Another way to make it easier to create metaphors using the out of context technique is by combining it with another approach: blending.

Imagine placing a roller coaster in an unexpected setting, on someone’s head. 

Instead of simply placing it on top, we blend it into the head so that the integration feels more seamless and natural.

Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate how powerful the out of context technique really is. In this case, it helps us visually express a person’s thoughts or emotional state. 

We are transferring the qualities of the out-of-context element to the object or person it’s applied to.
Speaking of which…
What keyword or short phrase would you associate with this image?

Thank you,
Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Enlarging elements allows us to do two things:

1) Explore details more deeply.

2) Discover new shapes that can be transformed into unexpected settings.

Every time you enlarge something, you create new spaces, new opportunities to place elements inside.

And what better way to apply the 'out of context' technique? As we’ve discussed before, this technique is all about changing the predictable setting in which we usually see certain things.

Now, think about this image:

- Why is a car looping in and out of a nose?
- Where is it going?
- What’s the connection between the car and the person?

When people ask these kinds of questions, three things happen:

1) They create their own mental storytelling to make sense of the image.

2) They spend more time looking at it.

3) They read your message.

What keyword or short phrase would you associate with this metaphor?

Thank you,
Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Another way to create metaphors using the out of context technique is by dressing the subject of an image in a completely absurd way for the situation they’re in.

This immediately grabs the viewer’s attention.

Remember, we can never predict what meaning our audience will assign to an image, but we can anticipate what questions they will ask. In this case, they’ll likely wonder: Why is a medieval knight surfing a wave?

We don’t know what meaning they’ll give it, but one thing is certain, they’ll create a mini story in their minds to make sense of the absurdity.

Thank you,
Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Another way to create metaphors using the out of context technique is through substitution. 

Instead of changing the setting where we typically see an object, we replace one element with another.

For the substitution to work, there needs to be a connection between both elements.

In this case, the snake takes the place of an ear, but also adopts its shape.

In fact, the form and position of the object we use as a substitute play a crucial role. We see a snake, but we also see an ear, even though the ear isn’t actually there.

When you use substitution, you're taking things out of context while adding a new layer of meaning.

What keyword or short phrase would you associate with this metaphor?

Thank you!
,
Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

The 'out of context' technique allows us to create surreal situations. 

Sometimes, to place an element out of context, we can play with exaggerating its size, making something absurdly large or unusually small and then placing it in an improbable setting.

In this case, the bird on the power lines is disproportionately tiny compared to the woman using her dental floss.

Another detail to notice: here, the 'out of context'  is also based on the 'blending or joining' technique. The wire where the bird is sitting is also the floss the woman is using. A single element becomes two things at once.

Now, what does this absurd scene mean? Whatever you want it to mean.

When we don’t assign captions to our images, we leave space for the audience to create their own interpretations.

What does this metaphor mean to you? Can you describe it in a single word or a short phrase?

Thank you,
Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Remove the Key Element!

Many objects have a defining feature that makes them instantly recognizable.

For a door, it might be the handle.

For a plane, its wings.

For a chair, its legs.

We could go on listing examples for nearly every object we know.

Obviously, for a cage, it’s the bars.

But what happens when you take them away? In this case, two things happen:

1) We still recognize it as a cage. Even without seeing the bars, our brain fills in the missing shapes, and other elements help us understand what it is.

2) We give it a new meaning. Removing something doesn’t necessarily mean subtracting. It can mean adding, enriching.

A cage without bars conveys a much deeper meaning than just a simple cage.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Have you noticed the musical note inside the hole of the guitar?

Most people miss it. Why? Because no one spends too much time examining our images. 

Attention spans are shorter than ever, and what isn’t noticed in the first few seconds often gets overlooked entirely. 

But that’s okay. 

What matters first is having a strong concept that’s immediately understood. 

Once that’s in place, you can add additional details, knowing they’re not crucial for the initial impact.

Now, let’s return to the main image. As you can see, I’m continuing to explore the theme of cages. Here, without altering the object itself, we’ve transformed it into something entirely new.

Who is the person inside the guitar?

Why is the musical note part of their face?

What does it mean for someone to be trapped inside a musical instrument?

If your audience asks even one question while engaging with your image, their attention span increases, and your creation won’t go unnoticed.

This is just one of the many techniques I teach in m...

Are We Slaves to Time?

Have you ever felt trapped by your schedule? By the endless cycle of dates, meetings, weeks, and years that seem to rule our lives? It's a feeling many of us share, and it’s what inspired this visual metaphor.

This image sparks a compelling question: how can we visually communicate the concept of being enslaved by our own time?

Visual metaphors like this one rely on our ability to see everyday objects in new and unexpected ways. They’re powerful tools for storytelling, capable of conveying complex ideas with a single glance. In this case, the calendar, something we associate with organization and productivity, becomes a symbol of confinement.

Turning Objects into Cages

The secret to creating effective visual metaphors lies in observation. Nearly any object can be transformed into a cage if we play with its structure and meaning. Of course, some objects lend themselves to this transformation more naturally than others.

Here are two key tips to help you ex...

When you think you've explored everything, remember not to overlook the small elements.

Usually, we focus on the big picture, but it's the tiny, often unnoticed details that can make the biggest difference in our visual thinking process.

Everything around us is composed of both large and small elements, and by paying attention to these smaller components, we can uncover new perspectives and connections.

Think about it: what if we zoomed in on a tiny detail, making it the centerpiece of our exploration?

By enlarging and magnifying it, we allow ourselves to see things in a new light, opening up possibilities that we might have missed at first glance.

The key here is the power of shapes and connections.

Visual thinking is about relating one thing to another, no matter how different they seem at first.

Once we recognize the underlying connection between shapes, we can find metaphors that relate to seemingly unrelated objects or concepts.

This approach opens up a world of creative oppo...

Cages come in many forms: square or cylindrical. These two geometric shapes are particularly prevalent, appearing in countless objects around us, often unnoticed until we take a closer look.

When we sharpen our powers of observation, we can transform almost anything into a metaphorical cage.

Every object, idea, or structure has the potential to represent constraints.

The narratives you can build around the concept of a cage are truly limitless.

A cage can symbolize external pressures that mirror the constraints we feel internally, whether it’s a societal norm, a personal fear, or an unspoken rule.

Cages can evoke emotions that range from a sense of safety and protection to feelings of restriction or entrapment.

But here’s the most fascinating part: any image, no matter how ordinary, can serve as a container to "cage" a thought, a feeling, or a concept.

A birdcage can hold freedom, a jar can enclose chaos, or a fence might frame a fragile dream.

With the right framing, everyday...