Unit Name: Generic Skills - Visual Thinking Tools
Semester: II,  Foundation Study Programme  2023
Credit: 4, Date: 11/09/2023 -  23/09/2023
Faculty:  Alaka Kavallur
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design & Technology, Bangalore

Abstract: The objective of the Visual Thinking Tools workshop is to nurture students' ability to perceptually enhance their understanding of image creation, imagination, and visual culture. By focusing on the perspectives of intricacies, diversity, and evolution, students will actively interact with their immediate environment. They will examine the interconnected ecosystem and discover methods to express their thoughts visually through the use of visual thinking tools. This approach to visual thinking is adaptable to a wide range of situations, offering a flexible means for creative exploration and innovation.

The workshop encompassed three primary themes aimed at fostering visual thinking:

• Visual Thinking Through Narratives

• Visual Thinking with Synectic Trigger Mechanisms

• Visual Thinking with Form and Structure

We commenced the session by addressing the following key areas:

Visibility vs. Visuality: We delved into the distinction between "visibility" and "visuality," emphasizing the social construct aspect of visuality and the importance of responsibility in our creative practice.

Music and Visual Thinking: An exercise involving painting and drawing, set to the backdrop of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads," unveiled how naturally we translate thoughts and emotions into visual language. It highlighted the connections between rhythm, balance, contrast, and emphasis in visual expression and musical composition and language. 

Visual Thinking Beyond 2D: We explored the notion that visual thinking extends beyond the realm of two-dimensional visuals, such as graphic design and illustration, encompassing forms, spaces, and structures.

Visualizing Poetry/Letter: An exercise related to students' sense of place aimed to offer context for visualization and contemplation. It encouraged metaphorical thinking and the application of basic design elements and principles to convey concepts. Students were prompted to consider how the book format, the language of their poem, memories associated with places, the medium, and the materials of representation influenced their visual thinking.

Our discussions on the works of Orijit Sen, Madan Meena and Dayanita Singh broadened students' comprehension of narratives and curation through visual thinking. We also delved into visual perception theories and the fundamental design elements to deepen our grasp of these essential tools in art and design, enhancing the application of visual thinking.

In later sessions, we began to explore how synectic thinking can elevate our abilities in visualizing and generating concepts. We chose the theme of botanical diversity around the campus, encouraging students to visually express and represent their findings, adding depth to their insights. In the concluding sessions of the workshop, we decided to play with mapping and explore puzzles as a form of playful visual narrative.

 As we constructed the puzzle, we discovered that its form and structure prompted us to engage in diverse visual thinking. Each student selected four tiles and illustrated the trees and plants they had identified from the campus on these tiles. We intentionally left the edges open-ended to allow for the possibility of incorporating additional elements from the botanical world into the puzzle if we decide to expand the project in the future.