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...

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...

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...

One of the key techniques for creating metaphors is taking ordinary objects and using them in unexpected ways.

In this case, I’ve used a cage.

A cage is often associated with limitations and the deprivation of liberty.

But here’s the twist: by applying the "substitution" technique, I’ve added a new layer of meaning. Instead of simply presenting a cage,

I’ve replaced something people naturally expect to see int this scene: a backpack.

This shift changes the narrative.

Now, we’re not just talking about restriction but also about the burden or emotional weight this boy is carrying, symbolized by the tiny version of himself inside the cage.

When we understand the subtle meanings of everyday elements, we can craft metaphors that go beyond words, delivering symbolic messages and telling mini-stories.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Here’s another tip for your #Inktober challenge:  

Remove!  What if, instead of showing what you want to depict, you don’t show it?  

This is called 'drawing attention through absence'.  

It may sound strange, but when we omit something people expect to see, we actually draw more attention.  And here is another tip:

You can add an extra layer of meaning by replacing that absence with something else.

In this case, you’re introducing two levels of disruption: the removal of an expected element (like a violin), and its replacement with something unexpected (a tongue).

Try this removal-and-replacement approach in your next #Inktober2024 drawing!  

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Do you know what message I wanted to convey by drawing this scene?

None.

This drawing was not born with any specific message intention, only as an exercise to explore shapes and embrace the absurd.

But here's the interesting part: although there was no intention to create a message, if I ask each of you what it means, you will find a meaning.

By the way, think what keyword or short phrase would you associate with this image.

Remember, shapes are everywhere. Negative space can help us find recognizable shapes and build messages with them.

The metaphor here is in putting an object out of context. If the speech bubble were outside the figure, it probably wouldn't have the same meaning it has now, as, in this scene, it is placed in an unexpected and disruptive location.

Metaphors are lovers of the absurd.

Don't forget that advice because it will help you create much more symbolic images.

If you're interested in learning Visual Thinking through metaphors, leave me your details on my site,...

There are 2 tips when dealing with small spaces

1) Use constraints to your advantage:

No matter how small the space we have to include an element, we can always tell stories.

Often, a constraint can work in our favor. In this case, the lack of space helps to add drama to the scene.

As you can see, there are actually no restrictions.

We can have very few elements and very little space, yet we can always tell a story.

2) Don't get lost in details.

There are other elements that should be included on the back of a credit card, but they don't need to be incorporated.

Stay minimalist in the number of elements you draw.

Once the object is recognizable, there's no need to keep adding things.

If you're interested in learning Visual Thinking through metaphors without resorting to clichés, you can check my website.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

We don't need to complicate things to make a cliché interesting to observe.

While we often can transform the cliché, manipulate its shape, put things inside it, mix it with other elements, change its perspective, etc., we can also make it interesting with some minimalist actions.

I want you to note three things about this image.

1) The position:

The cliché isn't blended with the person; it's simply positioned in front of them. However, this positioning automatically groups them into one entity.

2) The interaction:

The person behind the cliché makes a movement, and the cliché is subtly modified as a result.

3) The association of shapes:

The oval cliché corresponds to the shape of the muscle. When we connect elements by color or shape, we also associate their meanings.

By the way, what is the person saying?

What is the muscle saying?

If you want to learn Visual Thinking through metaphors without...

A cliché is an image so recognizable that even if we show only a part of it and give it little visual hierarchy (for example, drawing it much smaller than the surrounding objects), it will still be recognizable.

Remember, we can have different variables to transform a cliché into an interesting element. In this image, we see these:

1) The cliché is in a context, a story around it.

2) We show only a part of it.

3) We hide or reduce it.

4) We duplicate it.

The four points above are hooks. Hooks to capture attention.

These are the types of concepts you learn every week in the Metaphor Membership. Remember that if Enrollment is closed, you can leave your details on the website, and I'll let you know when it reopens.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Embrace absurdity.

How? By asking questions.

Questions are pathways that fuel our creativity.

What if our cliché became a food ingredient?

Could we consume it?

Could we use it to describe a specific dish?

Could it be how we talk about food or how food speaks to us?

Could it serve as an element for data visualization?

Every question we ask opens up a world of possibilities to explore.

Visual thinking isn't about clustering a bunch of icons together.

There needs to be intention, a message, and a context.

What keyword or short phrase could you associate with this image?

If you're interested in learning Visual Thinking through Metaphors without resorting to clichés, leave your details on my website, and I'll notify you as soon as enrollment opens.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach