SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis weighs an idea, product or situation by its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
Intermediate◷ 15–30 minFree · no login
What's working for you, and what's working against you?
How to use it + an example
How to use it
- 1Name the product or idea being judged.
- 2Fill the four quadrants, keeping internal (strengths, weaknesses) and external (opportunities, threats) factors apart.
- 3Turn the most important weakness and threat into requirements for the design specification.
Example
A SWOT of an existing reusable cup shows the lid leaks (weakness) and cafés charge less for own cups (opportunity), both of which go into the specification.
When to use it: When analysing existing products during research, or judging a design idea before developing it (MYP Design Criteria A and B).
Define: Say exactly what you're solving.
Your turn ↓
What are you analysing?
Look at one idea from four angles — what's strong, what's weak, what's opening up, what could go wrong. Then decide what to do first.
Look back. Which box was hardest to fill, and why?
Try next
- Affinity DiagramGroup and organize ideas into natural clusters to find themes.Try it free →
- Five WhysDig to the root cause of a problem by asking "why?" five times.Try it free →
- Fishbone DiagramMap all possible causes of a problem in a structured visual.Try it free →
For teachers: Define stage · 15-30m. Free, no login. One of the 45 design thinking tools on StudioLoom, which also puts them inside lessons so students’ thinking is saved with their project.