Today, I want to give you the second tip for the #Inktober challenge.

The word "discover" means to find something unexpectedly—to see, find, or become aware of something for the first time. 

Sometimes, these things are right in front of us, but we don’t notice them because we don’t allow ourselves to stop, search, and look closely. 

We must look unusually and from different perspectives—looking up and looking down. In fact, discovery is tied to curiosity.

Here are some questions to help you explore this concept:

- Can you show a familiar object from a less common perspective?

- Does seeing another angle of an object allow you to discover new shapes?

- Can you use the shapes you’ve 'discovered' to create new elements?

- Can you use negative space to uncover images that relate to the theme you want to represent?

Don’t be afraid to explore, and don’t fear the absurd. You can always give meaning through a mini story.

Look, play, and...

#Inktober is a month-long art challenge created by artist  Jake Parker
Although I won’t be participating, many of my students ask how to find daily inspiration for this challenge, which demands constant creativity for 30 days.

So, I’ll be sharing random tips to help you see things from a new perspective and realize that mental blocks aren’t real if we know how to create disruptions and tell stories around them.

Here’s the first tip for #inktober2024
The first word in this challenge is "backpack." My advice is: don’t always be literal—think laterally.

You don’t have to draw a backpack as it is.

- Could your thoughts be a backpack?

- Could the backpack take a human shape?

- Could it transform into something else?

- Does it have to be a physical object, or could it be a gas or something organic that takes its shape?

- If you draw a backpack to represent someone traveling, could you also draw one to show what people think about or worry...

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,...

The 'mountain path' is another classic image frequently used in visual thinking.

But what happens when we incorporate multiple clichéd icons into the same scene?

The key to standing out is to blend them into a cohesive story format.

But what do I mean by standing out? Standing out from what? From the risk of your visual image being overlooked, ignored, and left your message unread.

When an image becomes too familiar through repetition, it loses its impact.


Visual storytelling is what gives our images context and makes our visual message captivating to the viewer.

Let's analyze some of the elements we see here, that help create a disruptive scene_

- Playing with sizes (making things appear dramatically large or small).

- Blend or join: merging one element with another, like transforming a speech bubble into a mountain scene.

- Substitution: replacing part of the speech bubble with the mountain peak.

There are numerous techniques available for crafting metaphors that...

A speech bubble used in a generic manner conveys a generic message.

Humans constantly communicate. But communication isn't always two-way.

We don't always listen, and we don't always want to listen.

How do we convey this in visual thinking?

In the context of a story and to create a story, what better way than to create a setting?

Any setting works for telling stories.

How many elements are speaking here?

The man?

The elderly woman?

The pigeon?

What are they each saying?

Would you like to guess what they are talking about or just suggest a keyword for the whole scene?

If you want to learn to tell stories through visual thinking, I can teach you using visual metaphors. Leave your details on my site, and I'll notify you as soon as enrollment opens.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Great tools can't compensate for poor graphic recording.

Having the finest markers or the latest iPad is only part of the equation.

While these tools can assist, they won't miraculously turn a bad graphic recording into something exceptional.

A successful graphic recording relies on the skills, expertise, and creativity of the visual thinker using the pen or marker.

It's about capturing the core message, practicing selective listening, mastering layout, storytelling, and creating a visually engaging representation that the audience will want to engage with.

During July, August and September, I will be hosting an immersive one-day training session exclusively for a small group of aspiring visual thinkers who aim to become professional Graphic Recorders.

You can choose from several available dates to join us.

This training adopts a disruptive approach, moving away from the traditional dependence on markers, templates, and icons. If you're ready to try a...

There's a really simple way to turn a cliché into a metaphor.

It's just a matter of giving it a different appearance.

Can you change its color?

Can you draw it differently but still make it recognizable?

It's like giving a dual meaning to the same image.

In this case, the speech bubble even works to talk about something that will happen in the future. Someone's about to blow up.

The viewer imagines what will happen next, even if it's not depicted.

The sequence happens in people's heads even without us drawing it.

These are the things I teach in the first Membership where you can learn Visual Thinking through metaphors without resorting to clichés.

What keyword or short phrase would you use for this image?

Thank you
Dario Paniagua

Here are two tips for you.

1. Creating Stop-Scrolling Content:
   When you start playing around with the elements, everything you draw starts to connect with each other. When you have similar shapes in the same image, your audience begins to make connections. The more connections they make, the longer they'll spend looking at your image. Creating these focal points is crucial because the time people spend on your image determines how well they understand your message.

1. There's Nothing Like a Good Story:
   We can tell stories through anything. The more open we leave the meaning, the more interpretations your audience can come up with.

   Who's speaking in the image?

   Is it the bridge?

   The woman?

   The water?

   What do you think they're saying?

The more questions the viewer has about your image, the more engagement you are generating with them.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

A short and concise tip that will surely help you think about how you organize your graphic recording maps.

We can have two types of sequences in a visual map: A sequence that refers to time: One thing happens before another.

A sequence that refers to levels of importance: We may want our audience to read one piece of information before another.

If a map doesn't have at least one of these two sequences, people don't know where to start reading and end up reading nothing.

I will teach all this and much more in a one-day immersive training here in Italy.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Today's video talks about the difference between explaining and telling.

Your visual content competes with other visual triggers.

You may struggle to grab attention if you approach a graphic recording purely as an infographic.

Rational data alone isn't enough to generate interest.

A good graphic recording incorporates infographic principles but also storytelling and metaphors.

I will teach all of this and much more in a one-day immersive training here in Italy.

If you are interested, check the link.

Thank you.

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach