What if we tell you that words aren’t the only tool you can use to explain an idea? Visual Thinking is the rather new learning trend that’s being used around the world for a lot of different purposes. It’s a great tool for learning, improving communication inside whole companies and just like Dave Gray says “It’s a great way to convey complex or potentially confusing information”. Let us tell you a little bit more about the importance of Visual Thinking in 2019.
“A picture is worth a thousand words”.
As humans, we have been learning and exposing thoughts through images for thousands of years now, and our brain has evolved into a nearly perfect pattern-recognizing machine. Since we’re born, we have a very basic skill to show the world how we feel, what we’re thinking and why, that basic skill is drawing. As we grow up, most of us “loose” or hide that ability, as it might seem childlike.
How could we know that we are “losing” an essential skill for business and enterprises?
Images, drawings, and infographics are perceived, stored and processed way faster than words do, as it involves several thinking processes. This ends up adding new ideas, thoughts and finally knowledge. That can help you persuade, inform, communicate and teach better than a three-hour speech, or even a humongous book.
Processes of Visual Thinking.
Like everything we do, this resource can also be broken down to several steps we can take to make it a more efficient activity:
- Observation: when we observe a situation, obtain new information or have an idea, we can easily (in most cases) identify its advantages, consequences, and limitations.
- Reflection: when we have the idea and its limitations, we simply start thinking about it. Our brain starts automatically filling the lacking pieces, and identifying the patterns of the “puzzle” or new challenge he’s facing.
- Creation: once we got all the pieces together, we narrow down the whole image to simplify it as much as possible without leaving any important knowledge behind. This is where creativity kicks in, and where group-thinking and brainstorming gets ideal.
- Input: finally, we show the final idea to test it. We might get the expected result, or maybe we get important feedback for improving this idea or the next one. At Ernesto Olivares Visual Information, narrow down the experimental process, getting you the best results!
Objectives of visual thinking.
These are just a little part of the objectives (and advantages) of applied Visual Thinking.
- Communicate: The main objective of visual thinking is to share encapsulated information –with the use of tools like infographics, designs, and pictures-, but that’s not its only use! You can use it to express complex ideas, thoughts and so on, without the usage of words.
- Speed things up! It is an important tool for conferences and meetings, and it will help to save time explaining really complex ideas.
- An important tool for creative process and feedback: How? It gets you and your employees, coworkers, students, and clients on the same page. In the creative process, it works like a filter of which information is important, simplifying the steps to take in the creation of any service or product. This includes, of course, the opinion and feedback that your client can share. This can be applied through a well-designed interactive infographic.
- Show objectives: Share all the objectives, advantages and perks of using your services or company with easy-to-digest and convincing infographics or presentation to close any deal right after the meeting.
Applying Visual Thinking in 2019.
There are several ways in which you can apply it. Here are the best three:
- Static infographics: These are well-known, and have been in use for decades. Now, what used to be a statistic and number-centered resource is now an open playground for the imagination. You can display any kind of information, processes, hierarchy, steps and more.
- Interactive infographics: the adaptation of static infographics to the new era of software and visual effects. As its name states, these are interactive for you to move around and start actions while showing important information. These are great for showing growth, transition and all the information you want to show to your clients. It’s a big step ahead for staying in your client’s, students and public mind way more than your competition.
- Presentations: these are complete visual experiences where you can put all of your expertise, tools, growth and important information to persuade your customers and clients.
By applying Design Thinking we can show you the best path to take!
How can we help you?
This helpful skill can be the difference between a well-informed group or client, and a very confused one. Now that you know the importance of Visual Thinking in 2019, contact us to create the best infographic, interactive infographic, or presentation to reach your clients faster!
