Haiku Me Harder
Haiku Me Harder is a fast-paced, hilarious card game that combines creativity, humor, and poetry in a way you’ve never seen before. Players craft witty, unexpected haikus using line cards to respond to wild and clever prompts, all while competing to impress their fellow players. It’s a game where your imagination takes center stage, your words make people laugh (or blush), and the art of the haiku becomes the ultimate tool for fun.
The Idea: Combining Poetry and Competitive Gaming
The inspiration for Haiku Me Harder came to me while playing Cards Against Humanity. One challenge I noticed was that the judge would read the cards aloud, often missing the tone I intended. I wanted to create a game where players could own their voices and bring their interpretations to life. As a lover of poetry slams and competitive games, I saw an opportunity to combine these passions into a unique haiku card game that celebrated creativity, humor, and the art of performance.
The inspiration for Haiku Me Harder came to me while playing Cards Against Humanity. One challenge I noticed was that the judge would read the cards aloud, often missing the tone I intended. I wanted to create a game where players could own their voices and bring their interpretations to life. As a lover of poetry slams and competitive games, I saw an opportunity to combine these passions into a unique haiku card game that celebrated creativity, humor, and the art of performance.
Building a Card Game / The Process
Brainstorming and Initial Validation
I shared my idea with my executive coach, who encouraged me to move forward and start building. This validated the concept and reinforced that the only way to test an idea's viability is by taking action.
I shared my idea with my executive coach, who encouraged me to move forward and start building. This validated the concept and reinforced that the only way to test an idea's viability is by taking action.
Content Generation and Refinement
To begin, I used ChatGPT to generate 20 "dirty poetry prompts" as a base. After reviewing and refining the results, I curated a list of clever, provocative prompts. This iterative editing process ensured the content was both engaging and appropriate for the tone of the game.
To begin, I used ChatGPT to generate 20 "dirty poetry prompts" as a base. After reviewing and refining the results, I curated a list of clever, provocative prompts. This iterative editing process ensured the content was both engaging and appropriate for the tone of the game.
I organized the content in an Excel sheet, creating columns for 5-syllable lines, 7-syllable lines, and poem prompts. This structure allowed me to experiment with combinations, balancing humor, cleverness, and creativity.
Design Exploration
I moved into visual design, exploring a color palette and typography that suited the playful yet edgy tone of the game. Using Pinterest, Coolors, and Dribbble for inspiration, I selected hex codes and later converted them to Pantone colors for print.
I moved into visual design, exploring a color palette and typography that suited the playful yet edgy tone of the game. Using Pinterest, Coolors, and Dribbble for inspiration, I selected hex codes and later converted them to Pantone colors for print.
I then translated these design elements into early card mockups. Knowing the cards would be printed at 2.5"x3.5", I created a precise layout in sheets, testing the copy and design to ensure readability and aesthetic balance.
Prototyping and Printing
Once the card designs were finalized, I filled them with the haiku lines from my spreadsheet and prepared them for printing. Within a week of the initial idea, I had the first round of cards printed and ready for testing.
Once the card designs were finalized, I filled them with the haiku lines from my spreadsheet and prepared them for printing. Within a week of the initial idea, I had the first round of cards printed and ready for testing.
User Testing
Testing Haiku Me Harder was one of the most rewarding parts of the process. I gathered friends at homes, restaurants, and breweries, setting the stage for a casual, lively atmosphere where the game could shine. As prompts were flipped and haikus constructed, the room filled with laughter and excitement. I watched as players debated the best lines, shared their interpretations, and fully engaged with the spirit of the game.
To ensure thorough feedback, I guided the playtests with a structured approach:
Observation: I noted how players interacted with the prompts and line cards, observing moments of hesitation or confusion.
Feedback Sessions: After each round, I facilitated a quick debrief, asking players what they loved, what felt awkward, and any suggestions for improvement.
Iterative Adjustments: Between sessions, I made small tweaks to the content and rules, ensuring the next playtest would refine the experience further.
These sessions not only helped me identify areas for improvement but also validated the joy and engagement the game brought to players.
Observation: During user testing, I noticed a recurring point of confusion: players were struggling to understand the 5-7-5 haiku format and how to correctly order the cards. Recognizing this as a usability issue, I returned to the drawing board to refine the visual hierarchy and interaction cues on each card. I explored multiple layout variations and introduced subtle design prompts to guide players through the haiku structure intuitively. After iterating on the design, I conducted another round of testing to validate the changes, resulting in a smoother, more engaging user experience.
Box Design
I kicked off the design process the way any designer with a sense of humor and a Pinterest account would: by diving into inspiration from other card games, collector sets, and indie Kickstarter hits. I studied structure, form, and materials, and used that research to guide what would feel most fun (and most filthy) for Haiku Me Harder.
I also thought ahead: depending on the game’s success, I can expand into other themed deck sizes and variations in future launches. (Yes, I already have expansion packs and bachelorette editions in mind.)
Once the structural decision was made, I mocked up the box to align with the brand's tone, bold typography, color that pops on shelves (and in group chats), and messaging that turns heads and raises eyebrows. Every detail, from copy to construction, was designed to reflect the unapologetic fun and filthy creativity of the game itself.
