Recently, we were faced with a fascinating challenge: we were asked to outline a service design for the travelers of the future. But when you indulge in speculative ideas, you quickly reach the limits of language as a tool. We found it increasingly difficult to write about technologies and interactions that neither exist nor can be vividly described in this way right now.
Fortunately, we had been to a Lunch&Learn by
Koos on the topic of "Visual Thinking" shortly before. Service designer Astrid ten Bosch taught us the basics of visual thinking on two dates - how do I put an idea on paper in the shortest possible time without aesthetic pretensions? What depth of detail is needed to understand an idea and which details are disturbing at first glance? In small exercises, everything discussed was practiced directly - and we were able to take sketchbooks full of ideas back to our everyday work (thanks Koos!).
We were enthusiastic about the method and its advantages. Instead of puzzling over the meaning of descriptions for a long time in an interdisciplinary team, we simply sketched our imagined scenarios. The method allowed us to quickly visualize situations and put ourselves in them together. Suddenly, it was no longer abstract to be close to the intended target group and their feelings and needs in the situation - you were practically standing right next to them.
Visual thinking had the entire team prototyping in no time, and a statement about the journey of the future was possible for everyone afterwards. A nice bonus: sketching together prevents misunderstandings.
We are not alone in this assessment:
A study by Delft University of Technology illustrates the benefits of quick sketching in interdisciplinary design work. Teams that sketched their ideas were able to agree on common design ideas faster and more sustainably. Misunderstandings could be identified and clarified in sketches. Additionally, once ideas were sketched and discussed, they stuck better in the minds of all team members. The visual sketch helps our brains remember previous ideas and everything discussed about them.
