Venn Diagram 06-22-11 © istockphoto.com/icyman

    Visual Thinking Matters

    Ask five people for a definition of visual thinking and you’re likely to get five slightly different answers. After all, visual thinking is a complex subject. But, at its core, visual thinking is about finding and sharing meaning through the use of visual tools such as graphs, maps, photos, drawings and diagrams. So why should [...]

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    Cover of Vanishing Breed

    The Power of Simplicity

    I first discovered William Albert Allard’s photography through his work in National Geographic. His photography is a masterful blend of simplicity and complexity. One of my favorite collections is Out West, which is also featured on the cover of his book Vanishing Breed. Each photograph tells a powerful and timeless story, yet leaves the viewer curious to know [...]

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    Image: © iStockphoto.com Brandfurnace

    Finding Inspiration

    Research presentations are not just about sharing charts and data, but also about taking the audience (even briefly) on a journey in the consumers’ shoes. Whenever I’m working on a research story for a client, I have my short list of “go to” sources that I turn to for inspiration. Inspiration sources help keep the [...]

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    Image: © iStockphoto.com/peterpolak

    Benefits of DIY Research Tools

    There’s an ongoing discussion in the research community on the benefits and value of DIY research tools. From my perspective, DIY research companies have provided a valuable service, not as a replacement for custom research but rather as a supplement to custom research. What do I mean? Let’s face it. If you are an early [...]

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    Hopscotch © iStockphotos.com/MollyAnne

    To Be a Better Writer, Play

    Watch children at play and you quickly realize that their approach to learning new skills is very different than most adults. When learning to play a new game, children typically use a 3 step process: listen to a few instructions, watch others briefly and then join in and start playing the game. It’s primarily through trial and error and [...]

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    Thank You © iStockphoto.com/Entienou

    Five Reasons to Thank Pew

    Every industry has a short list of quality sources for research data.  If you’re lucky, some of these sources also have a long history and deep expertise in the subject.  And, if you’ve hit the jackpot, you’ll find sources that offer all this at an affordable price. One trusted source that I turn to often while working on a technology research project or business [...]

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