Memes
A meme generator and templates that help sum up an idea with humour.
A meme as the summary of an idea
A meme is a condensed form of communication: an image with text sums up a problem and lightens the mood. The term comes from Richard Dawkins, who used it for the cultural counterpart of a gene. Memes are a great way to kick off the Discover stage.
Templates you can suggest to students include Roll Safe, The World If, American Chopper Argument, Swole Doge vs. Cheems and Galaxy Brain. Meme generator →
- 1Ask: what do we know about the problem?To make a meme that hits the mark, the team has to pick out the most important elements of the problem.
- 2Choose a meme templatePick an image that fits that thought.
- 3Caption it and show the groupCheck whether everyone understands the problem the same way, and talk about what surprised you.
Why memes work in design thinking
DistillationThe heart of the problem
A meme requires reducing the problem to its most important elements, which sparks deep reflection under a light form.
AtmosphereStart with a laugh
Humour relaxes the team and makes it easier to talk about difficult topics.
UnderstandingA shared picture
Memes build a shared understanding of the problem within the team.
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