hugmyndathis

Hugmyndathis is a concept in collaborative ideation and design thinking that emphasizes the rapid generation and immediate evaluation of ideas. The term blends the Icelandic hugmynd, meaning "idea," with the English demonstrative "this," signaling a focus on present, testable propositions rather than distant plans.

The origin of hugmyndathis is debated within design discourse, with no single founder. It is described by practitioners as an approach that foregrounds inclusivity, linguistic framing, and fast feedback loops to keep ideas lightweight and adaptable as they evolve.

Core elements include generating a large volume of ideas, visualizing them through rough sketches or storyboards, organizing concepts into themes, and applying rapid, low-cost experiments to test core assumptions. The process is typically structured around short sessions, collaborative critique, and a bias toward action over exhaustive analysis. Ethical reflection and consideration of feasibility are integrated throughout rather than postponed to later stages.

In practice, hugmyndathis is used in product development, education, and civic design to accelerate ideation cycles and surface underlying assumptions. It is valued for its clarity, public-facing vocabulary, and emphasis on iteration, but it has been criticized for potential vagueness and for relying on a culture that supports rapid feedback, which may not fit all organizational contexts.

See also: design thinking, brainstorming, rapid prototyping.