“Research is undertaken because organisations want to learn something.” – Experience Lab
When I came across this line while reading up on visual thinking, I thought, “Yes, absolutely! That’s what’s missing, the learning part!”
Because in nearly every project I’ve worked on, I’ve seen organisations pour time, money, and energy into gathering insights… only for the final reports to sit on a shelf, unread.
And it’s not just a hunch. The UN itself recently admitted the same problem: out of 1,100 reports published last year, only 5% had more than 5,500 downloads, while 20% had fewer than 1,000. A report about unread reports , ironically, perfectly drives my point home.
So why does this happen?
It’s not because research isn’t important. It’s because making sense of complexity is hard. Numbers, charts, policy jargon…they don’t always spark connection. They don’t always lead to action. And more often than not, the people undertaking the research don’t speak the same “language” as the people meant to execute it.
And by language, I don’t mean Kiswahili vs English. I mean the gap between the “numbers people” and the ones who gave up on maths the moment the Greek alphabet showed up in equations (hand up, anyone?). Think of groundbreaking medical research packed with policy recommendations, but the policymakers don’t understand the science, so the urgency of a new policy never lands.
This is why people like me exist: Visual Knowledge Brokers.
We are the bridge between jargon and execution. We distil research and translate it into something that inspires action.
For instance, I recently summarised an entire project into a one-page backdrop banner (behind-the-scenes and final doodle coming soon). This doodle-summary shows the what and why of the project, as well as key milestones and achievements. In a nutshell. My client was baffled (in the best way) at how I captured the project so clearly after just one 90-minute virtual meeting and a 2-page concept note.
And they’re not alone. Here’s what a past client had to say:
“I became aware of Thinkillustrate’s work when the organisation I work with was looking for interesting and ‘less wordy’ ways to present our data during launches and engagements. Information is important, but remembering and comprehending the information is even more important. Thinkillustrate’s visuals have helped increase data retention, and we keep going back for more services. It’s even more fascinating to see their rapporteur at work—like watching speakers’ ideas come to life.”
This was the actual doodle that they included in their final report:
Another organisation told us:
“The team at Think Illustrate exceeded my expectations with their exceptional talent and attention to detail. Their illustrations brought our project to life and helped us communicate effectively by simplifying the findings of our reports into easy-to-understand visuals.”
The Power of Visual Thinking
Visual thinking isn’t here to replace research, it’s here to amplify it.
- It makes invisible connections visible.
- It creates a shared language across roles, levels, and even cultures.
- It transforms complexity into clarity that actually drives change.
If you want a peek behind the curtain, I’ve shared some of the doodle ideas and exercises I use in my Visual Thinking Toolkit
A Question for You
Most organisations are good at doing research. But far fewer are good at making sure it actually travels into boardrooms, into communities, into action.
So I’m curious:
👉 Have you ever used visual summaries of research or reports?
👉 Or, what’s your biggest challenge when it comes to sharing findings in a way people can actually use?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And if you’re curious about how your own reports could come to life visually, my inbox is always open. Drop me an email at hello@thinkillustrate.com or call/ WhatsApp me at +254 759 042 507.
Until the next doodle, stay curious!
