The story behind the name, Marshmallow Minds
Last Christmas(2015), we found ourselves in Franz Joseph, New Zealand, under unusually warm, clear skies. We set off on a hike by a secluded riverside—surprisingly, we were the only ones there, not even a sheep in sight! (An interesting fact: New Zealand’s human population is about 4.5 million, with 1.5 million in Auckland alone. The rest are spread across the country, while there are an incredible 28 million sheep!)
As we walked, the landscape unfolded around us: rocks scattered across the riverbed, the California-blue skies overhead, the sun beaming down, the water flowing freely, snow-capped mountains standing tall and majestic, and lush greenery as far as the eye could see. Inspired by this breathtaking scenery, I decided to meditate on one of those smooth river rocks. The gushing water, dashing against the stones, and the whistling winds seemed perfectly in sync, creating a natural symphony that accompanied my meditative state.
After the hike, it was time to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate. In New Zealand, it seemed that every place served hot chocolate with marshmallows on the side—not the whipped cream I was accustomed to in the U.S. As I savored the rich, comforting drink, the memory of the Marshmallow Design Challenge from my Stanford Design Thinking program suddenly flashed into my mind. That simple yet powerful exercise had played a significant role in my learning and growth.
I looked down at the two marshmallows on my plate, and in that moment, the dots connected. With a smile, I slipped those marshmallows into my cup and realized that marshmallows aren’t just a candy—they represent an experience. Every project has its own marshmallow, isn’t it?
“I believe it was destiny that brought me closer to you, Marshmallow. I bet it’s going to be a sweet journey with many inspiring Minds!”
(Posting by Harini Senthilvasan, Founder & CEO, Marshmallow Minds)
The Marshmallow Design Challenge
please click on the slideshow below.
Tom Wujec presents some surprisingly deep research into the "marshmallow problem" — a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the average? Watch this video to find out the value of the experience of this simple Marshmallow design challenge.