Visual Thinking for Problem Solving
Pairs visual thinking theory with skills like sketching, 3D modeling, and data visualization to solve design problems using critical thinking and design thinking methodologies.
Summary
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Fall 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=13 letter grades).
What you’ll be able to do
Understand what it means to think and communicate visually.
Manipulate visual content created by others, create new visual content related to problem solving, and integrate a wide range of visual thinking tools and processes in order to create a compelling narrative (including data visualization) in the context of solving a design problem.
Understand and apply the theoretical foundations of visual communication, such as the elements and principles of design, to engage in effective visual communication and data visualization.
Understand the differences between, and similarities among, a wide array of visual thinking tools and methods,
Choose and apply visual thinking tools and methods that are useful for different types of problem solving
Generate quick hand drawn sketches and diagrams for study and communication.
Develop a basic knowledge of how to apply technologies used for visual communication, including industry standard software applications in 2D, 3D, and 4D, along with foundational skills that will support future in-depth study.
Generate digital output files that can be used for digital fabrication such as laser cutting, CNC routing, and 3D printing.
Source: UW Guide
Grade history
↗All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapGraduate/professional standing
- Graduate/professional standing
This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
- Graduate/professional standing
Professors
Spring 2027No instructors recorded for this selection.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.
Meeting source records
Student experience
the class
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=8 letter grades); Fall 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=13 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
No workload feedback recorded.
Topics
- Elements and principles of design
- Processes of visual narrative
- Perceptual theories
- Design thinking and problem solving methodologies
- Visual thinking tools and applications
Skills
- Manual sketching and diagramming
- 3D visualization and modeling
- Data visualization
- Image manipulation and graphic design
- Video presentation and multimedia
- Design for 3D printing and fabrication
- Digital rendering
- Visual narrative creation for design problems
Grades
Latest available · Fall 2025— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Grade distribution · % of letter grades
Grades over time
Through Fall 2025
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Sources & history
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.
Selected offering source records
No offering records for the selected term.
Raw records
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Student reviews
Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.
Read original reviews
No records available.
Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
{
"model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
"model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
"task_version": "17",
"output_id": "9b619a234ed9a8d30b4fbf2f01eea5a5ef2f182f11b43fa32957a7e4c0600511",
"requirements_status": "valid",
"dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}