Guy Holding A Cardboard Sign Meme Template

A man in sunglasses holds a blank cardboard sign above a busy sidewalk. Give an everyday annoyance the seriousness of a public protest.

The raised sign and deadpan expression turn a small complaint into a cause. The strongest captions name something many people recognize but rarely bother saying aloud.

The whole joke belongs on the cardboard. A brief request or observation is enough; the street scene supplies the public-protest setting.

The man is Seth Phillips, known as Dude With Sign. In October 2019, he and Jerry Media founder Elliot Tebele began photographing cardboard-sign complaints in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. The first addressed unnecessary reply-all emails. [1]

The photos developed into a dedicated Instagram series. By early 2020, other users were editing the signs and making parody versions of the format. This blank template lets you supply a new complaint. [1] [2]

Write a short message inside the cardboard, above the man’s head. Keep the hands and sign edges clear.

Use plain wording that could be read by someone passing on the sidewalk. One direct sentence is stronger than a list of grievances.

The everyday protest

Inside the blank cardboard, clear of the hands.

• Keep all the text inside the cardboard.
• Use dark lettering to match a hand-written protest.
• Choose a specific everyday annoyance.
• The man’s expression already provides the deadpan tone.