Unlock the power of visual thinking with visual thinking strategies

Most people are visual learners. According to research, we identify, process, and understand visual information more efficiently than text. That’s one of many reasons why infographics are used to convey information effectively, using images, symbols, and data visualizations. It also explains why it’s difficult for many people to stay focused during a dry lecture or learn only by reading books. Embracing visual thinking can significantly enhance learning and understanding. Visual thinking is a cognitive process that utilizes visual and spatial representations to organize, process, and comprehend information. It harnesses the power of visuals to enhance creativity, problem-solving, and communication. This article explores the concept of visual thinking, its strategies, benefits, and how it compares to verbal thinking. Additionally, we delve into the significance of design as thinking made visual and highlight how Infogram, a data visualization tool, can complement visual thinkers’ capabilities.

Click to jump ahead:
What is visual thinking?
Visual thinking strategies
1. Mind mapping
2. Storyboarding
3. Visual note-taking
Visual thinking examples

What is visual thinking?

Visual thinking refers to the mental process of constructing and manipulating visual images in the mind’s eye. It involves the use of diagrams, sketches, symbols, and other visual tools to represent and manipulate information. Visual thinking enables individuals to better perceive, analyze, and synthesize complex ideas and concepts.

Visual thinking vs. verbal thinking

Verbal thinking and visual thinking are two distinct cognitive processes that help to perceive, process, and communicate information. As previously stated, visual thinking involves the use of mental images, spatial relationships, and visual representations to analyze and understand concepts. It allows individuals to think in pictures and patterns, enabling them to generate creative solutions, recognize visual cues, and engage in imaginative problem-solving.

On the other hand, verbal thinking relies predominantly on linguistic skills, utilizing words, language, and logical reasoning to process information. Verbal thinkers excel in analytical tasks, critical thinking, and articulating their thoughts through language. Both visual and verbal thinking are valuable cognitive styles, each offering unique strengths and preferences in how individuals perceive and interpret the world around them. By recognizing and embracing the power of both visual and verbal thinking, individuals can tap into a broader range of cognitive abilities and enhance their overall problem-solving and communication skills.

Visual thinking strategies

If you seek to improve your learning and understanding process or you want to convey information more effectively (marketing, advertising, teaching), look out for visual thinking strategies. Visual thinking strategies encompass various techniques that facilitate the application of visual thinking. Some of the most common visual thinking strategies are mind mapping, concept mapping, storyboarding, and visual note-taking. By employing these methods, you can organize information, identify relationships, and generate new insights.

Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a visual thinking and note-taking technique that involves creating a hierarchical diagram to represent ideas, concepts, and their relationships. It is a powerful tool for brainstorming, organizing thoughts, and enhancing creativity.

Key aspects of mind mapping

1. Central idea: A mind map begins with a central idea or topic placed in the center of the page or screen. It serves as the focal point from which all other ideas radiate.

2. Branches and sub-branches: The central idea is connected to branches, which represent major themes or categories related to the topic. Each branch can then be further expanded into sub-branches, representing more specific concepts or details.

3. Keywords and visual elements: Mind maps utilize keywords and short phrases to capture the essence of ideas. Visual elements such as icons, symbols, colors, and images can also be incorporated to enhance understanding, stimulate memory, and add visual appeal.

4. Non-linear structure: Unlike traditional note-taking methods, mind maps follow a non-linear structure. Ideas can be added, modified, or expanded anywhere on the map, allowing for flexibility and the exploration of different connections and perspectives.

Mind mapping benefits

1. Enhanced creativity: Mind mapping stimulates creativity by encouraging free-flowing associations and connections between ideas. It enables individuals to explore new possibilities and generate innovative solutions to problems.

2. Improved comprehension and retention: Mind maps utilize visual-spatial representation, making information more memorable and easier to understand. The visual layout helps the brain organize and connect concepts, aiding in comprehension and long-term retention.

3. Efficient organization: Mind maps provide a clear overview of complex information, allowing for easy identification of key ideas, relationships, and hierarchies. They help individuals structure their thoughts and present information in a concise and organized manner.

4. Collaborative tool: Mind maps can be used as collaborative tools for group discussions, brainstorming sessions, and project planning. They promote effective communication, facilitate idea sharing, and foster teamwork.

5. Versatility: Mind maps can be applied to various tasks and disciplines, including education, project management, problem-solving, and personal organization. They can be created on paper, whiteboards, or using digital mind mapping software.

In summary, mind mapping is a flexible and effective technique that harnesses the power of visualization to enhance creativity, comprehension, and organization. By capturing and organizing ideas in a non-linear and visually engaging format, mind mapping helps individuals explore and communicate complex concepts with clarity and efficiency.

If you want to make your own mind map, you can easily create it using Infogram. Simply select a blank canvas and start creating. Use images, connectors, animations, data visualizations, and more to visualize your concepts and ideas. Get inspired by mind mapping examples here.

Storyboarding

Storyboarding is a visual thinking and planning technique commonly used in various creative fields such as film, animation, advertising, and design. It involves creating a series of sequential visual panels or sketches that depict the key moments, actions, and compositions of a story or project.

Key aspects of storyboarding

1. Visualizing the story: Storyboarding involves visually depicting the key moments, scenes, and compositions of a story or project. It serves as a visual representation of how the narrative unfolds, allowing creators to visualize and plan the sequence of events.

2. Sequential panels: Storyboards consist of a series of sequential panels or frames that depict specific moments in the story. Each panel represents a key action, shot, or scene, and they are arranged in a linear sequence to reflect the progression of the story.

3. Action and movement: Storyboards illustrate the action and movement within each scene. They depict the characters’ poses, gestures, and expressions, as well as the flow of movement from one frame to another. This helps convey the dynamics and pacing of the story.

4. Visual styling and aesthetics: Storyboards may also incorporate visual styling elements to indicate the desired aesthetics, mood, or visual effects. This can include color schemes, lighting references, or references to specific visual references or inspirations.

5. Pre-visualization: Storyboarding serves as a pre-visualization tool, allowing creators to assess the visual flow and overall coherence of the story before the actual production begins. It helps identify any potential issues or adjustments needed, saving time and resources during the production phase.

Storyboarding purposes

1. Visualizing ideas: Storyboards help translate abstract ideas into concrete visuals. By sketching out scenes and sequences, creators can visualize the overall flow of their story or project, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and make necessary adjustments before committing to a final version.

2. Storytelling and narrative structure: Storyboards enable creators to map out the narrative structure of their project. Each panel represents a specific moment or scene, allowing for a clear visualization of how the story unfolds, including key events, character interactions, and important visual elements.

3. Planning and collaboration: Storyboarding serves as a blueprint for the production process. It helps plan camera angles, shot compositions, and transitions, aiding in efficient resource allocation and coordination among team members. Storyboards also facilitate communication and collaboration by providing a visual reference that all stakeholders can easily understand and discuss.

4. Visualizing visual effects and animation: In fields such as film and animation, storyboarding is crucial for pre-visualizing complex visual effects, action sequences, or animated scenes. It allows for experimenting with different visual techniques, camera movements, and timing, helping artists and directors envision and refine the desired visual aesthetics.

Overall, storyboarding is a powerful visual thinking tool that helps streamline the creative process, communicate ideas effectively, and ensure a cohesive and well-planned outcome for various visual storytelling projects.

Visual note-taking

Visual note-taking is a technique that combines words and visuals to capture and represent information during lectures, presentations, meetings, or other learning experiences. It involves using a combination of drawings, icons, symbols, typography, and organizational structures to visually summarize and illustrate key ideas and concepts.

Key aspects of visual note-taking

1. Visual representation: Visual note-taking emphasizes the use of visuals to complement and enhance written or spoken information. It involves creating quick sketches, diagrams, icons, and other visual elements to represent ideas, objects, processes, and relationships.

2. Selective and simplified content: Visual note-takers selectively capture and summarize information by focusing on key points, essential ideas, and memorable quotes. They use concise wording and visual symbols to distill complex concepts into more digestible and memorable forms.

3. Structural layout: Visual notes often follow a structured layout that helps organize and sequence information. This can include the use of visual frameworks such as mind maps, flowcharts, timelines, or grids to visually arrange content in a logical and coherent manner.

4. Visual hierarchy: Visual note-taking employs visual hierarchy to emphasize the importance and relationships between different elements. This can be achieved through the use of font size, bolding, color coding, arrows, and other visual cues that guide the viewer’s attention and understanding.

Visual note-taking benefits

1. Improved engagement and focus: Visual note-taking promotes active listening and engagement during lectures or presentations. It encourages note-takers to pay closer attention to the content, identify key ideas, and think critically about how to visually represent them.

2. Enhanced comprehension and memory: Visual notes combine the power of visuals and text, making information more memorable and easier to understand. The use of visuals aids in visual-spatial learning, which can enhance comprehension and retention of the information being captured.

3. Creativity and personal expression: Visual note-taking allows individuals to infuse their personal style, creativity, and interpretation into their notes. It provides a creative outlet for expressing ideas and insights in a visually appealing and unique way.

4. Effective communication and sharing: Visual notes can be easily shared with others to convey complex information in a concise and engaging manner. They serve as visual summaries that capture the essence of a topic, making it easier to communicate ideas, teach others, or revisit information at a glance.

Visual note-taking is a versatile technique that can be adapted to various learning and professional contexts. Whether done on paper or digitally using note-taking apps or tablets, visual note-taking offers a dynamic and visually stimulating approach to capturing and retaining information. Check out a few examples of visual note-taking below. You can easily create these and other types of visual notes using Infogram. Either create them from scratch or use a pre-designed template and fill in the information. 

Visual Thinking Examples

Visual thinking finds application in various fields, including education, business, science, and design. Here are a few examples of visual thinking in practice. These include using mind maps to outline ideas, creating visual presentations to engage audiences, employing flowcharts to analyze processes, and utilizing infographics to convey complex data in an accessible manner.

Slide-based presentation templates 

Flowchart templates

Infographic templates

Infogram: Empowering visual thinkers

Visual thinking is a valuable cognitive process that leverages the power of visuals to enhance understanding, problem-solving, and communication. By utilizing visual thinking strategies and embracing design as thinking made visual, individuals can tap into their creative potential and generate innovative solutions. If you’re looking for a tool that would support you in creating engaging and informative visual content, try Infogram. With a user-friendly interface and a wide range of customizable templates, you can transform complex data sets into compelling visuals such as charts, graphs, maps, and infographics. By leveraging Infogram, you can enhance your ability to convey ideas visually and effectively communicate information to your target audience. Try it out today and start creating impactful visuals! 

Interested in discovering how Infogram can enhance your team’s work? Join a brief Zoom session with our Infogram representative to explore key features, get answers to your questions, and understand how we can assist. It’s quick, informative, and just like a coffee break chat. Schedule your call now!