Create ideas using: Spacetime Warp
Distort space and time. Take an element (a person, a product, or a behavior) and drag it into a time, place, or social context where it absolutely does not belong. By creating this "glitch in the matrix," you bypass logical filters to reveal deep human insights and hidden product benefits.
How do I choose what to "warp" to make it meaningful?
Look for the ultimate contrast. You can perform a Temporal Warp (shifting time) or a Contextual Warp (shifting social stereotypes). The goal is to highlight a specific attribute by placing it in an environment that shouldn't support it. If the shift reveals something new about how we communicate, what we value, or how a product solves a problem, the warp is successful.
What if warping just makes everything confusing?
Then you didn't explain the connection well enough, or the warp doesn't actually make sense. The new context should feel surprising but logical once you understand it. Like putting Instagram likes on real clothing--weird at first, makes sense once you get the social proof angle. If it stays weird, you moved the wrong thing.
Example: How it could look
The "Ancient Digital" Warp: Imagine the Fall of Troy or a Shakespearean tragedy played out entirely through a WhatsApp Group Chat. Insight: It reveals that while technology changes, the raw nature of human drama, jealousy, and urgency remains identical. It makes "old" stories feel immediate and relatable.
The "Anachronistic Service" Warp: A medieval knight, exhausted after a long crusade because his horse collapsed, pulls out a smartphone and orders an Uber. Insight: This highlights the core benefit of modern on-demand services—reliability and convenience—by showing how even the most legendary struggles could be solved by your brand.
The "Stereotype Displacement" Warp: A massive, tattooed bodybuilder sitting comfortably in a delicate, pastel-pink nail studio getting a manicure. Insight: This contrast can reveal a product's versatility or break down barriers regarding who "should" use a service. It humanizes the brand and grabs attention through pure visual shock.
Or like this:
Why is Spacetime Warp a great technique?
It uses the "Fish out of Water" effect to force the audience to see a familiar object with fresh eyes.
Breaks Mental Autopilot: People can't ignore a knight in a Toyota or a Greek God using emojis.
Identifies "Human Truths": Moving a modern struggle to the past (or vice versa) proves that your solution addresses a timeless need.
Instant PR Value: These concepts are inherently "sticky" and shareable because they are visually and intellectually surprising.
Highlights Product Strengths: By removing the "logical" environment, you focus purely on the benefit (e.g., speed, durability, comfort).
! When not to use the Spacetime Warp Technique
Avoid warping just for the sake of being "random." If you put a Viking in a space station but it doesn't tell us anything about the Viking's strength or the space station's technology, it's just noise. Every warp must have a "so what?"—a clear reason why this specific displacement reveals a new truth.