Dumb-Thinking Tools

A curated collection of mental models to help you think "dumb".

Unseen Perspective

A mental model for finding hidden solutions by changing how you look at a problem.

What it is

The Unseen Perspective is about solving problems by shifting the way you look at them. When we’re stuck, it’s often because we’re seeing things from only one angle—our own. But by stepping into a different mindset, industry, or worldview, we can uncover solutions that were invisible before. Sometimes, the key to innovation is simply seeing what others overlook.

When to use it

When you’re stuck on a problem and can’t see a way forward.
When traditional solutions aren’t working.
When you need a fresh approach to an old challenge.
When you want to borrow insights from other industries or fields.

How it works

Step Outside Your Field

How would someone from a completely different industry solve this?

Look at It from the Opposite Side

What if you were the customer, not the creator?

Adopt an Unlikely Mindset

What would a child, artist, or outsider notice that you don’t?

Reframe the Problem

Are you solving the right issue, or is there a deeper one underneath?

Find Analogies in Unrelated Areas

What similar challenge exists in nature, history, or another industry?

Example 1

How an Anthropologist Revolutionized Retail Design

Problem

Retailers were unknowingly creating shopping environments that made customers uncomfortable, leading to lost sales.

Unseen Perspective Question

“How do environmental factors influence shopping behavior?”

Breakthrough

Retail anthropologist Paco Underhill studied how shoppers interacted with store layouts and discovered hidden issues, such as the "butt-brush effect"—when shoppers (especially women) felt crowded in narrow aisles, they would leave the area instead of browsing. Retailers adjusted store designs, widened aisles, and improved layouts, leading to increased sales.

Example 2

NASA and Whale Sharks

Problem

Marine biologists struggled to track individual whale sharks because they lacked distinct markings.

Unseen Perspective Question

“What if we identified whale sharks the same way astronomers map stars?”

Breakthrough

Scientists adapted NASA’s star-mapping software to recognize the unique spot patterns on each whale shark, allowing for easy tracking and conservation efforts. The solution came from an entirely different field—astronomy—because someone thought to look outside their usual perspective.

Why it works

✓ Helps break through tunnel vision by forcing a fresh perspective.

✓ Uncovers solutions that experts often miss due to ingrained assumptions.

✓ Encourages borrowing ideas from unexpected places.

Tips for applying

👉️ Ask: “How would a child, artist, or total outsider solve this?”

👉️ Look at how a completely different industry tackles a similar problem.

👉️ Try “Role Reversal”: Imagine you’re the user, the competitor, or even the obstacle itself..

👉️ Study nature—biomimicry has led to some of the world’s best innovations.”

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