The lost art of visual thinking

How do you develop as a human?

You document your ideas.

You build on them and improve them.

But thinking without pen and paper clogs your mind.

You can't assess an idea from all sides in your mind alone.

Prehistoric men realized this and used cave walls as the first 'canvas' for expression—to tell stories and depict religious practices.

They felt the urge to translate what they saw in their minds into something visual.

Boards and canvases have been present in every era, from cave walls to modern digital whiteboards. They are used for multiple purposes.

From preserving knowledge in ancient history to communication, education, planning, and creativity.

The concept of a shared visuals has proven its value in societies, to solve problems and develop new technologies.

In modern day, most content is text-based thinking. At work or school, you collaborate through text or voice. You discuss through emails, word documents, or meetings, using text or voice.

So, less and less people use whiteboards, leading to less visual thinking.

Many think whiteboards are for creative teams, engineers, and consultants. They are swamped in spreadsheets, Excel tables, PowerPoints, etc., all the time, which is boring.

The reason many dislike their jobs is that there is no fun or stimulation for the brain.

Current traditional company structures are rigid, slow to adapt, and hinder progress. Traditional methods of conducting work often lead to lost or incomplete ideas and discussions.

I don't understand why companies or other entities don't emphasize the use of whiteboards for everyone.

Everyone, from executives to entry-level employees, should use whiteboards to solve problems and share ideas.

Prehistoric humans were masters of visual communication.

Cave paintings, petroglyphs, and other forms of visual art provide invaluable insights into their lives, beliefs, and experiences. A picture is worth a thousand words.

The lack of visual thinking has consequences on people and organizations:

• Limits creativity and innovation.

• Limits idea generation.

• Impacts communicating complex ideas.

• Makes meetings less effective.

• Makes it difficult to track evolving discussions.

• Less effective problem-solving.

The lack of using whiteboards hinder the mining of gold within our minds, slowing down innovation in companies and societies.

As AI, robotics, and automation continue to advance, companies will need to focus on higher-value activities. Whiteboards can play a crucial role in this transition by fostering creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

The demand will rise for creative thinkers and problem solvers. This is enough reason to start using whiteboards as a thinking tool. Art and creativity will take different forms in business.

A well-articulated idea often emerges through the process of unloading it onto a whiteboard or paper, where we can craft its angles and sides.

In a rapidly changing market, every company should adopt a whiteboard company model, an organizational model that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and rapid iteration.

Whiteboards should be the roundtable for discussions, serving as a visual thinking bridge that helps to connect people and allow everyone to share their perspectives.

Whiteboards can help to assess new possibilities and risks associated with ideas, ensuring that everyone feels heard, engaged, and creative.

This has numerous benefits, including offloading cognitive ability, promoting alignment and clarity, and facilitating better problem-solving and innovation.

The future of work is likely to be characterized by a shift towards more creative and innovative tasks, driven by factors such as rapid technological advancements and increased competition.

And align with modern work preference for younger generations.

How to become one?

• Make whiteboards the starting point for any work.

• Flatten hierarchies.

• Implement agile methodologies.

• Foster an open and collaborative culture.

• Encourage cross-functional teams.

• Use digital tools for real-time collaboration.

• Promote a culture of continuous learning and experimentation.

I use whiteboards in all my work to break down concepts, problems, and challenges. They help me to understand the what, who, how, and why, assess the current state from all sides, and identify barriers, impacts, and risks.

Whiteboards have helped me to ask questions that others may not have considered, see the details of the full picture, and envision the path forward.

Whiteboards spark creativity and encourage others to contribute, add to your original ideas, and collaborate faster. As an individual, you can also benefit from using whiteboards for personal purposes, such as learning, solving problems, or working on personal projects.

Thank you for reading. We’ll talk in the next letter.

Ahmed

PS two things I can help you with:

1. Run a business design discovery

Exploring and defining the strategic direction, objectives, and key elements to achieve market relevance. uncover opportunities, understand user needs, and design solutions that align with business goals.

2. Guiding and advising

Guide you and help you on a project you’re working on; need help to set direction to reach desired outcomes.