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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.

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    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.

    #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!

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    #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

    #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