5 Tools for Visual Thinking

Discover innovative resources designed to help you look at challenges from a different perspective and come up with creative solutions

Visual thinking is a way of conceptualizing that allows you to put your thoughts into images. In doing so, you can make complex problems simpler, and explore innovative solutions by thinking outside of the box and learning to see things from a different perspective.

Hermen Lutje Berenbroek (@hermen) is a design strategist who specializes in visual thinking through his brand Artifizer. For the past decade, Hermen has worked with global clients in Europe, the United States, Africa, China, and the Middle East, leading workshops with executives to explore complex challenges, engage stakeholders, and develop clear communication.

As part of his online course, Hermen shares 5 tools that are designed to help you get started with visual thinking.

1. The Noun Project

The Noun Project is on a mission to develop a diverse visual language that unites people around the world. Working with a team of designers in 120 different countries worldwide they’ve created an extensive library of more than 5 million icons featuring everything from celebrities to artificial intelligence. If you’re looking for inspiration when it comes to visualizing ideas, it’s a great place to start.

2. Empathy Map

Designed by Dave Gray from XPLANE, as part of a human-centered approach to design, the Empathy Map helps you to better understand and relate to people—an essential part of the visual thinking process. It’s available to download in PDF format via the Gamestorming website along with information about its purpose and how to use it.

3. Method Cards

IDEO Method Cards are a useful option for anyone working on a project as part of a team. They focus on putting people at the center of the process and were created by the global design company with the intention of inspiring creatives to explore alternative approaches and try something new. The pack is made up of 51 cards and is available to purchase online. Hermen says: “I love to use them as inspiration for different ways to observe, listen, and gain insights from target audiences.”

4. Diagrammer

Diagrammer is a visualization system created by Duarte to “clarify the hierarchy and relationships between information, making your message more easily understood”. Hermen explains why it can be a helpful resource for visual thinking: “with more than 4000 customizable diagrams, this is a great place to look for different ways you could organize your visual story.”

5. Grove Tools

Founded in 1977 by David Sibbet, The Grove Consultants International helps to inspire change in both teams and organizations. As part of that commitment, they have developed a broad range of frameworks for organizing information visually. As well as resources for personal development and meeting facilitation, on their website you’ll find dedicated templates for visual planning.

Have you used any of these tools before? If you’re looking for guidance on how to get the most out of them and communicate your ideas through images, check out Hermen’s course: Visual Thinking: Organize and Present Powerful Ideas. He teaches you how to present concepts and organize information in an engaging way with the aim of solving problems.

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