eat, which were brainstormed by the class, and used combinations of these attributes to come up with totally new designs. For example, one combination of attributes we had was giving a personal experience, using a crowdsourcing mechanism, and using a goggle device. One design we came up with was a goggle device that could record you cooking a particular dish and put it online so that people could share recipes.

Here is a helpful link on the subject: http://business-survival-toolkit.co.uk/stage-three/creative-problem-solving/attribute-listing