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...

 It's important that we seek new approaches for turning a basic cliché into attention-grabbing metaphors.

Even if we think we've exhausted all possibilities, shifting our perspective can spark new ideas.

Try sketching your cliché from an angle you haven't explored before.

What does it look like from above?

How about from below?

Or what if you draw just a part of it?

As you explore these new angles, you also open up the possibility of making other connections that you didn't see before.

For instance, drawing the cliché from above inspired the creation of a mortarboard hat.

Don't get discouraged by the idea that you don't know what you're communicating. People will always find meaning.

Let's give it a shot!

Think about what short phrase or keyword would you link to this scene?

If you're interested in mastering Visual Thinking through metaphors without resorting to clichés, you can sign up on my website.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thin...