What gives card decks this unique power to create new meaning in the world? The basis of visual thinking is the analysis (i.e. disaggregation) of a complex idea into “nodes”, followed by the synthesis (i.e. reintegration) of those “nodes” through “links” into a new meaningful whole. At the most basic level, cards are “nodes” in search of “links”. Card decks as a problem-solving tool are powerful because we often know the parts of a problem or solution, but we don’t yet know how they fit together in an insightful way.

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CARD DECKS: TACTILE TOOLS FOR PATTERN-FINDERS, INTEGRATIVE-THINKERS AND INSPIRATION-SEEKERS
JUNE 2014
By Stephanie Gioia

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CARD DECKS
What do the Table of Elements, the first IBM computer, and
the novel Lolita have in common? Before they were icons of
human achievement, they were card decks.
What gives card decks this unique power to create new
meaning in the world? The basis of visual thinking is the
analysis (i.e. disaggregation) of a complex idea into “nodes”,
followed by the synthesis (i.e. reintegration) of those “nodes”
through “links” into a new meaningful whole. At the most
basic level, cards are “nodes” in search of “links”. Card decks
as a problem-solving tool are powerful because we often
know the parts of a problem or solution, but we don’t yet
know how they fit together in an insightful way.

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CARD DECK
Dmitri Mendeleev was the first scientist to order the elements
by atomic mass, resulting in what is now the periodic table.
Mendeleev carried a deck of cards – each with an element
and some of its known properties – using time on train rides
to play “chemical solitaire” and look for patterns.
Visual Thinking Tip: When looking for a pattern or structure
to bring meaning to complex information, break information
into movable nodes and seek multiple possible
configurations until the relationships within the system comes
into focus.

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CARD DECK
Herman Hollerith developed a machine that could tabulate
statistics by reading information encoded on physical cards
through the placement of holes in a grid. Hollerith’s invention
revolutionized the field of data statistics and marked the
beginning of the computing age. His Tabulating Machine
Company later became IBM.
Visual Thinking Tip: “Code” your individual cards in as
many ways as possible, using symbols and colors to
categorize information. Structure may later emerge from this
metadata.

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CARD DECK
Vladimir Nabokov, author of many novels including Lolita,
composed his work using an index card-based method,
assembling stories in fragments. In an interview with The
Paris Review Nabokov described his card method: “The
pattern of the thing precedes the thing. I fill in the gaps of the
crossword at any spot I happen to choose. These bits I write
on index cards until the novel is done. My schedule is
flexible, but I am rather particular about my instruments: lined
Bristol cards and well sharpened, not too hard, pencils
capped with erasers.”
Visual Thinking Tip: Save your thoughts in fragments – a
memorable quote, a midnight brainstorm, a crucial statistic, a
sketch – to maintain a pool of content that can be assembled
or reassembled for multiple possible uses. Communicating
your ideas to audiences that vary in their perspectives and
needs is much easier when you can rapidly pull the most
relevant content or storytelling approach for each audience.
Learn more about how to make and use card decks at
www.deckaholic.com

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www.xplane.com