5 Golden Rules of Visual Thinking

The world of visual thinking is vast—there’s so much to explore and so many ways to use it! But it’s also easy to get caught in common traps that can make your visuals less effective and leave you feeling frustrated… and we don’t want that!

So, here are 5 golden rules to keep in mind the next time you pick up a pen:

1. Clarity Over Pretty

We’ve introduced thousands of people to visual thinking, and this comes up a lot.

Someone will share their work, and the room agrees—it’s clear, effective, and communicates the point well. But the person who drew it?

They’ll say:

 “I don’t like it. The shading could be better. My proportions are off. My lines aren’t straight enough…”

Here’s the thing: that’s NOT the point.

Visual thinking is about creating clarity, not creating art. If your visual makes the message clearer, it’s doing its job.

Of course, making something look nice can be a bonus, but clarity always comes first.

2. There Is No "Perfect" Visual

One of the biggest blockers we see:
Someone has an idea they want to visualize—maybe a new process they’re presenting.
They stare at a blank page thinking, “What’s the right way to draw this?”
And then… nothing.

The trap? Searching for the one "right" answer.

But there is no perfect way to visualize something. Just like language, we all have our own unique way of communicating. Your visual doesn’t have to be “correct” by some imaginary standard—it just has to work for you and your audience.

Instead of trying to create the perfect visual, focus on creating your visual.

3. Getting It Wrong Is Good

This one is especially important when you’re drawing on the spot—like in a meeting when you're sketching ideas to solve a problem.

Ever picked up a pen, then hesitated because you weren’t sure if you’d get it right?

Here’s the truth: getting it wrong is actually GOOD.

If you draw a rough idea and the group says:

 “No, the problem doesn’t look like that!”—GREAT!

Because now, everyone is engaged, and you can ask why.

You've created an anchor to for the conversation and you can BUILD the drawing as you go based on real time feedback.

A wrong visual sparks conversation and helps the group refine the thinking together. 

The starting point is often wrong but it's just the first step.

4. You Don’t Need Much

Visual thinking can feel overwhelming at first. There are hundreds of icons, layouts, and techniques out there—but here’s the good news:

 You don’t need much.

All you really need is:
A handful of icons relevant to your work
A few simple layouts
Basic people drawings
Some containers for grouping ideas

With just these few elements, you can visualize almost anything. Master the basics, and you’ll go further than you think.

^Want some help with this? Check out our 2 hour intro workshop here

A little goes a long way

5. Make It Human

This one is a superpower when it comes to engaging people.

Some information—policies, strategies, reports—can feel dry and boring.

The key to unlocking engagement?
 Make it human.

Whenever you can, add a human touch in. 

It could be as simple as:

A sad face on a document representing a missed deadline
A frustrated figure lost in a complex process

People connect with stories, emotions, and human moments more than facts and figures. Make dry information memorable, and you’ll make it stick.

It doesn’t have to be perfect—just relatable.

And there you have it!

5GoldenRules- start using them and you'll create better stuff and have more fun doing it!