Visual and Creative Thinking
What we learned from Peter Pan and Willy Wonka
Kelsey Ruger, Pop Labs

There is no life I know to compare with pure
imagination. Living there, you'll be free if
you truly wish to be.
Willy Wonka

creativity: \\cre·a·tiv·i·ty\\ n. the ability to use
imagination to transcend traditional ideas, rules,
patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create
meaningful new ideas, forms, methods.

visual thinking: \\vis·u·al thin·king\\ adj. the practice of
using pictures to solve problems, think through issues,
and communicate clearly.

Life in the fast lane:
In an increasingly fast paced world
we don’t make time for creative activities.

Keeping up with the competition:
It’s getting harder to innovate, produce new
ideas and communicate at this pace.

What About Creativity?
This can be overwhelming for many professionals
because many of the “standard” we put in place
actually limit creative ability and competitiveness.

Wake-up latent childhood abilities
As children our world is dominated
by stories, pictures and imagination

Visual and creative thinking techniques can help
reawaken natural visual and creative skills in adults

nurturing creative and visual thinking in your organization
• Learning and removing the myths that prevent creativity
• Start using visual and creative thinking

First - You Don’t Have To Be An Artist
Visual thinking and creativity aren’t really about drawing.
Drawing isn’t what makes it a creative activity.

The Myths of Innovation
Scott Burken - 2007

The Myths of Creativity

MYTH 1:
creativity always comes from an epiphany

MYTH 2:
there is always a clear path to creativity

MYTH 3:
creativity is the result of the lone innovator

MYTH 4:
creativity always results in greatness
well great ideas anyway...

MYTH 5:
I’m not creative

MYTH 6:
being creative is a waste of time

MYTH 7:
creativity is not for adults or
people with serious careers.

A Beautiful Mind
Understanding Why These Myths Exist

Beliefs are powerful:
The beliefs we have about how the world works often
have very emotional origins. These emotions can
change how we make decisions, form habits and
develop skills.

our need for consistency is stronger than just about
any other intrinsic need we have. People will behave
in a manner that is consistent with their previously
existing self-concept, even when this behavior is
unrewarding to them otherwise.
Prescott Leaky

Do you have any sacred cows?
Sometimes an idea loses it’s meaning over time, but isn’t
abandoned because of the investment in it’s past. These
ideals are often so immune to criticism that those who
challenge them are ignored or marginalized.

How do you overcome the power of
the creative myths?
File Number: 4471239

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

The chief enemy of creativity is \"good\" sense.”
Pablo Picaso

The di erence between Peter and the boys at this time
was that he knew it was make-believe, while to them
make-believe and true were exactly the same thing.

Overcoming the Myths of Creativity

Visual Thinking:
Using images to solve problems and communicate

• 80% of the brain is dedicated to visual processing
• Visual processing is not new, it’s part of our history
• Written language originated from drawing and sketching

Tips for starting visual thinking

Visual Thinking Tip 1:
Create an environment for creativity

Visual Thinking Tip 2:
Start the habit of drawing

Visual Thinking Tip 3:
Create a personal visual library
Text
Text
From “Mapping Inner Space”
by Nancy Margulies, Nusa Maal, and Margaret J. Wheatley

Visual Thinking Tip 4:
From “Mapping Inner Space”
by Nancy Margulies, Nusa Maal, and Margaret J. Wheatley
Create a personal metaphor library

Visual Thinking Tip 5:
Take creative and visual thinking breaks

Visual Thinking Tip 6:
Practice Creativity

Visual Thinking Tip 7:
Read more ction literature

Visual Thinking Tip 8:
Start a visual thinking school
• Schedule it - Set aside dedicated time
• Be holistic - It’s not just drawing, not just brainstorming
• Set objectives - What do you intend to learn

Getting Started:
A Basic Visual Thinking Toolkit
• Diamond (Decision)
• Vertical Lines
• Spiral (Change in Direction)
• Horizontal Lines
• Circle (harmony)
• Circles
• Direction (arrow)
• Spirals
• Straight
• Wavy Lines
• Triangle (Relationship)
• Jagged Lines
• Star (success)

Kelsey Ruger
kruger@poplabs.com
www.poplabs.com
www.themoleskin.com