A non-visual guide to visual thinking. I include visuals in all my work. As an experiment, I decided to publish this article without a single illustration. What do you think? # What is Visual PKM and Why Should You Care? I was recently at a family picnic where one of my cousins, curious about my YouTube channel and online course, asked, *"Can you explain what you do, in simple terms? And why would someone care?"* To be honest, I struggled to articulate it clearly. I am so involved in the details that I find it really hard to explain the essence of the [Visual PKM YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/VisualPKM) and my online course. Visual Thinking, and how I practice it and teach it, is one of those things. It’s very clear in my mind, but breaking it down and explaining the core concept in layman's terms is extremely challenging. So, this article is my attempt to answer my cousin's question. Why should you care about Visual Thinking? What is so special about combining [[About Obsidian-Excalidraw|Excalidraw with Obsidian]]? How is [The MindSET](https://youtu.be/6rKjWJKTZak?si=7EAbpjjezj9D3Qtx&t=554) different from other frameworks? Why should someone like you consider joining the [[About the Visual Thinking Workshop|Visual Thinking Workshop]]? My claim is that **we are all visual thinkers**, but because the education system focuses on text, our visual skills are underutilized. Visual thinking is about much more than illustration and artistic skills. Visual thinking can be learned and developed. Even people like myself, who are awful at drawing and lack aesthetic intuition, can learn and hugely benefit from improved visual thinking skills. "The MindSET" is a unique combination of popular note-taking approaches such as [Building a Second Brain](https://youtu.be/3i4CiImIYYA) by [[Tiago Forte]], Zettelkasten (a.k.a. the Slipbox system), a knowledge organization system that originated in the early 20th century, gaining popularity through the works of [[Otto von Neurath]], [[Paul Otlet]], [[Niklas Luhmann]], and [Sönke Ahrens](https://youtu.be/o49C8jQIsvs), and Linking Your Thinking by [[Nick Milo]]. It also builds on sketch noting and visual note-taking approaches advocated by [[Doug Neill]] in [[Verbal to Visual]], [[Mind Map Mastery]] by [[People/Tony Buzan|Tony Buzan]], or by [[People/Authors/Dan Roam|Dan Roam]] in [[The Back of the Napkin]]. Most of all, **visual thinking is FUN**, and I firmly believe that we are at our peak performance not when we apply fancy productivity tricks, but when we enjoy what we do. When work feels like play. This is at the heart of my approach. ## The Mind and How We Think Have you ever walked into the kitchen and asked yourself, *"Wait, why did I come in here?"* You scratch your head, trying to remember, but no amount of thinking in the kitchen helps. The moment you sit back down at your desk, though —BAM— the idea hits you. *"Oh, that’s why I went to the kitchen!"* Or, think about when you attend a class reunion. You may struggle to list your classmates from high school beforehand, but once you’re there, standing in front of them, their names come back naturally. It’s not that you consciously recalled them—they came back because the context triggered those memories. It is like this with all our thoughts; they are associated with other thoughts and memories. Our thoughts are not neatly filed away, ready to be retrieved at any moment. They’re more like a network of interlinked ideas, deeply connected to context. And our minds often link ideas in ways we don’t fully control. For instance, a specific smell might bring back a flood of memories from childhood. Those memories resurfaced naturally, triggered by the smell (the context, the association). These examples illustrate two important things: 1. **We think in relationships**, by linking ideas together. 2. **Much of our thinking happens outside our heads**, relying on external triggers like gestures, smells, images, or physical environments. I learned about the concept of thinking outside our heads from Annie Murphy Paul's book, [The Extended Mind](https://youtu.be/oXMKF8zqG6E). Our thinking doesn’t just occur within our skulls. We offload much of it onto our environment, whether it’s through writing things down, using gestures, talking to others, or sketching ideas out visually. ## The Power of Visual Thinking This is where Visual Thinking comes into play. Our brains process visual and spatial information more naturally than text. Just think of our ancestors, constantly monitoring their surroundings on the savanna. We were visual creatures long before we started to read and write abstract ideas. Imagine looking at a shop receipt versus glancing at the shop window for the same store. Which helps you understand what’s being sold faster? Reading through the lines of a receipt or quickly glancing at the store’s display? The answer is obvious! The shop window gives you an immediate sense of what’s available. Our brains can take in a visual scene all at once, whereas text requires effort and time to process, line by line. As children, we all start by drawing. It’s how we naturally express ourselves before we even know how to write. We think with pictures, doodles, and gestures long before we learn about letters. Then, as we go through the education system, we’re taught that writing and reading are the proper ways to think and communicate ideas, while drawing becomes something for art class. Or worse, we get scolded by our teacher for doodling in class *"instead of paying attention"*. But that doesn’t mean visual thinking stops being important—it just becomes underutilized. ## Dimensions of Note-Taking We all take notes. Some of us write notes on post-it notes and stick them to the fridge, our monitor, or the car's dashboard. Others take notes in journals or on sheets of paper neatly organized into notebooks. We write documents, memos, emails. Some of us may take it even further and create a system of notes using tools like Apple Notes, Microsoft OneNote, Obsidian, Notion, Tana, Logseq, Roam Research, MindManager, TheBrain, TiddlyWiki... and the list goes on and on and on. Let’s take a moment to differentiate between three types of note-taking and thinking: - **2D Thinking** is what most educated people are used to. This is thinking in writing, storing text in documents, organized into folders. Text is linear; you have to read the words in sequence. That is the first dimension. When you create documents and arrange them in folders, you create the second dimension. But unless you link those notes together, they remain disconnected. Some people take a lot of notes, but most do not, since in their experience, the chances of finding and reading those notes later is virtually zero. - **3D Thinking** emerges when you begin linking your notes. You’re no longer just navigating through folders; instead, you’re moving between connected ideas, allowing your thinking to expand in new directions, much like browsing the Internet. When you do this, your note-taking picks up, since through linking, you are regularly stretching your mind to think of connections, and you are regularly revisiting older notes and ideas. Now, note-taking has a practical long-term value! - Finally, **[4D Thinking](https://youtu.be/3S3oIsaK17U)** adds the power of visuals. Unlike text, you can understand visuals in an instant. Think of the shop window vs. the shop receipt. Visual thinking allows you to take in ideas all at once, and when those visuals are linked to other notes, pictures, and ideas, you create a dynamic system of thinking that’s richer and more holistic. You create a spatial-visual thinking system. This concept of visually organized ideas ties very closely into the **Method of Loci**, an ancient memory technique where you visualize placing objects or ideas in specific spatial locations in your mind, by imagining yourself walking through a familiar terrain such as your home, placing items you want to remember on the cabinet at the door, next to the TV remote, on the windowsill, etc., making recall easier. Visual organization of information leverages the power of our spatial awareness to remember and organize complex ideas. ## Linking Ideas with Excalidraw in Obsidian Visual Thinking is not just about making illustrations; it’s about organizing information spatially. This is where Excalidraw, especially when combined with Obsidian, becomes a game-changer. [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md) is a non-linear note-taking tool that allows you to connect your notes, much like how your mind works—through links and associations. Instead of searching through folders and files, you can just click on links between notes, like how you would navigate a web of ideas on Wikipedia. Just like macOS, Linux, and Windows are operating systems for using a personal computer, Obsidian is like the operating system for connected notes. Similarly to how macOS, Linux, and Windows support third-party software, Obsidian also supports customizations via plugins, and that's where my [[About Obsidian-Excalidraw|Obsidian-Excalidraw plugin]] comes into focus. [Excalidraw](https://excalidraw.com) is an open-source vector illustration tool, but in Obsidian, it isn’t just a tool for creating pretty drawings quickly—it treats each drawing as a visual note. Every illustration, and every part of every illustration, can be directly linked to, referenced, and reused across your notes. When you reuse images or parts of an image across different drawings, you are creating implicit links between ideas by reusing illustrations. No other tool combines note-taking and visual thinking in quite the same way. I integrated Excalidraw into Obsidian to support "The MindSET," my philosophy of visual thinking. I searched for 25 years to find the right visual thinking tool before deciding to build my own. There are many virtual whiteboards, mind-mapping, and illustration tools, but I am confident there’s nothing else quite like Excalidraw in Obsidian that allows you to link, connect, reuse, and reference visual knowledge as flexibly as you can in Obsidian-Excalidraw. At the time of writing this article, there are just shy of 2,000 plugins in the Obsidian Community Plugin store, and my Excalidraw plugin is currently the most downloaded of them all, with 2.7 million downloads, leading the second-most popular plugin by over 500,000 downloads. Others have also grasped the sheer power of visual thinking that Excalidraw in Obsidian makes possible. Excalidraw in Obsidian is a 4D thinking tool. When we think visually, we don’t just engage one part of our brain. We engage our entire mental landscape—our spatial awareness, our visual recognition, and the associations between ideas. This is why, when you use tools like **Excalidraw** and **Obsidian** together, you’re not just drawing. You’re thinking more deeply, more creatively, and more in tune with how your brain naturally works. That said, you don’t need fancy software to get started with Visual Thinking. Tools like paper and pencil work just fine. However, the unique combination of Obsidian and Excalidraw allows you to not only draw but also **integrate those drawings into your broader note-taking system**, or to use a more fancy term, your Personal Knowledge Management system (your Visual PKM). Excalidraw is more than just a sketching tool or a virtual whiteboard — when combined with Obsidian, it supports a deeper, more organic way of thinking, helping you build visual connections between ideas in real-time. ## Why This Matters If you’ve ever picked up old notes and found it takes ages to recall the key ideas, or you struggle to organize your thoughts through writing alone, then you already know the limits of purely text-based thinking. Visual Thinking provides a way to unlock ideas, patterns, and connections that would otherwise be buried in long paragraphs of text. For example, when I sit down to work on a project, I usually don’t start with writing. I start by sketching out my thoughts visually. I arrange my ideas on a virtual whiteboard, and as I do, ideas start to click in ways that text alone can’t provide. Once the relationships between ideas become clear, I can then crystallize them into words. I believe words are important, and I believe that writing is an important tool for thinking, but I also believe that this back-and-forth between visual and text-based thinking supercharges your creativity and understanding. It is at the core of how I work and how you can also take your own thinking to the next level. So, the question is: Do you want to spend your time searching through long lists of notes, or would you prefer to see your ideas and their connections instantly? **Visual Thinking**, especially with tools like **Excalidraw in Obsidian**, allows you to do just that — transforming your thinking process from a linear experience into something more creative and intuitive. ## Conclusion In conclusion, **Visual PKM** serves as a bridge between our innate capacity for visual thinking and the world of personal knowledge management. It empowers us to navigate and connect our ideas in a way that mirrors how our minds naturally work. We explored the essence of **Visual Thinking**, the unique integration of **Excalidraw and Obsidian**, and how **The MindSET** framework differentiates itself from other methodologies. The core questions remain: Why should you care about Visual Thinking? Because it enhances how you organize and recall information, making learning and idea generation more effective and fun. How does Excalidraw fit into this? It transforms static notes into dynamic visual landscapes that facilitate deeper understanding and creativity. Lastly, what value does the Visual Thinking Workshop offer? It provides a community and a structured environment to cultivate your visual thinking skills and to learn The MindSET through the example of reading and processing a book. If you think about it, your life happens through communication. Thinking is also just a form of communicating with yourself. A single visual can speak louder than a thousand words. Master visual thinking, and you'll elevate your communication, your thinking... your life. ## Where to go from here Explore my other articles about Visual Thinking and PKM: - [[Beyond Words]] - [[Mastering Visual Literacy]] - [[Zsolt's Blog/The Case for Visual Thinking]] - [[We Are Visual Thinkers, Yet We Struggle to Think Visually]] Explore my YouTube channel: [Zsolt's Visual PKM](https://www.youtube.com/c/VisualPKM) Give Excalidraw in Obsidian a try. After all, you've got nothing to lose. Both Excalidraw and Obsidian are completely free. - [The Excalidraw-Obsidian Showcase: 57 key features in just 17 minutes](https://youtu.be/P_Q6avJGoWI) - [Getting Started with Visual PKM from scratch using Obsidian-Excalidraw](https://youtu.be/QKnQgSjJVuc) Explore the [Visual Thinking Workshop](https://visual-thinking-workshop.com/). Contact me on Social Media: - [@[email protected] - Mastodon](https://pkm.social/@zsviczian) - [@zsviczian on X](https://x.com/zsviczian) - [@zsviczian on Discord](https://discord.gg/bYvsqV2eHB) ### Let me know what you think! I would love to hear your thoughts on this article! Please share your feedback on [X (formerly Twitter)](https://x.com/zsviczian), [Mastodon - (PKM.social)](https://pkm.social/@zsviczian), or on the [Visual Thinking Discord Server](https://discord.gg/bYvsqV2eHB). Use hashtag #VisualPKM and mention @zsviczian in your message. - Are my arguments convincing? - Are there any points you disagree with? - How would you make the case for Visual Thinking, the Obsidian-Excalidraw integration, The MindSET framework, and the Visual Thinking Workshop? - What specific doubts or questions do you have? I'd love to engage in a constructive dialogue to deepen our collective understanding and enhance our workflows! 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 ## "But wait...": Common Counterarguments Here are my assumptions of what some of you might be thinking. Did I guess right? Is my answer satisfactory. Please let me know. See "How?" right above. ### Not everyone thinks visually. What if visual thinking just doesn't click for me? Isn’t it biased toward visual learners? That’s a valid concern! Some people do feel more comfortable with linear, text-based approaches, and it’s true that some might naturally lean toward visual learning. But visual thinking isn’t about fitting into a specific category of learner—it’s about **expanding your cognitive toolkit**. You don’t need to become a “visual person” overnight; instead, think of visual thinking as rekindling a side of your brain that may have been neglected. It complements how you already process information and helps you **organize ideas more clearly** or make connections you might not otherwise notice. It’s like learning a new language—it opens up new ways of thinking, even if you’re more comfortable with another. So even if visual thinking doesn’t click immediately, giving it a try can spark creativity and make your thoughts more tangible. ### Writing is enough for me. I don’t see the need for visuals to think effectively. Writing is indeed powerful! However, visuals can deepen your understanding and memory retention by engaging different cognitive pathways. They help clarify complex ideas and reveal relationships that might not be as evident in text alone. Combining both methods can create a richer learning experience, making your reflections even more effective. ### Won’t using visuals and text together lead to cognitive overload or make things too complex? Can’t visual aids also distract from the content? At first glance, it may seem that incorporating visuals could complicate things, and it’s true that if not used thoughtfully, visuals can detract from the message. However, **visual thinking often reduces cognitive load** by allowing you to organize thoughts spatially, clarifying connections between ideas and making them easier to manage. Creating effective illustrations is indeed challenging, but rather than viewing it as added complexity, consider it as enhanced thinking. The difficulty in quickly crafting good visuals stems from the need to translate abstract concepts into concrete representations. Research indicates that we remember concrete ideas more easily than abstract ones. Therefore, while converting abstract ideas into visuals may be mentally demanding, it ultimately fosters greater clarity in your mind rather than adding complexity. When designed and integrated properly, visuals complement and enhance content by highlighting key points and making complex information more digestible. Finding the right balance is key—visuals should support rather than overshadow the written word, enhancing your understanding. You might be interested in my video on [Mastering Concept Visualizations](https://youtu.be/MTdbhePtCco), which discusses the difference between trivial and unhelpful illustrations versus concept visuals targeted to amplify a message. ### I’m not an artist, so visual thinking isn’t for me. I doubt I have the skills to draw or visualize effectively. That’s a common misconception! Visual thinking isn’t about being an artist; it’s about conveying ideas in a way that makes sense to you. Simple sketches, diagrams, or even symbols can be powerful tools for understanding and communication. Everyone can learn to visualize their thoughts, regardless of their artistic skills. It’s about expressing your ideas in a way that resonates with you. I personally rely heavily on icon libraries such as [Flaticon](https://flaticon.com/) and [The Noun Project](https://thenounproject.com/). ### I don’t need to think outside my head. I can process ideas just fine internally. Internal thinking is valuable, but externalizing your thoughts through visuals can enhance clarity and promote new insights. You create feedback loops by externalizing ideas. It allows you to explore ideas in ways you might not have considered before. External stimuli from visual prompts can significantly enrich your thinking process, giving you new perspectives. ### Why not stick with simpler tools like paper and pen, then? Isn’t that enough? Paper and pen are a fantastic starting point! But the real power of Excalidraw and Obsidian is in taking visual thinking to the next level. They allow you to **link, reference, and reuse** your notes in ways that paper can’t. Imagine instantly connecting a sketch from months ago to an idea you’re working on today. Or navigating through a web of notes to see how your thinking has evolved. These tools make visual thinking **dynamic and reusable**, far beyond what you can do with paper alone. ### I prefer reading physical books and writing in journals. Isn’t the tactile experience essential for comprehension? That’s a great point! Many people do find comfort in the feel of paper and the act of writing by hand. However, integrating digital tools doesn't mean losing that tactile experience—it can actually enhance your **accessibility and organization**. Digital notes can be easily searched and interconnected, allowing for quick retrieval of information. Plus, visual thinking techniques can be applied to physical notes as well, enriching your experience without replacing it. Think of it as adding another layer to your toolkit that complements your existing practices. ### Technology is overwhelming and complicated. I’m not sure it’s worth the effort to learn new software tools for PKM. I understand that concern! The beauty of visual PKM is that it doesn’t have to be tech-heavy. You can practice visual thinking with simple materials like paper and markers. The goal is to **enhance understanding and connection**, regardless of the medium. Starting small with basic tools can ease the transition. You might find that even a few visuals can significantly improve your grasp of concepts without overwhelming you with technology. ### I already use a different note-taking system and illustration tool. Should I switch to Obsidian and Excalidraw? That’s a valid question! The good news is, **The MindSET** concepts are mostly **tool-agnostic**. Visual thinking and storytelling can be applied to just about any tool. While I prefer Excalidraw in Obsidian for its seamless integration of both visual and text-based thinking, it's not the only way. I recommend giving Obsidian and Excalidraw a try—they’re both free, so the only investment is your time. You can experiment, see how it feels, and then transfer any insights back to your preferred system. In fact, I’d love to hear how you’re applying **The MindSET** with your current tools! ### But isn't there a steep learning curve with Obsidian and Excalidraw? It seems like a lot to pick up. I understand how it might seem intimidating at first. But the beauty of both Obsidian and Excalidraw is that you can start **small** and **build up gradually**. You don’t need to master everything right away—they’re designed to be **accessible**, and you can get up and running with the basics fairly quickly. The time you spend learning them will pay off through better organization, faster recall, and the ability to **link ideas** in ways that might feel clunky or impossible with other tools. And if they don’t suit your workflow, you can always transfer the core principles back to the tools you’re already using. ### I don’t have time to learn a new system. My schedule is already packed! I hear you! I feel the same. However, learning to integrate visual thinking can be done gradually and will ultimately save you time. By streamlining how you organize and retrieve information, you can free up time for deeper thinking and creativity. Starting with just a few minutes a day can lead to significant improvements over time, making it a worthwhile investment in your productivity.