Simple Drawings: Unleashing the Power of Visual Thinking, a collaboration with ATD Forum
Check out this article that Fall4art’s founder, Renatta Algalarrondo, co-created with MJ Hall from the ATD Forum, part of the ATD (Association for Talent Development). It was a great collaborative piece that highlights the power of visual thinking in its simplicity. In this case, definitely, less is more.
Below are a couple of excerpts from it:
“Imagine you are in a social situation, discussing a new DIY garden project with a friend and asking for her feedback and ideas. She might reply, “I’m not quite seeing the concept,” so you try again to explain your project. After several rounds, you grab a napkin or a notepad and sketch it out—and she says, “Oh, I get it!” and starts sharing her insights and ideas, even taking the pencil and making changes.
How often have you heard the phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? It’s probably too many to count. But how many times have you doodled or drawn an idea to help others visualize or understand a concept? Probably not many. But maybe you should start!” …
…” Research from Frontiers in Psychology, by Van der Weel and Van der Meer, supports the value of simple handwriting and finger movements in improving brain connectivity patterns. Handwriting requires communication between the brain’s visual, sensory, and motor cortices. Forming letters by hand involves visualizing letters and using fine motor skills, unlike the simple, repetitious finger movements used in typing. In her blog, “To Doodle or Not to Doodle,” Cathy Hutchingson states, “Doodling keeps your brain connected enough to the task at hand that it doesn’t skip off to other, more fanciful, lines of thought when the current task is boring.”…
Click here to access the article. Enjoy!
About MJ Hall
MJ leads the ATD Forum content arena and serves as the learning subject matter expert for the ATD communities of practice. As the leader of a consortium known as a “skunk works” for connecting, collaborating, and sharing learning, she worked with members to evolve the consortium into a lab environment for advancing the learning practice within the context of work, thus evolving the Forum’s work-learn lab concept. MJ is a skilled and experienced design and performance coach for work teams, as well as a seasoned designer of work-learn experiences with a focus on strategy and program management. She previously held leadership positions at the Defense Acquisition University, including senior instructor, special assistant to the commandant, and director of professional development.