Review II. Background

Before answering the question "What makes sketches so powerful to help people to communicate?" in Review I, we have to look into the background of Visual Thinking in order to find the thread to the answer. From the practice in JAM visual thinking to the study about Visual Thinking history, the missing puzzle will be defined carefully by the following explanation.



In the practice of JAM visual thinking, Visual Thinkers work with process facilitators to guide participants in sessions. Visual Thinkers translate participants’ ideas, opinions, and processes into instant sketches.



However, JAMmers usually are treated as a supporting and entertaining role in sessions. They cannot be involved in the problem solving process. They are not working with the participants on the same boat in general situations. So, what are the reasons behind the issue?


In order to address the issue, we have to know the reasons behind it. In 1972, Rudolf Arnheim, a German-born psychologist and scholar of art and ideas. He suggested in his book, "Visual Thinking", that the issues was rooted early in the history.


Thousands of years ago, Greek philosophers learned to distrust the senses, but they never forgot that direct vision is the first and the final source of wisdom. In the words of Aristotle, “The soul never thinks without an image.” At that time “Visuals” and “logical thinking” work harmoniously in a lively cycle.


However, Rudolf Arnhim also pointed out that “Visuals” (art) and “Logical thinking” (science) have been torn apart for a long time. Since people have been taught that “only words and numbers matter” and “drawings are art but not science.”


This situation didn’t change a lot until the middle of 20th century, when Visual Thinking started to bridge the gap in the context of business sessions.


Beginning from using flip charts inn sessions in 1950s, the idea of instant visual recording in front of session participants was applied in 1970s. The innovation of computers provided fresh possibility in ways of facilitation in 1980s. Big group was involved later in 1990s.



I also learned that the missing puzzle of the bridge is still hidden behind the cloud of an unclear Visual Thinking process.


To clear the cloud in Visual Thinking process, I studied the benefits, techniques, theories about Visual Thinking process in academic literature and publications of visual practitioners. The figure above is the visual description of the results. (Or see the previous post)


I also learned from JAMmers's experience that "Drawings should not just surprise people only in their first sight but also keep inspiring people to see the structure, problems, and solutions." I assumed that this is the ultimate goal of Visual Thinking in group sessions.


However, it is also suggested in the experience of JAMmers that these well-developed techniques cannot always guarantee the ultimate goal of Visual Thinking.


It is implied that the missing puzzle is the intense human interactions between Visual Thinkers and participants in sessions. The human interactions are the key to understand people's expectation and desire and to drive them to proper direction. (Or see the previous post) But there is no much study about human interactions in the field of Visual Thinking so far.

Therefore, the following research of the graduation project was dedicated to carefully map the human interactions in the context of Visual Thinking sessions. This would be a crucial step to decode the Visual Thinking process and optimize Visual Thinking method.