Essential reading on Visual Thinking
Books on visual thinking
1. Solving problems with pictures – Author: Dan Roam
Nice animated videos explaining Dan’s ideas on solving problems with pictures. I highly recommend his book, The Back of the Napkin. In fact I was fortunate to get a preview of his next book Blah Blah Blah, should be releasing on 11.1.11, which is simply outstanding.
SS Viewpoint: This is the first book, I’ve come across which provides a solid framework for solving problems and selling ideas with pictures. It gives you a solid grounding on the basic fundamentals and does so in a very easy to understand fashion.
2. Unfolding the Napkin – – Author: Dan Roam
Once you’ve read the above book, you’ll be irresistibly be drawn to his second book. So do yourself a favour and buy them both together if a discount bundle is available 
Both books are gold.
P.s. I’m also reading a very old classic book called: Thinking with a Pencil by Henning Nelms, it’s extremely fascinating. Will update once I finish reading it completely.
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Online Resources
i) Author: Dave Gray
SS Viewpoint: Extremely interesting introduction of visual thinking from a different perspective.
Description of link from author’s site: In this short video (about seven minutes) I introduce some basic principles of visual language: Forms, fields and flows. I think of this as the “alphabet” of visual language. This set of principles is the primary set of marks you need in order to create visual meaning.
http://www.davegrayinfo.com/2008/04/08/forms-fields-and-flows/
2. Some basic rules for napkin-sketching –
Description of link from author’s site: An introduction to some basic principles for making better napkin-sketches.
http://www.davegrayinfo.com/2009/02/05/some-basic-rules-for-napkin-sketching/
3. Drawing facial expressions –
Description of link from author’s site: Here’s a quick video on drawing facial expressions. You might also want to check out a related post from Communication Nation in 2005. You can also see a larger version of the video here.
http://www.davegrayinfo.com/2010/10/28/drawing-facial-expressions/
ii) Author: BigPictureVideo
SS Viewpoint: Series of 7 videos introducing their version of visual language, it’s definitely interesting. I especially also like the fact that they emphasize the importance of color, interestingly both Dan Roam or Dave Gray don’t stress on it. I for one feel it’s very important.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkEogROyup0 (People)
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNYeDa7EGig (Places)
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW-A4kQg7VA (Process)
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT_iK6zgR5I (sPeech)
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYj7-Nxmb24&NR=1 (Color)
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A4yZJFO88I&NR=1 (Effect)
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZZmuYlR6lc&NR=1 (Icons)
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Visual Bloggers with interesting content updated frequently
http://stickfiguresimple.com/blog
http://theoatmeal.com – Matthew Inman
I think I should turn this post into a resource page and keep updating it. Hmmm… maybe down the line, once I’ve got more stuff into it.
VizCraft 