Sometimes the fastest way to clarity is to start drawing.

In this episode of How We Future, Lisa Kay Solomon sits down with visual thinking pioneer Dan Roam to explore how simple sketches can bring clarity to complexity. Dan, author of The Back of the Napkin and five other bestselling books, shares how visual thinking strengthens problem-solving, communication, and our sense of agency in an uncertain world.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why drawing helps us slow down and make sense of complex problems
• How Dan’s “six by six” framework supports clearer thinking and communication
• What visual thinking has to do with personal agency and influence
• Dan's philosophy on AI and its impact on storytellers

Lisa and Dan trace the roots of visual thinking back to how our brains naturally process the world, then bring those ideas into real life. The conversation also looks ahead as they reflect on what visual thinking means in an era of generative AI, and why human judgment, ethics, and curiosity still matter deeply.

Links from the show

• The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas by Dan Roam
• Blah, Blah, Blah: What to Do When Words Don't Work by Dan Roam
• Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations by Dan Roam
• Napkin Academy