I recently came across an invitation from Beau Lotto / labofmisfits to provide examples of artistic activities that changed perceptions. The first thing that came into my mind were the diagrams I create to convey complex meanings. This year I have been developing a visual aid or tool to explore different aspects of creativity. The well known and much referenced 4C model of creativity developed by James Kaufman and Ron Beghetto1 is provided as a textual description. Turning their words into a conceptual picture creates a visual aid that is much easier to understand. The diagram or map can be used to explore (play with) ideas, different questions and perspectives in a far more efficient and effective way than by words alone. A diagram like this is also a tool to encourage playful and exploratory thinking: it provides a framework within which ideas can be located, connected, related and communicated.
In the last week we have had some stunning sunsets. So beautiful that I would not know how to begin to describe them and how they fill me with wonder. Its a wonderful illustration of why a pitcture is worth a thousand words.