Visual Thinking Adjacencies
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking
The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 6 No. 9, April 25, 2025
Want to see things in a different light?
Widen your skills with adjacencies.
I attended a webinar recently that challenged us participants to choose a hobby or activity that is adjacent to the work we want to do or grow. For example, if you want to become an amazing pastry chef, maybe take a bartending class.
By expanding your skills and your awareness through learning something new, you will infuse your work and life with new energy and differentiate yourself as unique.
Want to expand your visual thinking adjacent skills? Here are some complementary practices to consider.
Creative Expression & Design
These hobbies involve composition, color, form, and communication—core to visual thinking:
- Sketchnoting or Journaling – capturing ideas through text and images
- Abstract or Graphic Art – exploring patterns, movement, and symbolism
- Typography or Hand Lettering – visual storytelling through text
- Illustration or Comic Drawing – sequencing ideas into visual narratives
- Collage or Mixed Media – assembling visuals to convey concepts
- Calligraphy – visually expressive writing
Mind Mapping & Information Design
If you like organizing complex ideas visually:
- Bullet Journaling – blending structure and creativity
- Infographic Making – turning data into engaging visuals
- Diagramming (e.g. systems, flowcharts) – simplifying how things work
- Puzzle Solving (crosswords, logic puzzles) – great for pattern thinking
Tactile & Spatial Hobbies
These engage the hands and the brain in three-dimensional visual thinking:
- LEGO Building – systems thinking in 3D
- Origami or Paper Engineering – folding structure into shape
- Sewing, Quilting, or Weaving – patterns, symmetry, and storytelling
- Woodworking or Model Making – physical sketching in form
Exploration & Observation
For hobbies that strengthen your observation and interpretation skills:
- Photography – framing, focus, and storytelling
- Urban Sketching – real-time visual notetaking of places
- Birdwatching or Nature Journaling – noticing patterns in the world
- Graffiti or Street Art Hunting – discovering visual messages in the wild
Strategy & Simulation
Great for those who enjoy systems, rules, and roleplay:
- Tabletop Roleplaying Games (like D&D) – drawing maps, characters, visual storytelling
- Board Game Design or Playtesting – mapping decisions visually
- Game UI/UX Design – visualizing how people interact with systems
Not sure which of these parallel diversions will help your visual thinking learning and development in the long run?
Take this short quiz.
What’s Your Visual Thinking Adjacent Hobby?
Choose the option that feels most like you for each question.
1. How do you prefer to take notes?
A) Doodling in the margins
B) Bullet lists with flair
C) Mind maps or sketches
D) I’d rather take a photo
2. What kind of project sounds most fun?
A) Drawing a comic strip or zine
B) Building a tiny model or diorama
C) Designing an infographic
D) Creating a vision board or mood collage
3. What do you do with a blank page?
A) Start with a character or doodle
B) Fold or cut it into something cool
C) Sketch a layout or system
D) Splash on color and let it evolve
4. Which space would you love to spend time in?
A) A studio filled with pens, brushes, and sketchbooks
B) A makerspace with tools and hands-on supplies
C) A room with sticky notes and whiteboards
D) A gallery of street art, symbols, and texture
5. Which do you notice first in your environment?
A) Lettering and illustrations
B) Shapes and materials
C) Diagrams and signage
D) Colors, textures, and mood
Results — Your Visual Thinking Hobby Match!
Mostly A’s → The Storyteller
Try: Sketchnoting, Comic Drawing, or Zine Making
You think in narratives and visuals. You love expressing ideas through characters, scenes, and creative storytelling.
Mostly B’s → The Maker
Try: Origami, Model Building, or Textile Arts
You love using your hands to bring ideas to life. Patterns, structures, and materials excite your visual brain.
Mostly C’s → The Mapper
Try: Mind Mapping, Bullet Journaling, or Infographic Design
You’re an idea organizer. You thrive when making complex information clear and visual.
Mostly D’s → The Observer
Try: Photography, Moodboarding, or Street Art Hunting
You see the world through an aesthetic lens. You’re inspired by what you notice and how it feels.
Every visual thinker has their own flavor. Some love structure, others love color and flow. Some find joy in sketching, while others prefer building or curating. Whatever your result, the key is this: visual thinking doesn’t stop at the office or workshop — it’s a way of seeing the world.
Try out your hobby match this week. Snap a photo. Doodle an idea. Fold a paper model. Or just notice what visuals are catching your eye lately. That’s your brain saying “more of this, please.” Be sure to let us know how you widened your skills and the results you enjoyed.
Until next time — keep thinking in pictures.
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