Open Innovation Model

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:14:54 +0200

I am open...

My answers to it all

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 19:45:05 +0100

At the moment I am reading Visual Thinking by Rudolph Anheim. Rudolf is Professor Emeritus of the Psychology of Art at Harvard University. My first glance of the book was an original print, which had been read enough times for the bookbinders glue to let go.... in the 70ties people seemed to be interested in visual thinking (or the lack of it in modern day society). When I heard what this thesis was about I was amazed that the origin of the questions that drove Rudolf began over 50 years ago! Today when I started to read the book I was transformed back to ancient Greece and the reasoning behind the rejection of sensory perception as a valid part of logical thinking. Finally a scientific link to the discreditation of visual thinking!
The main problem with scientifically acclaimed thesissis is that the nature of the subject always has to be described in Correct but complicated terms. A book talking about visual thinking, that only has a couple of pictures in it, needs to be simplified.

So I have found a focus for this visual philosopher! I will finish reading this milestone in the psychological and cognative circles and try to simplify what it means for us... practitioners of visual thinking.

The first chapter already blew me away... let the clouds clear! I can see clearly now...the rain is gone!

a simple point of reference/view/perspective

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:24:55 +0200

stepping back gives perspective... Any artist can vouch for that. But can it give you perspective in the abstract sense?

The Action Loop

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:58:48 +0200

For some time now I have been trying to catch the elements that make up the loop we go through every day in our quest for the right visual. Last friday my graduate student Po Chih invited some taiwanese friends over for a presentation about shared mental models in the Studiolab at industrial design in Delft. The question of one of Po’s friends was about the fact that gestures and body language are visual language too. This triggered Po to add the saying that a gesture is worth a 1000 images...

This was a very significant link for me to receive. It lead to the creation of a new Peppet and to the text: ACTION LOOP

According to the most recent explorations about Visual thinking in JAM, our process can be viewed as Non-linear. This is one of the reasons why it was so difficult to create a single unifying visual design model... It doesn’t exist! What does exist is the FLOW that we try to reach when creating a visual WITH the client. The action loop is the non-linear process that is filled with experience and personal unique processes that lead to results.

The difficulty in trying to teach or educate budding visual do-ers lies in a lack of explicit shared material which we can use as a foundation to explain and share our experience...

JAM SCHOOL is born!

Chose your role

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 17:19:23 +0200

This matrix was one of the results of VIZTHINK2. It was an attempt to try and map the need for a particular kind of visualization and match that need to the right visual practitioner. The idea is to try and define what role or perspective will be used in trying to create the right visual for the right context, audience or process. When you look at the matrix from the other side you might start asking the question of what is the goal, your motivation, the story, the desired effect and the representation whch has to bring all those things together...

This chart is in development and will be growing over time... (It shall be hanging on the walls of Vizthink4 to try and get participants to help think and define this not yet charted visual landscape)...

A VITAL reminder by Kermit!

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 00:47:39 +0200

It has been some time since I posted these little video gems on my inspiration blog... So within the boundaries of this blog I thought it was high time for a reminder given to us by our little green friend. His transformation through the power of visual thinking can be seen between the #1 and #2 movie. Xperience some raw muppet visual thinking!

V - I - S - U - A - L, visual

Sun, 10 May 2009 11:18:44 +0200

In the process of trying to get a grip on everything which has to do with visualization, it seems you have to start somewhere. In order to make the word “V I S U A L” fit in my unfocussed context, I started my search for clarity IN my computer...Typing the word “visual” into the MAC provided Thesaurus, I got back this general definition:

visual |ˈvi zh oōəl|
adjective of, or relating to seeing or sight : visual perception.
noun (usu. visuals)
a picture, piece of film, or display used to illustrate or accompany something.

The adjective describes the act of seeing.
The Noun describes a physical carrier of images.

After this textbook explanation I looked it up
WIKI-style ...The result here was the coupling of two words...The word “visual” coupled to the word “system”.

Wikipedia starts by defining what sight is and that vision starts in the brain. It states that visual perception is a very subjective and individual state and that “beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” ... I love that saying.

This left me with the words perception and system. Two words which are very important when trying to communicate that ‘something’ mentioned in the thesaurus definition. The way we perceive a ‘visual representation’ contributes to the understanding of it. A good visual in that respect results in shared understanding without the explicit use of text to give nuance to what we mean. The way we perceive the world around us is based on what we have acquired in knowledge and experience. This brings us to the need of a system to be able to give a place to all your knowledge. In order to be successful in what I do I need to be able to translate data, information, knowledge or even wisdom to “VISUALs” which allow for shared understanding. So I guess that “Clarity lies in the mind of the visual thinker...”

I think that the word “VISUAL” has to have a self-esteem problem...because according to the dictionary it exists only to illustrate or accompany a communicative moment. I can just see the word “VISUAL” as a person having a huge inferiority complex...
Luckily in todays fast moving society the word visual is getting the re-definition it to richly deserves. “VISUAL” exists in combination with “TEXT” as a joint venture in conveying meaning between individuals/groups or even nations or cultures. There has to be a balance in order for the communication to work!

At the fore last VIZTHINK meeting (the 2nd one I believe) I met up with some very driven personalities, who all have their own perspectives when it comes to defining visual thinking and its benefits for their respective expertise. When exploring the general building blocks of the “visual industry” I split of with Margret Ward of ClearINK and Malik de Kok of de Denkwerkplaats. We discussed the representation of data, thought and feelings in the visual plane, when using it for reporting on events or data. When talking about the word “VISUAL” we stumbled upon the realization (for us at least...atbthat moment) that the word “VISUAL” does not need to imply only the graphic representation of an event or ob/sub-ject... The use of the word “VISUAL” goes way beyond the graphical representation of ‘something’ and exists in real-time... Moving your arms from side to side trying to get attention can be categorized as a “VISUAL” way of getting attention.
After this realization it becomes clear that in our respective visually oriented professions, when using the word “VISUAL”, we refer to a graphical representation. We then went on to try and categorize WHAT you represent on the visual plane and what meaning it would have to someone besides the creator of the “VISUAL REPRESENTATION”. We ended up categorizing “visual attempts of conveying meaning” (read as pictures...) on a scale ranging from clear unambiguous data to emotional multi-interpretive pictures (or artfull representations)

The scope of the word “VISUAL” in my world describes the end result of my thinking... usually a picture which reflects, summarizes, states, questions, represents or challenges the things which I am fortunate enough to be working on.

Direct visual link... visual linking

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:57:43 +0200

A lot of my thinking happens directly when I talk... this character trait often leads to the realization of connections or the discovery of patterns while I am talking. The truth is out there...right on the tip of my tongue or the sleeve of my shirt...whatever metaphor works...No preconceived thought for this guy..;).
But how does this work when I draw? Is there a direct visual link to be experienced when drawing out your thoughts? In one of my earlier blogs I described my vision on the difference between a sketch and a doodle. A sketch being the exploration and a doodle the visual result of putting a pen to paper while enjoying a associative or disassociated train of thought. Two words arise when thinking about drawing with or without purpose... Serendipity and Intuition.
The first can be described as a feeling of discovery by trusting the flow of things and being open enough to recognize the patterns/solutions or other results which reveal themselves while drawing. It is a way to solve problems without directed focus. Stumbling on the right chunks of the puzzle because you are subconsciously making the right steps. You could compare this state with the throwing of the stones by the tribal head or shamans. They would cast some objects and by interpreting the pattern of their fall they could make a prediction... recognizing a pattern. Maybe serendipitous drawing can be viewed similarly. Opening the flow of the pen and recognizing the patterns within the lines.
The second word,intuition, describes the moment of recognizing the right path when it is presented to you... Knowing the path can only be said about what has come before ...the drawing as it is revealing itself until the next pen-stroke can be compared to the breadcrumbs that have lead you to where you are right now... knowing that the next step or stroke is the right one when it has been made can be called intuition.

This small blog is the result of serendipitous writing... I had no idea what to write next to the picture I had already put on this post. And by looking at this picture while letting myself go into a somewhat unfocussed ramble, created a small description of two words that I need to embrace more...consciously! This entry is its own proof...
Turning it around (making the text and then translating it to a interpretive visual is what we try to do every day at work...)

A SKETCH or a Doodle?

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:18:53 +0200

A small inquiry on wikipedia will nowadays clearify any issues I have with the meaning of certain simple words.
As in the case when talking about a sketch. According to Wikipedia a sketch can be seen as a study...a dynamic effort of exploration to find out what a subject is about...be it a nude model or a business model.
Another unique character trait is that it can change over time. When putting in the effort it grows closer to an understandable summery of what YOU are studying.

When your thoughts are disconnected from the effort to explore, you end up with a doodle. A small twirly drawing made without a direct purpose, except for your urge to “doodle” it.

SKILL+ STORY = ART

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:43:56 +0200

This might be a loaded statement, but let me explain my thought behind it.
My mother is a queen-quilting-bee and has been putting in the hours to hone her skill ever since I can remember. Her skill has reached such a level that others recognize her in what she does and ask her why she does it. This makes her some sort of skill expert in the field of quilting. Recently my mother had an exhibition of her work and was asked some questions during a live interview with the two exhibiting artists. When she was asked if her quilts were for sale, she authentically replied with a simple no... because every quilt had a story behind it, they had become something more. Her personal reasons and her emotional link to the quilt make up a whole new experience when talking about it. This is where her skill becomes Art. The story or reason behind the process of making a quilt can vary. When making a quilt to keep you warm the result is a product. When you go through the process for someone else and there is an alternate motive for keeping you warm... one might consider the result art.

just a thought...

IDEA, SKETCH, CONCEPT...

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:40:14 +0200

I have been thinking about visual thinking for about ten years (since ’99) and have kind of joined the global discussion for 2 years now. Although I am not actively sharing yet... this will be my first post concerning an effort to start re-defining or calibrating some relatively simple terminology. My thought starts here:

I find it peculiar that when ever you find yourself in a small-talk situation about innovation or start-up’s everyone has a problem with making clear in what stage their project is at the moment. When you say :”...this venture is a good idea”, I would think it hasn’t even started yet, because it is just an idea... a thought... something an individual has in one’s head. Other come up with the words “great concept!”... and what they mean is exactly the opposite. When reacting to a thought..you say what a great idea!

It is my personal goal to get everyone in the world to re-calibrate their brains with the simple difference between an idea and a concept!
An idea is ussually a thought that sparks up when talking with others or when confronted with a context or a time. That thought gives of a feeling of satisfaction, because you recognize a pattern that will solve a problem you are experiencing. An idea in itself is worth nothing...excepty when it is followed up and goes through the motions of “sketching” to become a concept.
A concept is a proposal to solve something in a context and which can be shared and improved upon when talking with others.
This Thought can be seen as a sketch... it is still in a phase of development and needs to be read and discussed....

~ to be continued~

Why draw?

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:33:15 +0200

Why do we talk...and create text?
I guess the main reason is to be able to express our thoughts and feelings to another person. The obvious next “dumb”question would then be “why do we need to express ourselves?”
To answer this you have to ask yourself why you are even reading this text... Can the answer be connecting to others that have the same thoughts? Well... a company might be described as a group of like minded individuals that share a common goal. That goal is driven by their thoughts and feelings about the stuff they do to keep themselves busy and make themselves feel usefull!
So to ask the question again.”why talk?” can be answered simply by saying that talking can lead to the realization of shared thought... and shared thought can lead to all kinds of things!

standing at the door of something important...

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:12:50 +0200

I have been haunted by a feeling that I am sitting on a story that needs to be shouted out into the world... The problem is where to start telling the story? Sometimes a small cookie will blow things way out of proportion and luckily there are also times when drinking everything becomes small again...

VISUAL LANGUAGE

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:30:51 +0200

Why is it even relevant to think about a shared language? Are all different cultures ready to set aside their differences and join in some great global effort? One might think that the global energy issue is of such a prolific size that a shared language might give us a better chance to change the world.
On the other hand we might want to just be able to say hello and not have it offend or insult another global inhabitant... so just being nice might also be a reason.

Going all the way back to the origins of our languages we see that in human development over the globe we as a learning species capable of speech have giving meaning to most of the same things that occupy our daily lives. Even on a more abstract emotional and philosophical plane parallels can be observed between the complex life issues like love, belonging or family, honor, betrayal etc... The global Joke might be that based on context we have not been allowed to create one shared language to help us understand each other based on what we say {check story of the tower of BABEL}.

Instead something wonderful happened! Separately all homo sapiens created their own interpretations of life on this planet based on their own location and ability to prosper or fail (read learn) in its context.

Now that the world is “shrinking” we feel the need to be able to communicate with each other based on the fact that we are having a direct effect on each others context. It might even be relevant for my generation to go back to school and learn more about oriental languages...based on their economic effect on our culture.
What is happening is inevitable... our cultures are mixing and there is nothing we can do about it but preserve the memory of our own cultures and share a common goal in trying to unify all those cultures into one global culture.

d.

Creative Deconstructionism

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:12:03 +0200

Descartes way of being sure of what you build... start with a new foundation... destruct the old...build on the new!

The MATRIX spaghetti Theory

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 00:43:05 +0200

What if you compare a lot of information to a big lump of spaghetti? The first thing you would want to do is to take a tool (like a fork) and stick it into the tangled web of information and start turning. What you end up with is a wound up piece of information, that for argument sake we could call a “pattern”. This pattern is now a one bite piece of information that is “easy” to digest, but which will make a mess when you start moving it towards your mouth. Well...before this metaphor start to get out of hand, I want to share a thought: What if you could see through the spaghetti? What if it was transparent and you could see where the individual lines start and end...and most importantly...where they are tangled and where they are tied up. When I had this thought I was nevisiuoning the way NEO would eat spaghetti. “Do you think that’s pasta your eating...?
What I got from this thought was the importance of transparency. This leads to a clearer picture, which in turn will expose the connections you want or need to see.

just a thought...

visualizing thought

Sun, 5 Apr 2009 23:47:10 +0200

When thought can be pulled into a physical context, it is capable of many things. It can Inspire, reflect, align, be part of something bigger... It can carry a message, a feeling, an instruction...it can be part of a stepping stone or be a spring or sounding board. A scribble can hold the power to solve, to entertain, to remind, to inform or even to scare!

getting my notes in order

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 21:24:44 +0200

I have been gathering my thoughts on paper for quite some time now, and have picked up a very handy tip along the way. I used to write & draw down thoughts, feelings and questions in my sketchbooks... now I made the low-tech jump to index cards. This tip was given to me by Dave Grey (mind behind XPLANE & VIZTHINK), who also needed to be able to physically lay-out your thoughts in front of him and be able to scan your results when needed.

lets call this tip 1...

a picture is worth...

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 23:17:02 +0200

I have been doodling around the idea of drawing down my thoughts and publishing them. My main reason to do this would be to get rid of the need to make everything make sense... just publish and move on to the next small obsession will be my new credo! With some time. these doodles, sketches and images WILL reveal a larger picture...
My kick-off image for this chunk-blog is not so much about a philosophic thought... It goes back a long way and is a reminder to myself that a picture can also spark a feeling, which in turn can only be described with at least a thousand words...

THE VISUAL PHILOSOPHER

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 12:21:46 +0200

“try and make sense of something as seemingly simple as an idea. Once you try, you will see that it is no simple task to come up with some definitive view of what you are exploring. For me... drawing out my thoughts leads to the possible recognition of patterns. When you give a spaghetti chunk full of information a little room for chewing...you will start to taste the ideas that boil to life ,while stewing in your metaphorical bowl of sauce.