The Productive Discomfort — Tension Architecture trigger illustration
L4
TENSION ARCHITECTURE

THE PRODUCTIVE DISCOMFORT

MECHANISM

Make them slightly uncomfortable in a way that leads to your solution.

? THE QUESTION

"What helpful discomfort can we create?"

PROCESS

Work through these questions to generate ideas:

  1. What should they be worrying about that they're not?
  2. What comfort zone should they question?
  3. What complacency costs them?
  4. What safe choice is actually risky?

EXAMPLES

Ideas in this space might look like:

  • Life insurance showing your children at your funeral—with no coverage
  • Cybersecurity showing the breach that happens during your confidence
  • Dental ad showing the small cavity you're currently ignoring
  • 'Your mattress has 10 million dust mites. Sleep tight.'

HOW IT WORKS

Your Product
YOUR PRODUCT
+
THE QUESTION
"What helpful discomfort can we create?"
=
Breakthrough Idea
BREAKTHROUGH IDEA

REAL WORLD EXAMPLES

13

"What helpful discomfort can we create?"