This document discusses visual and creative thinking techniques. It begins by defining creativity and visual thinking. It then discusses how an increasingly fast-paced world limits time for creative activities. Several myths about creativity are presented, such as the ideas that creativity always comes from epiphanies or results in greatness. Tips are provided for using visual thinking, such as creating an environment conducive to creativity, making drawing a habit, and taking creative breaks. The document advocates reawakening natural creative skills from childhood through visual thinking.

1. Visual and CreativeThinking
What we learned from Peter Pan andWillyWonka
Kelsey Ruger, Pop Labs

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

3. 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.

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

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

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

7. 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.

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

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

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

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

12. The Myths of Innovation
Scott Burken - 2007

13. The Myths of Creativity

14. MYTH 1:
creativity always comes from an epiphany

15. MYTH 2:
there is always a clear path to creativity

16. MYTH 3:
creativity is the result of the lone innovator

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

18. MYTH 5:
I’m not creative

19. MYTH 6:
being creative is a waste of time

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

21. A Beautiful Mind
UnderstandingWhyThese Myths Exist

22. 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.

23. 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.
PrescottLeaky

24. 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.

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

26. Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

27. The chief enemy of creativity is "good" sense.”
PabloPicaso

28. The difference 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.

29. Overcoming the Myths of Creativity

30. VisualThinking:
Using images to solve problems and communicate

31. • 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

32. Tips for starting visual thinking

33. VisualThinkingTip 1:
Create an environment for creativity

34. VisualThinkingTip 2:
Start the habit of drawing

35. VisualThinkingTip 3:
Create a personal visual library
TextText
From “Mapping Inner Space”
by Nancy Margulies, Nusa Maal, and Margaret J. Wheatley

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

37. VisualThinkingTip 5:
Take creative and visual thinking breaks

38. VisualThinkingTip 6:
Practice Creativity

39. VisualThinkingTip 7:
Read more fiction literature

40. VisualThinkingTip 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

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

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