Visual Thinking — the next level: How to change your view

You are not done when you finish a drawing.

Sure, when things are clear you can stop there.

But that is only the first level of visual thinking. You can go further if you need to.

To get a grip on a wicked issue

To map out your professional identity.

Or to decide on the next step in your work.

You can think visually at 3 levels

Start with recording: Put down your thoughts in key words and symbols. And use containers and lines to organize them.

You don’t know how to do that? Download this free crash course in visual thinking.

Now you don’t have to keep it all together in your head

That creates room for reflection.

Look at your drawing: What catches your attention? What is missing?

Many people forget to place themselves in their drawing

What is your role in the story?

Zoom out: What connections do you see? Are things in the right place?

Zoom in: What is the most important part? Elaborate on it and draw it out on a new piece of paper.

When you draw during your reflection you can surprise yourself

You experience creative accidents: Serendipities that lead to a new insight. A drawing that did not turn out well reminds you of something else. Or you see a connection because you happened to put 2 topics next to each other.

That is also how designers develop new ideas

When you reflect visually you loosen up your thinking. Cut out the different parts and move them around. Or make multiple versions.

When you don’t get any further you go to the third level: reframe.

You take a different perspective

If you want to change your view — you have to consider how you look at something. And if you can take another angle.

Now that you have drawn out your thoughts, you can trace your thinking.

Maybe you see where your thinking is fixed

But often you need someone else to help you spot it. Take the drawing that depicts your question most clearly and explain it to someone else.

Another person sees what is obvious to you

And he finds different connections. What catches his attention?

Now it is easier to put your thinking up for discussion.

It is not about you: It is only about a drawing.

To summarize

You can think visually at 3 levels. It is easier to take another perspective when you can play with your thoughts on paper. And if you need you can have somebody else look at them.

And now?

Take an issue that is on your mind and put it down on paper. Follow the 3 steps with this pdf.