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Presto Sketching

A book to help you think and communicate better with drawing

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Ben Crothers

How AI visualises company visions: the latest

21/12/2025 by Ben Crothers

While AI isn’t taking away the jobs of visual practitioners just yet, it’s worth keeping an eye on how its performance is going. I put two AI image generators through their paces, and compared them to another experiment I ran in 2022. The results are indeed gobsmacking. Back in August 2022, I tried out MidJourney […]

Filed Under: Fun and creativity, Visual strategy and facilitation Tagged With: AI, genAI, Midjourney, OpenArt, visual storytelling, visualisation

Draw more creatively with FLARE

25/07/2025 by Ben Crothers

If you want to find ways to draw topics more creatively, or you feel like you’re in a bit of a rut drawing things the same way all the time, then the FLARE prompts are for you. How do you draw a person? Or a building? Or a tree? There are lots of ways to […]

Filed Under: For designers and researchers, For project managers and facilitators, Fun and creativity, Problem solving, Sketchnoting and graphic recording, Visual strategy and facilitation Tagged With: creativity, flare, visual metaphor, visual thinking

How adding a graphic recorder to your event makes it a game changer

07/06/2025 by Ben Crothers

Ever walked out of an event thinking, “Well, that was great… but what actually happened?” You’re not alone. Words fly thick and fast, but they don’t always stick. That’s where a graphic recorder (a.k.a. live scribe or visual note-taker) comes in. Here are 6 benefits for having one around. I’ve been graphic recording at public […]

Filed Under: For meeting leaders and coaches, For project managers and facilitators, Sketchnoting and graphic recording Tagged With: events, graphic recording, meetings, scribing

Volume 2 of Journey Mapping Icons out now!

04/09/2024 by Ben Crothers

I’ve just released a second volume of journey mapping sketched icons, containing 120 more icons. All images are in 300dpi PNG format, with transparent backgrounds, available for you to use in any way you like. You’ll find some additions to existing categories found in the Volume 1 set of icons, including expressions, people, devices, technology, […]

Filed Under: For designers and researchers, Resources, Visual strategy and facilitation Tagged With: AI, artificial intelligence, cx, design, icons, journey mapping, product design, resources, service design, storyboarding, ux

Discover how your customers tick with the Decision Factors sketch

26/10/2020 by Ben Crothers

It can be really hard getting a handle on what factors affect your customers’ decisions, or how to get buy-in from your stakeholders. The Decision Factors sketch can make it easier. Think of the last time you made a big purchase. What was that like for you? Did you weigh up pros and cons? Was […]

Filed Under: For designers and researchers, For project managers and facilitators, Problem solving, Visual strategy and facilitation Tagged With: change management, design, meetings, product strategy, psychology, stakeholder management, ux

Here’s how your pen can break down walls

12/12/2019 by Ben Crothers

Visualising the barriers to your goals is not only a great way to identify them in a more meaningful way, but also to look at how to break them down.

Filed Under: For meeting leaders and coaches, For project managers and facilitators, Problem solving, Visual strategy and facilitation Tagged With: coaching, facilitation, goals, meetings, problem framing, productivity, strategy, visual metaphor

See a clearer path to your goal with the Build a Bridge framework

01/09/2019 by Ben Crothers

An oldie but an oh-so-goodie: this easy sketch of you – where you are now, and where you want to be – could well be the clarifying galvanising step you’ve been looking for, to finally reach that goal.

Filed Under: For meeting leaders and coaches, For project managers and facilitators, Visual strategy and facilitation Tagged With: bridge, coaching, facilitation, goals, meetings, planning, productivity, strategy, visual metaphor

Solve the right problem with the Problem Pyramid

23/10/2018 by Ben Crothers

Get clarity on a problem to be solved – either by yourself or as a team – by exploring it, reframing it and articulating it in a more insightful way using this simple visual pattern. Ambiguity and confusion? You probably don’t have a proper problem statement Have you ever had those times where you’re lying awake […]

Filed Under: For designers and researchers, For meeting leaders and coaches, For project managers and facilitators, Problem solving, Visual strategy and facilitation Tagged With: business strategy, facilitation, problem framing, product design, product strategy, service design, strategy, visual framework, visual frameworks, visual storytelling

How to draw mandalas

28/09/2018 by Ben Crothers

Drawing mandalas is more fun and rewarding than you probably think, and the results are probably better than what you imagine, whether you think you have no drawing skill at all, or you’re a seasoned sketcher. If you’re after a free and easy way to relax, centre yourself, and practise a bit of mindfulness, it’s hard to […]

Filed Under: Fun and creativity, Getting started Tagged With: abstract, creativity, intuitive drawing, mandalas, mindfulness, relaxation

3 ways to add extra impact to figure sketches

17/08/2018 by Ben Crothers

Do you ever wonder why some figure drawings have a way of jumping out at you and grabbing your attention? By trying out these ideas in your sketching, yours can do that too. Figures help your audience put themselves in the picture Whether you draw for fun or for a living (or both!), and you […]

Filed Under: Fun and creativity, Getting started, Sketchnoting and graphic recording Tagged With: creativity, figure sketching, figures, visual storytelling

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Recent Posts

  • How AI visualises company visions: the latest
  • Draw more creatively with FLARE
  • How adding a graphic recorder to your event makes it a game changer
  • Volume 2 of Journey Mapping Icons out now!
  • How to construct a great story

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  • Fun and creativity
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Also by Ben Crothers

Cover of the book Draw in 4 by Ben Crothers

Cover of the book 50 Remote-Friendly Icebreakers by Ben Crothers

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