Visual Thinking Made Simple: How Ted Wujec's 'How to Draw Toast' Can Unlock Your Creative Potential
In today's fast-paced world, the ability to think creatively and visually is becoming increasingly important, especially in fields like design, innovation, and problem-solving. One person who has made a significant impact in this area is Ted Wujec, a designer, writer, and creative consultant who has developed a visual thinking method called "How to Draw Toast."
In his TED talk, Wujec presents a simple yet powerful method for visual thinking that involves breaking down complex problems into simple, visual components. Here's how it works:
Start with a basic object: In Wujec's example, he uses a piece of toast as the basic object.
Break the object down into its components: Draw the object and then break it down into its components, such as the crust, the bread, and the toppings.
Create a visual language: Assign symbols or icons to represent each component of the object. For example, a wavy line could represent melted cheese, while a zig-zag line could represent bacon.
Use the visual language to create a visual representation of the problem: Once you have a visual language, use it to create a visual representation of the problem you're trying to solve. This could be a diagram, a flowchart, or any other type of visual representation.
How to Draw toast example from a Design Sprint Storyboarding warm-up
The "How to Draw Toast" method is a powerful tool for visual thinking that can help individuals and teams break down complex problems into simple, visual components. By using symbols and icons to represent different parts of a problem, it becomes easier to see the relationships between different components and to identify potential solutions.
In addition to being a powerful problem-solving tool, the "How to Draw Toast" method can also be used for communication and collaboration. By creating a visual representation of a problem or idea, it becomes easier to share it with others and to get feedback.
Overall, Ted Wujec's "How to Draw Toast" is a simple yet powerful method for visual thinking that can be applied in a variety of contexts. Whether you're a designer, an innovator, or just someone who wants to think more creatively, this method can help you break down complex problems and develop new ideas and solutions.
