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Both Sides Thinking is a project of over 300+ illustrations, plus dozens of animated GIFs. The aim of the project is to blend philosophy with minimal design, to visualize abstract concepts and ideas through plain black and white visual representations.

Social media has divided people with strong opinions further away from each other. Constant battling between who's right, and falsifying the other. In this series, only black and white are being used. While the 2 extremes seem to oppose each other, in reality, they work as the Yin and the Yang; both sides need each other to form an image, a full story.

More info: bothsidesthinking.com | Instagram | studiobothsides.com

I was born and raised in The Netherlands, graduated from Willem de Kooning Academy, Communication and Multimedia Design(Hons), now working as a freelance designer for brands and agencies from Shanghai and Tokyo.

When I am not busy, I like to translate complex philosophies and ideas into simplistic visuals and invent new tools to understand life from different angles.

I came up with the idea to create these pictographics during my search for the meaning of life. Because it was first written in text form, I found it was only useful for me, so I decided to translate all these insights into visuals, so they can be shared with more people. While it was first showcased with texts, the words were taken out in the end because I realized that everyone has their own interpretations for each visual, and there is no need to force anybody to agree only on a single interpretation, this also explains a little bit about the concept of Both Sides Thinking.

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#4

Wait Or Act

Wait Or Act

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#5

Birthday Cake And Countdown Clock

Birthday Cake And Countdown Clock

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Михаил Л-Л
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every birthday is just a day we celebrate to forget that we're one year closer to the end.

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Someone literally said "Hymn uses his life to draw down these visuals, it was because of Hymn's search for meaning, he explored life in every possible way. He went to Kenya to do volunteer work, went to Australia and Japan to do organic farming, he tested his limits and finished several marathons and trailwalker, did a few pilgrimages, went to do meditations and vipassana, he went back to university to study philosophy, and had a life and death motorbike accident in Vietnam and so forth, he has always kept his notebook at his side, so that whatever pops up in his thoughts, so he could doodle them and then later re-work them into minimal visuals."

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#7

Expectation vs. Reality

Expectation vs. Reality

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These visuals are like thought triggers, they can be a starter for people to discuss deep and philosophical ideas or the life topics that we all will encounter sooner or later in life. Since there is no model answer, they are free for interpretation. Everyone will get a different message by looking at one of the pictures.

#8

Wall Or Bridge

Wall Or Bridge

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In short, I am trying to create "Tools for Life Design". During my search for life's meaning, I found that there are no tools out there for me to understand life in an efficient way, I wished there were. Finally, I realized why not create them, so I am looking forward to creating more tools that can inspire people about life and see it from a broader perspective. Welcoming everyone to join this project if interested. More info can be found here.

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#10

Lead Or Follow

Lead Or Follow

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EmCWolf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of a child learning to branch out from their family. It's an important part of growing up!

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#13

Work Together Or Against Each Other

Work Together Or Against Each Other

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#14

Universe Or Youniverse

Universe Or Youniverse

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#15

Self Love And Love Others

Self Love And Love Others

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Silver
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this honestly says a lot about sacrificing your own happiness to benefit other people and it speaks to me really deeply

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#18

Complexity Or Simplicity

Complexity Or Simplicity

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#19

Search Inwards And Express Outwards

Search Inwards And Express Outwards

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#20

Comfort Zone Or Adventure

Comfort Zone Or Adventure

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#21

Attach Or Detach

Attach Or Detach

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Bouche Clay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Either way, the fellow spotting him is toast. Very squished toast.

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#22

Passion And Motivation

Passion And Motivation

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EmCWolf
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a really inspiring little image, it takes work to keep your ideas afloat but it's worth it!

#25

Equality And Biases

Equality And Biases

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#28

Ancestors And Descendants

Ancestors And Descendants

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Chel Bolin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had trees planted in honor of my parents when they passed. Hopefully they will be around for future generations to enjoy.

#29

Boss Or Leader

Boss Or Leader

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#30

Passive Living Or Active Living

Passive Living Or Active Living

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#31

Begin And End

Begin And End

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Pterodactyl in Disguise
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A Möbius strip!! You have to go around twice to get to the end. It looks easier than it is

#32

Stories And Human

Stories And Human

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#33

Yolo And Fomo

Yolo And Fomo

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Robecca
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always feel like i am missing out and wasting opportunities

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#34

Time And Trade

Time And Trade

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#35

Degenerate And Flourish

Degenerate And Flourish

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#36

Hot Date vs. Cold Date

Hot Date vs. Cold Date

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Dillon Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For some reason I saw this as a game of poker over wine. I was like, is the hot part strip poker?

#37

Pursuit And Void

Pursuit And Void

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Someone Somewhere
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think every worker feels the pain of chasing financial freedom that seems just out of reach while making someone else financially free.

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#38

Caged And Free

Caged And Free

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#40

Protect Or Destroy

Protect Or Destroy

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#41

Work Together Or Against Each Other

Work Together Or Against Each Other

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Kate Johnson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or maybe they're nets, not oars, and working together gets them more fish? (I thought they were nets at first glance.)

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#47

Up And Downs

Up And Downs

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#48

Money And Paper

Money And Paper

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Bouche Clay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When paper specifically for bathroom usage became a thing, many people used it as stationary and continued to use the Sears catalog in the bathroom. People thought toilet paper was too nice for its intended purpose.

#49

Real And Fake

Real And Fake

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#50

Peace Or Regret

Peace Or Regret

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Down With Agent Hedgehog!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that’s death, I want my money back. I’m going home to galaxy no.376. Earth sucks.

#51

Positive Or Negative

Positive Or Negative

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Kate Johnson
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But why the fish hook? To indicate that you never know what you'll find on a metaphorical fishing expedition, like 'digging for dirt' on someone? Or what? (I'm not being facetious. With only black and white and no words, every bit is important, and I'm not getting the meaning.)

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#52

Taboo And Inevitable

Taboo And Inevitable

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#53

Process And Goal

Process And Goal

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#55

Pessimist Or Optimist

Pessimist Or Optimist

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#58

Inner Child And Kidult

Inner Child And Kidult

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#60

Perception And Reality

Perception And Reality

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EmCWolf
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's so easy to get caught up in how "good" others seem to have it, but remember that we're only seeing what they want us to.

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Both Sides Thinking GIF series