Ever felt stuck when trying to solve a complex problem? You’re not alone. Many creative thinkers face the challenge of generating genuinely innovative solutions. But what if there was a method—a roadmap—that guides you toward breakthrough ideas?

Developed by inventor and engineer Genrich Altshuller, this method is a system of tools and principles designed to solve problems creatively and systematically. Altshuller analyzed thousands of patents and discovered that most inventions follow patterns—patterns anyone can use to solve their own challenges.

“Creativity is not magic; it’s a process. TRIZ is a map that guides you through it.” Genrich Altshuller

Unlike traditional brainstorming, this method doesn’t rely on randomness. It’s a structured approach that helps you break through creative blocks and find solutions by understanding patterns of invention.

In this post, we’ll explore the five key principles of TRIZ and how they can supercharge your creativity—whether you’re solving technical challenges, business problems, or personal dilemmas.

What is TRIZ? The Science of Creative Problem-Solving

TRIZ stands for “Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadach,” which translates to the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. Developed in the 1940s by inventor Genrich Altshuller, this methodology systematically solves problems creatively. Unlike brainstorming or trial-and-error approaches, it is rooted in logic, patterns, and the analysis of successful innovations.

Altshuller and his team analyzed over 200,000 patents, discovering that most inventive solutions follow predictable patterns rather than random flashes of inspiration. From this research, he identified common principles and strategies innovators use—principles anyone can apply to solve problems creatively.

“Innovation is not about luck; it’s about learning patterns of success.” Genrich Altshuller

1. Contradiction Resolution

At its heart, it is based on the concept that problems and solutions repeat across industries and disciplines, but the solutions often share common patterns. Once you recognize these patterns, you can apply them to your own challenges.

TRIZ also emphasizes contradictions—situations where two opposing needs conflict (e.g., a device must be strong but lightweight). Instead of compromising, TRIZ teaches you to resolve contradictions creatively.

The 5 Key Principles for Creativity

TRIZ offers powerful principles for breaking through creative blocks and solving complex problems. Let’s explore five core TRIZ principles and how they drive innovation with practical examples.

1. Contradiction Resolution

One of the most powerful ideas in TRIZ is that problems arise from contradictions—two opposing requirements that seem impossible to resolve. Instead of compromising, TRIZ seeks to eliminate contradictions creatively.

Types of Contradictions:

• Technical Contradiction: Two technical requirements conflict (e.g., a phone should be both powerful and lightweight).
• Physical Contradiction: The same object needs conflicting properties (e.g., a car hood should be rigid for safety but soft for pedestrian impact).

Example: An electronics company needed batteries that were small but lasted longer. They applied the principle of ‘Segmentation’ (breaking a component into parts) and developed a modular battery system, combining multiple small cells to increase lifespan without increasing size.

2. Ideality: Aim for the Perfect Solution

TRIZ encourages you to envision the ideal outcome—a solution that delivers maximum benefit with zero cost or harm. Even if perfection is unreachable, aiming for it guides your creativity.

Formula for Ideality: Ideality = (Useful Functions) / (Harm + Costs)

Example: The invention of self-cleaning windows uses a special coating that breaks down dirt in sunlight and washes away with rain. This solution provides the benefit of cleanliness without extra cost or effort, a step toward ideality.

3. Resource Utilization: Use What You Already Have

It teach that everything in a system is a potential resource—including space, time, materials, and even waste.

Example: When combining this method with Morphological Analysis, a team sought to reduce packaging waste. They used air (an abundant resource) to create inflatable protective packaging, eliminating the need for plastic or foam while saving costs and space.

4. The 40 Inventive Principles

A cornerstone of TRIZ is the 40 Inventive Principles, which are patterns of problem-solving found in successful inventions. Here are three impactful principles:

• Segmentation: Break a system into parts to improve flexibility. (E.g., modular furniture that can be reconfigured)
• Merging: Combine functions into one element. (E.g., a smartphone that merges a phone, camera, and GPS)
• Prior Action: Perform an action in advance to simplify the process. (E.g., pre-filled tax forms for faster filing)

These principles guide creative solutions, helping you solve problems systematically rather than guessing.

5. Thinking in Patterns of Evolution

TRIZ suggests that all systems evolve in predictable patterns. Knowing these patterns helps you anticipate future trends and innovate proactively.

Patterns of Evolution:

• From simple to complex (e.g., phones evolving into smartphones)
• From rigid to flexible (e.g., foldable screens)
• From uniform to segmented (e.g., multi-core processors)

Example: A wearable tech startup used TRIZ to predict that smartwatches would evolve from fitness trackers to health monitors with medical-grade sensors, enabling them to develop a breakthrough feature before competitors.

TRIZ vs. Other Creative Tools:

• SCAMPER encourages creativity by modifying existing ideas (e.g., Substitute, Combine, Adapt).
• Morphological Analysis breaks a problem into components and explores all possible solutions.
• TRIZ, however, goes beyond brainstorming; it offers structured patterns and principles for solving contradictions and predicting future innovations.

Together, these tools can complement each other, with TRIZ providing a scientific backbone for creative thinking.

Together, these tools can create a powerful creativity toolkit:

• Use SCAMPER for quick ideation.
• Apply Morphological Analysis for solution mapping.
• Use TRIZ to solve complex, high-stakes problems.

Practical Applications of TRIZ in Personal and Professional Life

TRIZ isn’t just for engineers or inventors. Its principles can transform problem-solving in business, leadership, and personal development, making it a valuable tool for creative thinkers and managers alike. Here are practical ways to apply TRIZ in different contexts.

1. For Managers and Teams

In business, challenges often involve speed vs. quality or cost vs. innovation. TRIZ helps managers resolve these contradictions without compromise.

Example: A project manager faced delays because quality checks slowed production. Using the TRIZ principle of ‘Prior Action’, the team automated parts of the quality control process before production began, speeding up output without reducing quality.

How Managers Can Use TRIZ:
✅ Run TRIZ-based brainstorming sessions.
✅ Resolve team conflicts by identifying contradictions.
✅ Use TRIZ principles to design efficient workflows.

2. For Entrepreneurs and Innovators

Entrepreneurs often face resource constraints. TRIZ encourages them to use existing resources creatively and seek innovative solutions to market needs.

Example: A startup wanted eco-friendly packaging but couldn’t afford biodegradable plastics. They designed packaging from recycled agricultural waste using TRIZ’s ‘Resource Utilization,’ creating a low-cost and sustainable solution.

How Entrepreneurs Can Use TRIZ:
✅ Identify customer pain points and contradictions.
✅ Use TRIZ patterns to generate product ideas.
✅ Solve production challenges with inventive principles.

3. For Personal Development and Everyday Problem-Solving

TRIZ isn’t limited to business; it can help solve personal and everyday problems by approaching them creatively.

Example: A freelancer struggled to maintain a work-life balance. Using TRIZ’s ‘Segmentation’ principle, they divided their day into work sprints and personal recharge breaks, boosting both productivity and relaxation.

How to Use TRIZ in Daily Life:
✅ Use TRIZ to break through mental blocks.
✅ Approach personal challenges as contradictions to solve.
✅ Practice TRIZ patterns to enhance decision-making.

How to Start Using TRIZ for Creative Problem-Solving

Getting started doesn’t require an engineering degree or a technical background. The key is to follow its structured approach and gradually integrate its principles into your problem-solving process. Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Identify the Problem and Its Contradictions

Start by clearly defining the problem. If possible, frame it as a contradiction—where two opposing requirements conflict.

Example: You want your blog to be highly informative and quick to read. (Informative vs. Concise)

Step 2: Map the Problem Using TRIZ Principles

Select relevant principles to solve the contradiction. You can consult the 40 Inventive Principles (see next section) or use the most common patterns:

• Segmentation: Break content into shorter articles or a series.
• Merging: Add infographics to convey information quickly.
• Prior Action: Offer summaries before detailed sections.

Step 3: Generate and Evaluate Solutions

Brainstorm multiple solutions based on the principles you selected. The framework will guide your creativity beyond typical ideas.

Step 4: Test and Refine Your Solutions

Experiment with the solutions, collect feedback and adjust your approach. TRIZ encourages iteration, which improves solutions by resolving new contradictions that arise.

📌 Example of TRIZ Problem-Solving in Action:

A coffee shop wanted faster service without losing the personal touch customers valued (Speed vs. Experience). Using TRIZ:

• They implemented ‘Prior Action’ by allowing mobile orders in advance.
• They used ‘Merging’ by having baristas greet customers by name from their orders.
• They achieved both speed and a personal experience.

✅ TRIZ Cheat Sheet for Beginners:

• Contradiction? Find what’s in conflict.
• Resource? Use what you already have.
• Test & Iterate!
• Principles? Consult TRIZ patterns.
• Test & Iterate!

Detailed Breakdown of the 40 TRIZ Inventive Principles

A. Principles for Splitting, Merging, and Reorganizing (1–13)

1. Segmentation: Break a system into parts.
   Example: Modular furniture (sofas that can be rearranged).
2. Taking Out: Remove an unnecessary part.
   Example: Wireless earbuds (removing cords).
3. Local Quality: Make parts of a system perform specialized functions.
   Example: A razor with multiple blades designed for different cutting angles.
4. Asymmetry: Change the shape or properties to improve function.
   Example: Ergonomic handles on tools.
5. Merging: Combine identical or similar objects or operations.
   Example: A smartphone (phone + camera + computer).
6. Universality: Make a component perform multiple functions.
   Example: A Swiss Army knife.
7. Nesting (Matryoshka Principle): Place objects inside one another.
   Example: Stackable chairs.
8. Counterweight: Balance one force with another.
   Example: Elevators using counterweights.
9. Prior Action: Perform an action before it is needed.
   Example: Auto-save in document editors.
10. Preliminary Cushioning: Prepare for possible failures in advance.
    Example: Airbags in cars.
11. Cushion in Advance: Compensate for low reliability by using backups.
    Example: Redundant servers in cloud computing.
12. Equipotentiality: Reduce or eliminate differences in physical properties.
    Example: Anti-glare coatings on screens.
13. Do It in Reverse: Perform actions in the opposite order.
    Example: Reversible jackets.

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⚙️ B. Principles for Resource Utilization and Adaptation (14–25)

14. Spheroidality: Use curves instead of flat surfaces.
    Example: Aerodynamic car designs.
15. Dynamicity: Allow parts to adjust for better performance.
    Example: Adjustable office chairs.
16. Partial or Excessive Action: Perform more or less than required.
    Example: Double exposures in photography for artistic effect.
17. Transition to Another Dimension: Use three-dimensional space.
    Example: Foldable screens in smartphones.
18. Mechanical Vibration: Use vibrations to perform a task.
    Example: Electric toothbrushes.
19. Periodic Action: Use intervals or pulses.
    Example: Drip irrigation systems.
20. Continuity of Useful Action: Keep a process going without interruption.
    Example: Continuous conveyor belts in factories.
21. Skipping: Omit an intermediate step.
    Example: Direct-to-consumer sales eliminating retail stores.
22. Feedback: Use the results of a process to improve it.
    Example: Smart thermostats adjusting based on usage patterns.
23. Feedback: Use the results of a process to improve it.
    Example: Smart thermostats adjusting based on usage patterns.
24. Mediator: Use an intermediary object to solve a problem.
    Example: Delivery apps connecting customers and restaurants.
25. Self-Service: Make the system perform useful functions on its own.
    Example: Self-checkout counters.

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💡 C. Principles for Changing Conditions, Structures, and Processes (26–35)

26. Copying: Use a copy instead of the original.
    Example: Virtual reality simulations.
27. Cheap Short-Living Objects: Replace expensive, durable items with inexpensive disposables.
    Example: Disposable razors.
28. Replacement of Mechanical Systems: Use fields (magnetic, electric, thermal) instead of mechanical parts.
    Example: Wireless charging.
29. Pneumatics and Hydraulics: Use gases or liquids instead of solid parts.
    Example: Hydraulic car brakes.
30. Flexible Shells and Thin Films: Use thin coverings instead of rigid structures.
    Example: Softshell jackets with water-resistant membranes.
31. Porous Materials: Use materials with holes.
    Example: Memory foam.
32. Color Changes: Change color to indicate status or serve a function.
    Example: Heat-sensitive baby spoons.
33. Rejecting and Regenerating Parts: Automatically discard or regenerate parts.
    Example: Self-sharpening knife blocks.
34. Rejecting and Regenerating Parts: Automatically discard or regenerate parts.
    Example: Self-sharpening knife blocks.
35. Parameter Changes: Change physical properties of a system.
    Example: Transition lenses in glasses that darken in sunlight.

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🚀 D. Principles for System Evolution and Interaction (36–40)

36. Phase Transitions: Use phase changes (solid, liquid, gas).
    Example: Refrigerators using phase-change cooling.
37. Thermal Expansion: Use expansion from heating to perform a function.
    Example: Thermostats.
38. Accelerated Oxidation: Speed up chemical reactions.
    Example: Catalytic converters in cars.
39. Inert Environment: Perform processes in a neutral environment.
    Example: Vacuum-sealed packaging to preserve freshness.
40. Composite Materials: Use combinations of materials for better properties.
    Example: Carbon fiber in bicycles.

🛠 Example Using Multiple Principles:

Problem: Delivery drones must carry more weight but can’t get heavier.
Contradiction: Increase capacity without adding weight.

• Segmentation (#1): Use multiple small drones flying together.
• Nesting (#7): Store drones within a larger carrier that deploys them individually.
• Resource Utilization (#23 – Feedback): Use wind currents (a natural resource) to assist flight.
• Composite Materials (#40): Build the frame from lightweight carbon fiber.

Result: A high-capacity, efficient drone delivery system that resolves the contradiction creatively.

Final Thoughts

TRIZ isn’t just a tool for engineers or inventors—it’s a mindset anyone can adopt to solve problems creatively and systematically. By learning to identify contradictions, utilize resources, and apply patterns of innovation, you unlock a new level of creative thinking that transcends traditional brainstorming.

“Innovation is seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” – Albert Szent-Györgyi

Famous Real-World Examples of TRIZ in Action

To inspire you, here are two famous examples of how TRIZ has driven groundbreaking innovations:

🚘 1. Ford Motor Company – Reducing Car Door Noise (Using Principle #2: Taking Out and Principle #35: Parameter Changes)

Problem: Ford engineers faced customer complaints about the “thunk” noise when car doors closed. The challenge was to reduce the noise without adding more materials (which would increase cost and weight).

TRIZ Solution:

• Taking Out (#2): Instead of adding soundproofing, they removed unnecessary cavities inside the door that amplified noise.
• Parameter Changes (#35): The internal structure and materials of the door were adjusted to absorb sound more effectively.

Result: A quieter door without extra cost or weight—an innovative solution driven by TRIZ principles.

📸 2. Kodak – Inventing the Digital Camera (Using Principle #15: Dynamicity and Principle #17: Transition to Another Dimension)

Problem: In the 1970s, Kodak sought to explore digital imaging technology but faced contradictions: How could images be created without film, the core of their business?

TRIZ Solution:

• Dynamicity (#15): They developed a camera that stored images digitally on magnetic tape, eliminating the need for film.
• Transition to Another Dimension (#17): They shifted from a two-dimensional film to a three-dimensional digital data system.

Result: Kodak engineer Steve Sasson invented the first digital camera, revolutionizing photography forever. Despite Kodak’s later business missteps, this invention was a direct product of TRIZ-style problem-solving.

Key Takeaways from This Post:

✅ TRIZ offers a structured approach to creativity, helping you resolve contradictions without compromise.
✅ The 5 Principles of TRIZ guide you to solutions by focusing on contradictions, ideality, resources, patterns, and inventive principles.
✅ The 40 TRIZ Principles are a practical toolbox to solve problems creatively in any field.
✅ TRIZ is a powerful tool for teams, managers, entrepreneurs, and personal development.

Creativity isn’t guesswork—it’s a skill that grows with the right tools. With TRIZ in your creative toolkit, you’ll break through blocks, solve contradictions, and consistently produce innovative solutions. Start applying these principles, and you’ll discover that creativity truly is a process anyone can master.