Meet our host: How Nassia helps teams link and understand ideas with the power of Visual Thinking

1- What is your story related to Visual Thinking?

We have all used visual thinking until now, for example when we process our thoughts through images since early childhood. I have been drawing for as long as I remember, but I discovered the concept of visual thinking and graphic recording in 2015 when a New York-based start-up company contacted me to work as a remote graphic recorder for the production of Finance and Marketing Book summaries. I instantly loved the Visual Practice field and the community. I find the serendipity that can occur during the process of visually capturing content in real-time really overwhelming. Since that time, I decided to go after it and work professionally within the visual practice field. It makes me feel excited!

2- How is Visual thinking applied to different professional fields? Could you tell us a couple of examples?

Visual thinking is applied within a variety of professional fields, such as Education, Business, Engineering, IT, Science. It can be used in Universities and Schools, where the instructors may create presentations or draft structures of their ideas using basic symbols and text, in order to explain a process or a flow to the students. Within companies like IT for example, when working with agile methodologies, the team may apply visual thinking in order to bring concepts to life and make connections between ideas, so as to establish a common understanding and reach better decisions.

3- From your previous experience, where is visual thinking more demanded? Why?

Visual thinking is demanded where Complexity thrives. This could be in any context, either professional where groups of people try to make sense of an idea or how to develop a product, or personal, where people are trying to clarify a concept and take visual notes or make draft sketches to complement their thinking process.

4- At this point, you have done many workshops applying visual thinking, who do you think enjoys its benefits the most?

The benefits that come from using visual thinking may be enjoyed by everyone. Anyone that opens themselves to the use of this capability always lies there on the right side of our brains!

5- You lived in different countries and worked for companies in Europe and America. How does Visual Thinking adapt to different team cultures? Are there any differences based on the geography or the size of the team?

The Cultural factor I believe is one of the most interesting elements to consider and reflect on when it comes to visual thinking. It is fascinating the way that some concepts or metaphors that you visually bring to life can be perceived differently by other cultures. A slang, a saying or a legend from Asia, may not be known to people in Europe for example, and vice versa. But even as such, expressing it through a picture and some text, has the power to create an inclusive context that can be easily understood by all. Visual thinking is universal and each culture has its own amazing way of using it.

6- What advantages does a virtual platform like onsite.fun bring you?

Onsite.fun is an innovative online space that provides connectivity and creativity at the same time. I strongly believe that the platform motivates and encourages new meaningful relations between people, in a time that we all need to learn how to feel normal around such increased use of technology. So, for me, it is a great opportunity to have fun, connect, network and learn from each other!

7- What would you like your attendees to take home?

I would like the attendees to take the excitement of a different way of thinking, the creativity, the satisfaction of being able to express themselves visually - even if they do not draw (!), and their fearless self back home.

8- What are the advantages of doing this activity in groups as opposed to doing it individually?

Within a group context, the creativity and level of innovation are increased, and the process itself may have a major impact on one's perspective and feelings. Collective visual thinking can generate diverse ideas.

Find Nassia’s activity here: Discover Visual Thinking