# visual thinking visual problem solving, sketchbook mindset, drawing for discovery. rough collection of notes and concepts. probably dive deeper with separate pages eventually. [[60.61.02 visual thinking|visual thinking content in my vault]] ### ideas to explore… - drawing for discovery, drawing for exploration means you do _NOT_ need to be a good artist. rough sketches and doodles are a method to understand and work through a problem. functional drawing for a purpose. aesthetics are secondary to conceptual understanding. thinking first, visuals second. the end goal of the drawing process is what you learn _while_ sketching. - if you and a client understand what the squiggles and doodles represent, then a messy drawing can be perfectly functional. doodles are representational not aesthetic. sometimes a simple circle and arrow can convey a ton of relevant information. - quick, loose sketches allow focus on ideas instead of aesthetics. danger of making drawings too good too early because focus of discussion shifts. - importance of doodling for thinking. it is not a mindless activity. can actually help you to focus. can help for memorization because doodling accesses more paths to encode information in the brain. it is a form of active learning that utilizes many different mental channels at the same time. - drawing forces you to slow down and process information in multiple channels at the same time. creating mental models and understanding relationships between ideas. taking time to draw can slow down and focus the mind. - doodling can block daydreaming yet still engages imagination. - create visual maps to capture mental maps of information to show relationships and discover patterns. - use of symbolism in representing ideas connects to cultural norms, such as light-bulb icon to represent an idea. - we live in a visual culture. we think and communicate in pictures more than ever before. - sketchnote process means anyone can do this regardless of perceived artistic talent. simple collection of marks, lines, shapes, patterns. use basics to teach my students how to work in their sketchbooks. - development sketching as creative process when exploring visual design. thumbnails. [[website/creativity/combinatorial creativity|combinatorial creativity]], [[divergent thinking]], quick and dirty explorations, rough sketching is quicker than digital development, generative idea development, rapid idea generation, etc. - quick sketching allows you to get past the trite surface ideas to find deeper concepts. it is about discovering new things, not drawing obvious solutions. low-stakes process to chase alternative ideas. ask "what if?" questions. - mind-mapping, graphic recording, visual brainstorming. get it out of your head. can become collaborative once ideas become tangible. - once tangible, opens up ideas for analysis. seek to create order and understanding. mapping, organizing, charting, graphic, diagramming, etc. - [[iteration|iterative]] process of drawing, analyzing and understanding, then drawing again with new understanding as process toward discovery of viable solutions. synthesizing disparate ideas toward clearer solution. - separate creative process from judgement. capture ideas before judging quality or appropriateness. two distinct mindsets. ### people to share… - sketchnoting. [mike rohde](https://rohdesign.com). sketchnote handbook and the mantra "ideas, not art". visual notetaking instead of written notes. simple marks, arrows, separators, etc. can easily be created by those not comfortable as "artists". - doodling. [sunni brown](http://sunnibrown.com/). "to make spontaneous marks with your mind and body to help yourself think". - back of the napkin. [dan roam](http://www.danroam.com/). simplicity of drawing for business to sell and innovate. not a big fan of capitalist approach but do like simple drawing mindset. - sheila pontis and michael bobwahsingh. [information design unbound](https://infodesignunbound.com). - chris wilson. [sketchyideas website](https://sketchyideas.co). --- Learn more… - [Do graphic designers need amazing drawing skills? ](<https://yesimadesigner.com/do-graphic-designers-need-amazing-drawing-skills/># "Do Graphic Designers Need Amazing Drawing Skills?) - [Drawing substantially activates the brain to learn and understand](https://www.bigpaperstrategy.com/drawing-is-learning/) - [Getting started with visual thinking](https://partandsum-os.notion.site/Get-started-with-visual-thinking-even-if-you-can-t-draw-4cb3aeb12ba345379ab56edb5f9a3e99) - [Sketching: the visual thinking power tool](https://alistapart.com/article/sketching-the-visual-thinking-power-tool/) --- tags: #creativity #process home: [[! creative process]]