Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions

Book #5
October 2023
Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions by Temple Grandin

As I’m getting deeper into this design reading challenge, I’m thinking about what new input I want and how to get that information (book, video, course, etc). It’s not at all what I thought I was getting into. I thought I would be reading books with big explicit ideas pinned directly on design. Uh, not so easy to come by. So, here’s my latest read, way off of my original path. 

I can’t possibly summarize who the author Temple Grandin is… but she should be on your radar. She’s an academic and an animal behaviorist. She speaks and writes about how her autistic traits are an asset to her work. She is an outspoken advocate for autism rights and the concept of neurodiversity. 

This book is a mixture of reflections on visual thinking, neurodivergence and the author’s personal experiences. I won’t try to cover all of the points in the book, but here are a few take aways that were most relevant for those of us working in design.

Idea #1

Some people are primarily visual thinkers. (As opposed to being a primarily verbal thinker.) The author splits the visual thinkers into two big categories: object visualizers and spatial visualizers. Object visualizers tend to be graphic designers, artists, skilled tradespeople, architects, inventors, mechanical engineers and designers. Spatial visualizers see patterns and abstractions. Think music, math, statistics, science, electrical engineering, physicists.

Take away for designers: You’re probably a visual thinker and an object visualizer. Remember, not everyone thinks the same way that you do. As a designer, I find myself working with lots of different types of thinkers. Verbal thinkers like writers and marketing professionals, spatial visualizers like developers and printers, and object visualizers like fellow designers and photographers. The clients I’ve worked with tend to be even broader in their thinking styles. 

Idea #2

Visual thinkers are not often supported in childhood education. Arts and trade skills have generally been removed from schools — things like arts, theater, welding, auto mechanics. Hands on experiences like field trips are not prioritized. Educational policy has put the focus on testing certain skills - reading, writing, math. Students who don’t meet that particular measure of success are undervalued and not given opportunities to use their visual thinking strengths. 

Take away for designers: Visual thinking kids and teens are under supported in the school system. Probably even more so than when you were a kid. As adults who work in a visual world, we can make an effort to encourage, mentor, and offer experiences to visual thinking kids and teens. They need to see that their interest and skill in visual thinking can be valuable. Look for opportunities to connect with visual thinking kids: let a Girl Scout tour your office, let a high school student shadow you for a day, volunteer for career day, make things with kids. 

Idea #3

Making teams or partnerships of people with different strengths and weaknesses can be the key to successful businesses, products, and projects. 

Take away for designers: When you’re putting together a team or are hiring, remember that we need complementary skills. It’s OK that one team member isn’t great at presenting work to the client, maybe they’re great at planning a project or troubleshooting technical issues. Everyone doesn’t have to be good at everything to be valuable.

Idea #4

Brains that think, learn and process information differently than others arrive at different solutions. Neurodiversity can lend itself to creativity and innovation. 

Take away for designers: When hiring or in college admissions, remember that people who are neurodivergent can also be highly capable and valuable. People who think differently will have different observations, different ideas and different solutions and have the potential to become innovators. Be aware that certain qualifying requirements — think SAT testing or eye contact during an interview — may screen out people who think and experience the world differently.