Lesson 3: Visual Thinking - Communicating Through Images

Introduction

Many people believe that visual communication is reserved for “artistic types” with innate drawing talent. This misconception prevents countless makers from accessing one of the most powerful tools in the creative process: visual thinking. The truth is that effective visual communication doesn’t require artistic skill—it requires visual thinking, which is a learnable process accessible to everyone.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how simple visual techniques can help you capture, develop, and communicate ideas more effectively. You’ll learn basic approaches to sketching, diagramming, and visual planning that will enhance your creative process, regardless of your perceived drawing ability.

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to: - Use basic sketching techniques to capture and develop ideas - Create visual notes and idea maps to organize your thinking - Develop simple diagrams to plan projects and solve problems - Build mood boards to collect and communicate visual inspiration - Use storyboarding to plan sequential creative work

Basic Sketching for Non-Artists

Let’s start by demystifying sketching and making it accessible to everyone:

The Purpose of Sketching in Making

Sketching serves several crucial functions in the creative process:

1. Externalization: Getting ideas out of your head and into the world
2. Clarification: Making vague concepts more concrete and specific
3. Communication: Sharing ideas with others more effectively than words alone
4. Exploration: Testing multiple approaches quickly and cheaply
5. Memory aid: Creating visual references for future development

Notice that “making beautiful drawings” isn’t on this list. In creative sketching, function trumps form—the goal is communication, not artistic excellence.

The Five-Minute Sketch Approach

Even if you “can’t draw,” you can learn to create useful sketches:

1. Start with basic shapes: Most objects can be broken down into circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles
2. Add connecting lines: Show how the basic shapes relate to each other
3. Include only essential details: Focus on the elements that matter for your purpose
4. Use labels and notes: Clarify anything that isn’t visually obvious
5. Embrace imperfection: Remember that usefulness matters more than beauty

This approach prioritizes speed and clarity over artistic refinement, making it accessible to everyone.

Essential Sketching Vocabulary

Develop a personal visual vocabulary of simple elements you can combine:

1. Basic shapes: Circles, squares, triangles, rectangles
2. Lines: Straight, curved, thick, thin, dashed
3. Arrows: Showing direction, movement, or connection
4. Simple symbols: Stars, hearts, speech bubbles, etc.
5. Basic human figures: Stick figures or simple blob people
6. Containers: Boxes, circles, or clouds to group related elements

These simple components can be combined to communicate surprisingly complex ideas.

Sketching Practice: Object Simplification

Try this exercise to build your visual vocabulary:

1. Choose five everyday objects in your environment
2. For each object, create a 30-second sketch using only basic shapes
3. Simplify each object to its most essential elements
4. Compare your sketches to see which elements effectively communicate the object’s identity
5. Create a “second draft” of each sketch, refining your approach based on what you learned

This practice helps you develop the ability to capture the essence of objects quickly, which is more useful for creative thinking than detailed rendering.

Visual Note-Taking and Idea Mapping

Now let’s explore how visual techniques can help organize and develop your thinking:

Visual Note-Taking Basics

Visual notes combine text, images, and structure to capture information more effectively than text alone:

1. Use a hierarchy: Indicate importance through size, placement, or emphasis
2. Combine words and images: Use simple visuals to reinforce key concepts
3. Create connections: Show relationships with lines, arrows, or proximity
4. Use containers: Group related information in boxes, circles, or other shapes
5. Add emphasis: Highlight important elements with color, size, or special treatment

This approach engages more of your brain than text-only notes, improving both understanding and recall.

Idea Mapping Techniques

Idea maps (also called mind maps) are powerful tools for exploring and organizing thoughts:

1. Start with your central topic or challenge in the middle of the page
2. Create main branches for major categories or aspects
3. Add smaller branches for details, examples, or related concepts
4. Use simple images to reinforce key points
5. Add color to organize information or highlight connections
6. Review your map to identify patterns or insights

Unlike linear notes, idea maps mimic how your brain naturally connects concepts, often revealing unexpected relationships.

The Cornell Method for Creative Projects

Adapt the classic Cornell note-taking system for creative work:

1. Divide your page into three sections:
• A narrow left column for key questions or problems
• A wide right column for sketches, notes, and ideas
• A bottom section for summaries and next actions
2. Use the left column to pose questions your project needs to address
3. Use the right column for exploration and ideation
4. Use the bottom section to capture decisions and action items

This structured approach helps balance creative exploration with practical progress.

Visual Thinking Practice: Idea Mapping

Try this exercise to practice visual organization of ideas:

1. Choose a creative project or challenge you’re considering
2. Create an idea map starting with this central topic
3. Add at least five main branches for different aspects or approaches
4. Develop each branch with at least three specific ideas or elements
5. Use simple visuals to reinforce key concepts
6. Look for connections between different branches
7. Highlight the most promising pathways for development

This practice helps you explore ideas more thoroughly while maintaining a view of the whole system.

Simple Diagrams for Project Planning

Diagrams help you visualize relationships, processes, and structures:

Types of Useful Diagrams

Different diagram types serve different planning needs:

1. Flowcharts: Show sequences of steps or decision points
2. Venn diagrams: Illustrate overlaps and relationships between concepts
3. Matrices: Compare options across multiple variables
4. Timelines: Visualize sequences and durations
5. Hierarchies: Show organizational structures or priorities

Each type provides a different lens for understanding your project.

The 2x2 Matrix for Decision Making

This simple but powerful diagram helps evaluate options:

1. Draw a square divided into four quadrants
2. Label the horizontal axis with one important variable (e.g., cost, difficulty)
3. Label the vertical axis with another important variable (e.g., impact, appeal)
4. Place your options in the appropriate quadrants
5. Use this visual organization to identify the most promising choices

This approach transforms complex decisions into clearer visual patterns.

Process Mapping for Project Planning

Visualize the steps in your creative process:

1. Identify the starting point and end goal of your project
2. Break the process into distinct stages or activities
3. Arrange these in sequence, using arrows to show flow
4. Identify decision points where different paths might be taken
5. Note resources needed at each stage
6. Highlight potential bottlenecks or challenges

This visual approach helps you see the entire project journey before you begin.

Diagram Practice: Process Mapping

Try this exercise to practice visual project planning:

1. Choose a creative project you’re considering
2. Create a simple process map showing the major stages from start to finish
3. Include decision points where you’ll need to make choices
4. Note resources or skills needed at each stage
5. Identify potential challenges or bottlenecks
6. Use this visual plan to assess feasibility and preparation needs

This practice helps you think through projects more thoroughly before committing resources.

Creating Mood Boards and Visual References

Mood boards help collect and communicate aesthetic direction:

The Purpose of Mood Boards

Mood boards serve several important functions:

1. Inspiration collection: Gathering visual elements that resonate with your vision
2. Direction setting: Establishing a consistent aesthetic approach
3. Communication tool: Sharing your visual intent with others
4. Decision guide: Providing a reference for making aesthetic choices
5. Constraint creation: Setting boundaries for your visual exploration

A good mood board doesn’t just collect pretty pictures—it establishes a coherent visual direction.

Physical vs. Digital Mood Boards

Both approaches have distinct advantages:

Physical Mood Boards: - Provide tactile engagement with materials - Allow for texture and dimensional elements - Create a persistent visual presence in your workspace - Limit collection to truly meaningful elements

Digital Mood Boards: - Enable easy collection from online sources - Allow for quick reorganization and editing - Facilitate sharing with collaborators - Permit unlimited collection without physical space constraints

Choose the approach that best suits your project needs and working style.

Effective Mood Board Creation

Follow these principles for useful mood boards:

1. Start with purpose: Clarify what feeling or aesthetic you’re trying to capture
2. Seek variety within coherence: Include different elements that share a common thread
3. Look beyond the obvious: Include unexpected sources of inspiration
4. Consider all senses: Include references to texture, sound, or other sensory elements
5. Edit ruthlessly: Keep only elements that strongly connect to your vision
6. Organize meaningfully: Arrange elements to highlight relationships and priorities

This approach creates mood boards that actively guide your creative decisions rather than just collecting pretty images.

Mood Board Practice: Visual Direction Setting

Try this exercise to practice creating useful visual references:

1. Choose a creative project you’re planning
2. Identify 3-5 keywords that describe your desired aesthetic or feeling
3. Collect 10-15 images that reflect these qualities
4. Add 3-5 material samples, color swatches, or texture references
5. Arrange these elements in a way that tells a visual story
6. Test your mood board by asking: “Does this clearly communicate my vision?”

This practice helps you develop a clear visual direction before beginning execution.

Storyboarding for Sequential Work

Storyboarding helps plan projects that unfold over time or in sequence:

Storyboarding Basics

Originally developed for film, storyboarding is useful for many creative projects:

1. Frame-by-frame thinking: Breaking a sequence into discrete moments
2. Visual continuity: Ensuring logical progression between stages
3. Problem identification: Spotting issues before execution
4. Resource planning: Understanding what’s needed at each stage
5. Communication tool: Sharing your vision with collaborators

Storyboards create a visual roadmap for projects with multiple stages or elements.

Simple Storyboard Formats

You don’t need artistic skill to create useful storyboards:

1. Grid format: Simple boxes arranged in sequence
2. Comic strip style: Frames with simple visuals and text
3. Timeline approach: Points along a line with visual notes
4. Flowchart storyboard: Combining process mapping with visual elements

Choose the format that best suits your project and comfort level.

Storyboarding Elements to Include

Effective storyboards typically contain:

1. Key moments: Visual representation of important stages
2. Transitions: How one stage connects to the next
3. Notes: Text explaining elements that aren’t visually obvious
4. Resources needed: Materials, tools, or assistance required
5. Potential challenges: Notes about difficult aspects
6. Alternatives: Optional approaches for challenging sections

These elements create a comprehensive planning tool that goes beyond simple visualization.

Storyboard Practice: Sequential Planning

Try this exercise to practice planning through storyboarding:

1. Choose a multi-stage creative project
2. Create a 6-8 frame storyboard showing the key stages
3. Include simple sketches of what happens at each stage
4. Add notes about materials, techniques, or challenges
5. Review your storyboard to identify potential problems or opportunities
6. Revise based on what you discover

This practice helps you think through complex projects before committing resources, identifying potential issues while they’re still easy to address.

Combining Visual Thinking Approaches

The most powerful visual thinking often combines multiple techniques:

The Visual Project Canvas

Create a comprehensive visual plan by combining approaches:

1. Central concept: Place your main idea or goal at the center
2. Idea map: Branch out to explore different aspects
3. Process diagram: Show the sequence of steps to completion
4. Decision matrix: Evaluate options for key choices
5. Mood board section: Include visual references for aesthetic direction
6. Storyboard: Show key stages of development
7. Resource inventory: List what you’ll need throughout the process

This integrated approach provides a complete visual overview of your project.

Digital Tools for Visual Thinking

While pen and paper are perfectly adequate, digital tools offer advantages:

1. Drawing apps: Provide flexibility and easy editing
2. Mind mapping software: Automatically organizes branching ideas
3. Diagramming tools: Offer templates for common diagram types
4. Digital canvas tools: Allow infinite space and zooming for complex projects
5. Collaborative platforms: Enable shared visual thinking with others

Choose tools based on your specific needs and comfort level, remembering that the simplest tool that does the job is often best.

Analog Tools for Visual Thinking

Don’t overlook the power of physical tools:

1. Index cards: Allow for physical rearrangement of ideas
2. Sticky notes: Enable flexible organization on walls or boards
3. Whiteboards: Provide space for temporary exploration and collaboration
4. Sketchbooks: Create a permanent record of your visual thinking
5. Large paper: Allows for big-picture thinking and full-body engagement

These tangible tools engage different parts of your brain than digital alternatives.

Overcoming Common Visual Thinking Blocks

Even with these techniques, you might encounter specific challenges:

“But I Can’t Draw!”

This common block stems from misunderstanding the purpose of visual thinking:

1. Remember that communication, not artistic merit, is the goal
2. Start with the simplest possible visual vocabulary
3. Use text labels to clarify anything that isn’t visually obvious
4. Practice basic shapes until they become comfortable
5. Focus on progress rather than perfection

The ability to create useful visual thinking tools is separate from artistic drawing ability.

“I Don’t Know Where to Start”

When facing a blank page:

1. Begin with a simple frame or border to define your space
2. Start in the middle with your main concept or challenge
3. Use a template or structure like an idea map or 2x2 matrix
4. Copy the format of examples you find useful
5. Start with words if images don’t come easily, then add visual elements

These approaches help overcome the intimidation of the blank page.

“My Visuals Are Messy and Disorganized”

If your visual thinking feels chaotic:

1. Use containers (boxes, circles) to group related elements
2. Add structure with grids, columns, or sections
3. Create a clear hierarchy through size, placement, or emphasis
4. Use color coding to organize different types of information
5. Create a “second draft” that organizes the insights from your messy first attempt

Remember that initial messiness is often part of the creative process—clarity can emerge from chaos.

Practical Exercise: Visual Project Planning

Let’s put these techniques into practice with a structured exercise:

1. Choose a creative project you’re considering
2. Create a one-page visual plan that includes:
• A central sketch of what you’re making
• An idea map exploring different aspects or approaches
• A simple process diagram showing major stages
• A small mood board section with visual references
• Notes about materials, tools, and resources needed
3. Use only the visual vocabulary you’re comfortable with
4. Include text labels to clarify anything that isn’t visually obvious
5. Review your plan to identify gaps or opportunities
6. Share your visual plan with someone else to test its clarity

This exercise integrates multiple visual thinking techniques into a practical planning tool that will enhance your making process.

Developing a Visual Thinking Practice

Like any skill, visual thinking improves with regular practice:

The Daily Sketch Habit

Commit to a simple daily practice:

1. Carry a small notebook or use a digital sketching app
2. Spend 5 minutes each day creating a simple sketch
3. Focus on capturing ideas, not creating art
4. Experiment with different visual thinking techniques
5. Review your sketches weekly to observe your progress

This regular practice builds comfort and fluency with visual communication.

The Visual Thinking Environment

Set up your space to support visual thinking:

1. Keep visual thinking tools easily accessible
2. Create display space for visual plans and references
3. Collect examples of visual thinking that inspire you
4. Establish a filing system for your visual thinking documents
5. Consider lighting and workspace setup that supports comfortable drawing

These environmental factors can significantly influence your visual thinking practice.

Conclusion

Visual thinking is a powerful tool for any maker, regardless of artistic ability. By learning to communicate through simple images, diagrams, and visual organization, you can capture ideas more effectively, plan more thoroughly, and solve problems more creatively.

Remember that the goal of visual thinking isn’t artistic excellence but practical communication—with yourself and others. The techniques in this lesson provide concrete ways to incorporate visual elements into your creative process, enhancing your ability to bring ideas to life.

In our next lesson, we’ll explore material exploration—understanding the properties and possibilities of different materials and how to select the right ones for your projects.

Visual Element Suggestion: An infographic titled “The Visual Thinking Toolkit” showing examples of the different techniques covered in the lesson (basic sketching, idea mapping, 2x2 matrix, process diagram, mood board, and storyboard) with simple annotations explaining when to use each approach. This would provide a quick reference guide that learners could refer back to when practicing visual thinking in their own projects.