Visual Thinking Playbook

Why This Matters

• We live in a world overloaded with text and data, but our brains process visual Information 60,000 times faster than text.
• Despite this, many professionals rely solely on written communication, making ideas harder to grasp and agree on.
• The challenge is to develop a structured way to think visually, allowing us to break down complexity, communicate more effectively, and generate better ideas.
• Our ability to leverage deep learning frameworks and foundational AI models lies in our ability to convey abstract concepts.
• Sometimes it's easier to just draw a picture and upload it to ChatGPT than it is to try and describe the concept.

For years, I noticed coworkers talking in circles trying to convey abstract concepts in meetings. I found it so frustrating that I sought to find a better way to communicate ideas so I wouldn’t add to the confusion. This lead me to Dan Roam’s books

The Core Idea or Framework

My Visual Thinking Playbook is built on Dan Roam's four-step process that helps turn ideas into clear, impactful visuals:

1. Look – Collect raw visual information.

2. See – Identify meaningful patterns in what you observe.

3. Imagine – Fill in the gaps and connect ideas.

4. Show – Communicate ideas visually for clarity and impact.

"Visual thinking isn’t just about drawing—it’s about structuring information in a way that our brains naturally process. Whether through diagrams, maps, or sketches, this process helps turn messy ideas into clear insights."

Breaking It Down – The Playbook in Action

Step 1: Look – Collect and Screen Information

• Collect everything we can look at.
• Have a place to lay everything out (Mural)
• Always define a basic coordinate system
• Scan across the entire dataset to build the big picture.
• Use contextual pattern recognition to determine what stands out.
• Find edges and determine the fundamental coordinates of the data.
• Use precognitive cues - proximity, color, size, orientation, direction and shape.
• Screen out noise as part of an initial pass - practice visual triage

Step 2: See – Identify Meaningful Patterns

• Sort through collected visuals and identify recurring structures.
• Look for relationships, proportions, and gaps in the information.
• Use the 6Ws framework to categorize insights:
  
  • Who/What: People, objects, or entities.
  • How Much: Quantities, measurements, or scales.
  • Where: Position in space (maps, layouts).
  • When: Position in time (timelines, sequences).
  • How: Process flows, cause-effect relationships.
  • Why: Deductive reasoning, influences, and motivations.
• Evaluate the 6W using SQVID
  
  • Simple vs Elaborate
  • Quality vs Quantity
  • Vision vs Execution
  • Individual Attributes vs Comparison
  • Delta (change) vs Status Quo

Step 3: Imagine – Make Invisible Patterns Visible

• Connect ideas that don’t seem related at first glance.
• Look with your eyes closed to see if new connections emerge
• Use analogy thinking—where have I seen a similar pattern before?
• Experiment with spatial transformations (flipping, scaling, rotating) to see new insights emerge.

Step 4: Show – Make Ideas Clear with Visual Frameworks

• Choose the right visual format based on what you want to communicate:
  
  • Portraits – Who/what problems.
  • Charts – How much problems.
  • Maps – Where things are located.
  • Timelines – When events happen.
  • Flowcharts – How processes work.
  • Multi-variable plots – Why certain relationships exist.
• Iterate and refine—visuals should evolve with feedback.
• Present visuals to stakeholders and validate understanding.

"The real power of visual thinking isn’t just in seeing what’s there—it’s in imagining what’s missing and filling in the blanks."

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Tools, Workflows, and Technical Implementation

• Digital Tools: Mural, Figma, Excalidraw, Whimsical, Mermaid, Obsidian Canvas
• Analog Tools: Whiteboards, sketchbooks, sticky notes
• Frameworks: The 6Ws Model, SQVID, 2x2 Grids, Value Chains‍
• Visual Structuring Techniques: Grids, layering, color coding

Real-World Applications and Impact

• Accelerate decision-making by using diagrams instead of lengthy documents.
• Improve cross-functional alignment by mapping out ideas visually in meetings.
• Enhance problem-solving through pattern recognition and analogy thinking.

Challenges and Nuances – What to Watch Out For

• Overcomplicating visuals—The goal is clarity, not artistry.
• Choosing the wrong format—A chart works for data, but a timeline is better for sequencing.
• Forgetting to iterate—The first sketch is rarely the best one; refine as needed.

"Visual thinking is not about making things look pretty—it’s about making them clear. A rough sketch that communicates an idea is more valuable than a polished diagram that confuses people."

Closing Thoughts and How to Take Action

• Start small—sketch one idea in your next meeting instead of writing a paragraph.
• Use structured frameworks—apply the 6Ws model to organize ideas visually.
• Develop your visual vocabulary—practice simple diagramming techniques.

References‍

Learn More

• Dan Roam's Books

• Visualize Value

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Tools

• Mural

• Obsidian Canvas

• Whimsical

• Figma