Innovation News - Singing Avatars

September 19, 2021

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 2 No. 19 September 19, 2021

"Alter Ego" is a new reality singing competition show that uses virtual reality technology to disguise the identities of its contestants. In a similar show, "The Masked Singer" has contestants who are famous for something other than singing disguise their identities from the judges. In "Alter Ego," contestants have an opportunity to create an avatar that expresses whatever wild, creative, kick-butt identity they want to don for the competition. This idea has me excited for a number of reasons.

For those following INNOVATION in the world of visuals at work, you know that visuals express more than straight-forward facts. How a visual looks matters. A data chart can be dull and straight-forward, or simple, clean and "on brand." Alternatively, the story behind the data can be made more understandable at a glance using icons, visual hierarchy and color. Visuals have the power to ignite or turn off our emotions, to remind us of shared lived experience, and to invite connections to legends, literature, history and culture. How cool is it that visuals are now moving off the 3D movie screen onto the live stage!

I don't sing in public, but my Alter Ego does!

For a singer, the invitation to sing and dance behind a curtain while the fantasy character they created to represent them takes center stage can open up a world of opportunity. One can imagine any number of reasons why singers may have struggled to get call-backs from live auditions for reasons that had nothing to do with singing ability. I'm excited that the avatar solution could prove very useful as one way to counteract implicit bias beyond entertainment and into the workplace.

For the audience, watching these avatars and hearing impressive singing feels like an invitation to people of all backgrounds to "join the club." I don't know about you, but after I hear an amazing song by an eye-popping 3D being, I can't help wanting to hear the human story behind the character. Creativity has a way of opening doors and connecting people across all kinds of differences.

Business leaders and team managers, are you following this intersection of innovation and creativity?

Do you need to unlock the secrets behind employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and keep focused on your organization's goals? Think about enrolling your whole team in Applied Visual Thinking for INNOVATION.

Want to create your own avatar? Start with the concept. How do you want your other "you" to be seen? Brave? Invincible? Brilliant? Other-wordly?

1. Start with the face. Sketch your own face as a simple icon. Consider portrait elements and draw each a few times before you combine them.

Face shape
Hair or headgear
Nose
Eyes
Eyebrows
Mouth
Chin
Ears
Collar or shoulders

2. Transform each of the portrait elements and see how they change the personality of the character.

drawing of a yellow suitcase with orange straps and corners

3. Choose the elements that feel most like you want your avatar to be.

4. Play with the elements in different combinations and angles until you find one you like.

5. Add some bling! Enhance with clothing, jewelry or headgear

PS: Download a free copy of the handout and try your hand at drawing your own avatar!

Download Your Free Handout HERE!

Want to learn more?

Our FOUNDATIONS and INNOVATION courses are designed to give you and your teams the easy-to-learn, fast to implement visual tools so you can draw anything and innovate your products, goods, or services.