Impossibility Engineering is a methodology for solving problems that appear to have no solution. It's not about magic or wishful thinking. It's a structured approach to identifying and dismantling the hidden assumptions—the "frame"—that make a problem seem intractable.
The Core Idea: Frame-Lock
We often get stuck not because a problem is truly impossible, but because we are "frame-locked." We operate within a set of rules, constraints, and beliefs that we don't even realize are there. These frames are powerful because they're invisible.
Think of it like trying to solve a maze while wearing glasses that only let you see the dead ends. You'll quickly conclude the maze has no exit. Impossibility Engineering is about taking off those glasses to see the full picture.
Our Mission
This project, an initiative by Hinton Horizon, serves two purposes. First, it's a tool to help you apply these reframing techniques to your own challenges. Our AI advisor is trained to guide you through this process of questioning and discovery.
Second, it is a living research project. We are collecting stories of modern "impossible" problems for an upcoming book. By sharing and analyzing these challenges, we hope to build a public corpus of frame-locks and the creative ways people break them. Our goal is to develop a deeper understanding of innovation, problem-solving, and the very nature of possibility.
So, what's your impossible problem? Let's find its frame.