Go ugly to be successful ?!

Go ugly to be successful ?!

🎯 Just watched a fantastic TEDx talk by Prof. Martin J. Eppler about unleashing the power of visualization at work(available at YouTube: [1]). He outlines three Key Practices for Better Visual Communication:

1.	Make it intentionally “ugly” - polished visuals can inhibit collaboration. Rough sketches invite participation and improvement.
2.	Lead with visual metaphors instead of bullet points - they tap into existing knowledge and spark new solutions. A simple bridge or mountain trail can convey complex ideas more effectively than slides.
3.	Use visual variations - create a series of related images that others can build upon. This invites collaboration and deeper understanding.

💡 The most powerful insight: Beauty can be the enemy of collaboration. When something looks too perfect, people stop thinking critically and contributing ideas.

🎬 He formulates a call to Action: Next time you’re preparing a presentation or explaining a concept, try replacing those bullet points with a simple sketch. It might feel uncomfortable at first — then watch what it does to the conversation and engagement level. #VisualThinking #Leadership #BusinessCommunication #Innovation #Collaboration

This resonates well with me, as I really appreciate the power of a storytelling present who used slides as a backdrop and not aims at providing a self-contained document. Constantin Gonzalez Schmitz nicely elaborates a very similar view in his post [2].

What are your experiences with visual communication at work? Share your thoughts below! 👇

Resources: [1] Want to Give a Great Presentation? Use Ugly Sketches | Martin J. Eppler | TED - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vjh5d5rez0 [2] Constantin’s post on “Make Your Slides Your Sidekick, Not Your Competitor!”: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7255257645119365120/

Image generated with Amazon Nova Canvas 1.0 model.