Master Visual Thinking: Turn Complex Ideas Into Clear Visual Models

Join thousands of learners on the journey to master the skill of creating hand-sketched models as you turn complex ideas into clear, memorable visuals—no artistic experience required.

Three weeks after reading that important book, can you still remember the key ideas? When you're trying to explain a complex concept at work, do people look confused? You're not alone.

I'm Doug Neill, and after a decade of teaching visual thinking to thousands of learners worldwide, I've completely redesigned my approach. This isn't about making pretty drawings—it's about creating visual models that help you make sense of information and communicate ideas with clarity.

Building a New Curriculum

Over the past year and a half I've been developing a new visual thinking curriculum, one that brings together the best of what I've shared in my previous eight courses and incorporates what I've learned from a decade of conversations with aspiring visual thinkers like you.

Through this new and improved curriculum you'll learn how to sketch out your own visual models for use as a learning, problem-solving, and communication tool.

Yes, you'll learn the basics of diagramming and drawing, but more importantly, you'll learn how to direct your visualization efforts toward a cohesive model that then becomes a visual asset that you can use for years to come.

The Visual Thinking Journey: Four Comprehensive Modules

Here's an overview of the journey that you'll go on. The blue check marks indicate lessons that are currently available. New lessons are released each week!

Part 1: Foundations - Start with the right mindset and approach. Learn what visual thinking really is, discover the three key shifts that unlock lasting benefits, and understand how to overcome common barriers as you develop your personal visual thinking roadmap.

Part 2: Methods - Master the specific techniques that bring ideas to life. I'll share a flexible framework for creating powerful visual models and you'll build your mark-making skills from the ground up. These aren't art lessons—they're thinking tools.

Part 3: Reflections - Develop the skills to evaluate and improve your work over time. Learn what makes good models effective, discover guiding principles for visual thinking, and learn how to keep things fresh as you keep growing your abilities.

Part 4: Examples - Get inspired by real visual thinking work from practitioners around the world. Study frameworks from experts like Dave Gray and Abby Covert, explore creative approaches from visual storytellers, and see how others within the community are using these skills in their professional and personal lives.

Within this curriculum you'll find a complete system for developing your visual thinking skills in a way that will serve you for years to come.

Bonus Courses

In addition to that new curriculum, you'll also get access to the eight courses that I've created over the past decade that explore the full range of what you can do with these skills.

Weekly Live Events

Learning thrives in community, which is why I host weekly live workshops to dive deep on particular lessons within the curriculum, to answer your questions, and to provide feedback on your work.

Not only will you learn from me, you'll be inspired by the projects of other community members. Those workshops take place on Zoom from 9:00am to 10:30am Pacific Time on Thursdays, and the replays are posted later that same day.

In addition to those weekly workshops, I also host monthly book club events which give you the opportunity to put your visual thinking skills to use while reading a good book.

Throughout July, August, and September of 2025 we're reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard. You can choose to read one of those books and sketch out visual highlights while reading.

The first of three live events for that book club is on Tuesday, July 29th at 9:00am Pacific Time. In that event I'll help you develop a customized plan for your reading and sketching process.

Limited Time Birthday Challenge

I'm turning 40 on August 22nd, 2025 and I'm challenging myself to complete this curriculum by then. Join me for a new video lesson every Wednesday and a live workshop every Thursday to build your skills alongside a global community of visual thinkers.

(Note: originally I was planning to release two lessons per week, but that pace wasn't sustainable, and we've found it helpful for the workshops to focus on one lesson instead of two. The bulk of the curriculum will still be available by late August.)

*** Use code: DOUGTURNS40 for 50% off (expires August 22, 2025) ***
You'll see the option to enter this code after you've created your account, but before you share any payment info.

What's Included

• Lifetime access to all lessons within the new curriculum.
• Lifetime access to the eight courses that I've already created.
• Six months of weekly live workshops, with the option for ongoing community access if interested.

As an added bonus for those participating in the birthday challenge, the six month timer won't start until August 22nd (but you'll still have access to the live events between now and then).

Frequently Asked Questions

A Decade of Learning

Though this curriculum is new, our learning community is well established. Here's what folks have said about it: