Find a New Template

Sheri Kennedy • June 2, 2023

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES.  Vol. 4 No. 10  June 2, 2023

Applied Visual Thinking logo with purple road and orange burst

Summer simple - Visual Templates


If you're a creative like me (and I know you are if you are reading this!), most likely you enjoy making stuff up and/or reworking things to suit your own personal style. For me, that sometimes means I am also really good at reinventing the wheel. 

 

In fact, deep learning requires a certain level of doing in order to become proficient in a skill to the point where it feels like your own. Don't beat yourself up if you find yourself, say, designing a complex spreadsheet only to discover that "there's an app for that" already. 

 

In keeping with our Simple Summer theme, I humbly suggest that you find a new friend – a visual template you can rely on to do some of the heavy lifting for you, like that strong friend with a truck that shows up when you spot that perfect piece of furniture. What I mean by a "visual template" is a model or format that can be reused to save time, thought and energy. 

Find a new template - make a friend for life.

When you identify something you do repeatedly or something that gives you that "this should be easier" feeling, there may be a template for that. Templates can be great when you need to…

  • Identify a problem you'd like to solve
  • Search for a solution to a sticky issue
  • Think about a crucial conversation you may need to have
Icons of 3 people arm in arm. Above them is an array of templates. Blue background.

HERE'S HOW to make a new template for yourself.

  1. Search our blog post for templates using keywords related to your challenge (see examples below). Innovation template, crucial conversation template, or customer feedback template are a few examples. Do a search online if you'd like more template ideas. 
  2. Pick one template to make your own. If you need to, change the words or add to the template.
  3. Draw the template in YOUR style using the colors, lettering styles and hierarchy that make sense to you.
  4. If you wish, add icons or a callout shape where you will be able to add a key "takeaway" message.

HERE ARE 10 EXAMPLES of templates we love (and why). Click any of the icons to download your free template.

  1. Innovation Mashup: https://www.appliedviz.com/creativity-part-3-creativity-and-innovation

Exercise your creativity and innovation plus visual vocabulary and hierarchy.

Innovation Mashup template

2. Customer Feedback: https://www.appliedviz.com/customer-obsessed-innovation

Everyone at all levels should know how to put customers first.

Customer mashup template

3. Deep Dive Into Your Why's: https://www.appliedviz.com/change-requires-innovation

Innovation is great, but only if your whole team knows why.

5 Why's template

4. Crucial Conversations: https://www.appliedviz.com/make-the-scary-not-so-scary

Having that tough conversation gets easier with a visual test run.

Crucial Conversations template

5. Vision Map: https://www.appliedviz.com/vision-for-the-future

Future-proof your plan toward a positive vision.

Vision Map template

6. 7 W's: https://www.appliedviz.com/my-visual-thinking-ace-in-the-hole

A great all purpose template. Generate new ideas, surface questions, untangle confusion, connect the dots or bring an "ah-ha" moment. 


Ace in the Hole template

7. Activity Design: https://www.appliedviz.com/learning-teaching-with-visuals

When you need to plan a killer learning activity.

Lesson plan template

8. Venn Diagram: https://www.appliedviz.com/explore-your-happy-place

Find your happy place or find sets of commonalities and differences.


Venn diagram template

9. Innovation for Life: https://www.appliedviz.com/innovations-for-life

Track your fav life hacks.

Innovation template

10. Resilience: https://www.appliedviz.com/creativity-resilience-phoenix-moment

Face big change with a positive, resilience-based approach.


Resilience template

Can't find a template for what you need? INVENT ONE and share it with us.

Share with a friend

Person holding a consulting type conversation

Four Types of Conversations: Part 3 of 4

By Deborah DeLue • March 26, 2025
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 6 No. 7 March 28, 2025 4 Types of Conversations Part 3 of 4 - Consult
Drawing of someone telling people something

Four Types of Conversations: Part 2 of 4

By Sheri Kennedy • March 14, 2025
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 6 No. 6 March 14, 2025 - A deep dive into the Tell Conversation Type, plus a nod to Pi Day
The 4 types of conversations - Sell, Tell, Consult and Co-Create

Four Types of Conversations: Part 1 of 4

By Deborah DeLue • February 27, 2025
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 6 No. 5 February 28, 2025 - A Conversation Types overview, plus visual tools to use with the Sell.
four icons - yellow circle with radiating shapes, red heart, orange burst, gray cloud

Untangling Conflicting Emotions Through Visual Thinking

By Sheri Kennedy • February 14, 2025
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 6 No. 4 February 14, 2025 - Emotions can feel complicated. Untangle them using visual thinking.
Person visualizing their emotions

Visualizing Your Emotions

By Deborah DeLue • January 31, 2025
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 6 No. 3 January 31, 2025 - Apply your visual superpowers to mastering your emotions.
Continuous line drawing of a diverse group of people in front of a forest with birds overhead

Connections - Part 2

By Sheri Kennedy • January 17, 2025
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 6 No. 2, January 17, 2025 - How Miyawaki Forests Illustrate Connection
Drawings of blowing on a dandelion and slurping from a straw with the word connection between.

Connections - Part 1

By Sheri Kennedy • January 3, 2025
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 6 No. 1, January 3, 2025 - Connections are crucial. Kickstart yours with visuals.
Someone wearing 2025 goggles

Let's put on our 2025 goggles! Part 2

By Deborah DeLue • December 11, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 26 - Choose your 2025 lens. Part 2 of 2
Getting ready for 2025: Someone wearing 2024 goggles

Let's Put on Our 2025 Goggles! Part 1

By Deborah DeLue • December 6, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 25 - Choose your 2025 lens. Part 1 of 2
Black line drawing of a tree with a variety of colorful sticky note leaves with drawings and text

Gratitude Made Visual

November 22, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 24, 2024 - Three Creative ways to make gratitude visual.
Show More
Share by: