Visual Thinking

The truth is that infographics are by no means a new concept and they’re certainly not a fad that will disappear anytime soon.

Although Google obviously filters out spammy websites, it doesn’t filter out those with a one-sided political perspective or a marketing agenda. Instagrok uses semantic algorithms to pick out the top 10educational websites for your topic and display them on the right sidebar, along with key facts, videos, and images. A slider from basic to Einstein changes the complexity of the information, and the tool actually highlights any contradictions between websites.

Much like other crossover sensations from the creative world such as design thinking and information design, the visual thinking phenomenon has sustained interest for some time now.

Return on investment has now become an important metric for another big purchase in life: the college degree. For generations we’ve been told that going to college was worth it both from an economic standpoint (higher earnings) and for improved quality of life (better health and civic engagement). College enrollment surged by one-third last decade. Going to anycollege, at any cost was the ticket to a better life.

Why do companies like Google, the Gap, Lego and Johnson & Johnson use graphic facilitation? Because they know how valuable their meetings are, and they know how graphic recording helps them get the most from their investment of time, money and talent to get their best people in one room.

These fun, mostly free tools can help educators easily create their own Infographics, and bring a very modern twist to instruction. “A picture is worth

Those wanting help in navigating complex ideas often turn to mind mapping software, and Scapple is one of the best on the market. The Mac app brings structure to concepts, but in a user-friendly, drag-and-drop way. The economical design and quick import options also make sure nothing gets between users and their ideas.

Using Mind Maps Magazine. Get the Latest Thinking, Tips, Tools and Techniques from Leading Mind Mapping Experts in One Beautiful Interactive Magazine!

Our way to perceive the world depends on the structure of our thinking and how it is affected by our expectations. Visual thinking has a an essential connection with this intelligence.

Sketching is one of the fastest ways to communicate an idea, but many of us don't do it because we're not really good at drawing. As video game interface designer Caryn Vainio writes, however, it doesn't really matter.

When you're creating visual diagrams and infographics, it makes a lot of sense to cultivate a signature style that is recognizable anywhere. That's exactly what Gerry Moran has done with his informative blueprint infographics.

Concept mapping and mind mapping are powerful graphic organizers, strategies for organizing and representing knowledge. They were developed during the seventies.

My point overall is this: as cool and interesting as it is, not all arguments need to be tied to the brain and cognition. And, in fact, some arguments are made weaker by doing so, since appealing to neuroscience is unnecessary at best and hand-waving at worst. 

Figure out what your point is and talk about it. I'm guessing it actually has little to do with neuroscience directly.

Cool news, you guys! Word about the power of adding visual components to traditionally picture-less processes is making its way around, albeit slowly. Recent examples include Springpad, an Evernote-ish mobile app that makes digital notebooks and personal project planning smarter with imagery. And I just learned that Facebook has chalkboards, white boards and writable glass installed throughout its offices to encourage visual note-taking among its employees.