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I Illustrated 2 Extremes That Seem To Oppose Each Other, But In Reality They Need One Another To Form A Full Story (30 Pics)
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
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Easy Or Complex
Final score:
133points
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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#2
Day And Night
Final score:
123points
#3
Falling Apart Or Falling Into Place
Final score:
118points
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.
#5
Birthday Cake And Countdown Clock
Final score:
99points
Михаил Л-Л 3 years ago
Every birthday is just a day we celebrate to forget that we're one year closer to the end.
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."
#6
Future And Past
Final score:
97points
#7
Expectation vs. Reality
Final score:
96points
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
Final score:
84points
Pieter LeGrande 3 years ago
To my mind the person on the left is about to learn a lesson about gravity.
Lily Francis 3 years ago
It's better to build bridges than build walls. And be careful not to burn the bridges that mean the most to you. And every harsh or hurtful word or action is a brick that helps build a wall of resentment and once they're built, they're hard to tear down or break through. So it's always best to weigh your words before they leave your lips because you can apologize for the rest of your days but they are never forgotten even if they are forgiven.
#9
Emotional And Rational
Final score:
79points
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.
#11
Love Or Possess
Final score:
76points
#12
Beyond Good Or Evil
Final score:
66points
#13
Work Together Or Against Each Other
Final score:
65points
#16
Look Down Or Look Up
Final score:
56points
#17
How Are You And Who Are You
Final score:
54points
#18
Complexity Or Simplicity
Final score:
54points
#20
Comfort Zone Or Adventure
Final score:
44points
Elizabeth Truss 3 years ago
As an introvert, I prefer my comfort zone to any sort of adventure 😄
#21
Attach Or Detach
Final score:
43points
#22
Passion And Motivation
Final score:
40points
#24
Parenthood And Childhood
Final score:
39points
#26
Vulnerable And Eager To Connect
Final score:
36points
#27
Inward And Outward
Final score:
33points
#28
Ancestors And Descendants
Final score:
33points
Chel Bolin 3 years ago
I had trees planted in honor of my parents when they passed. Hopefully they will be around for future generations to enjoy.
#31
Begin And End
Final score:
10points
Pterodactyl in Disguise 3 years ago
A Möbius strip!! You have to go around twice to get to the end. It looks easier than it is
#32
Stories And Human
Final score:
9points
#33
Yolo And Fomo
Final score:
8points
#35
Degenerate And Flourish
Final score:
8points
#36
Hot Date vs. Cold Date
Final score:
7points
Dillon Brown 3 years ago
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
Final score:
7points
Someone Somewhere 3 years ago
I think every worker feels the pain of chasing financial freedom that seems just out of reach while making someone else financially free.
#38
Caged And Free
Final score:
7points
#41
Work Together Or Against Each Other
Final score:
7points
Kate Johnson 3 years ago
Or maybe they're nets, not oars, and working together gets them more fish? (I thought they were nets at first glance.)
#42
Identity And Self
Final score:
6points
#44
Victim Mindset Or Player Mindset
Final score:
6points
#46
Existentialism Or Nihilism
Final score:
6points
#48
Money And Paper
Final score:
6points
Bouche Clay 3 years ago
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
Final score:
6points
#50
Peace Or Regret
Final score:
6points
Down With Agent Hedgehog! 3 years ago
If that’s death, I want my money back. I’m going home to galaxy no.376. Earth sucks.
#51
Positive Or Negative
Final score:
5points
Kate Johnson 3 years ago (edited)
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.)
#53
Process And Goal
Final score:
5points
#54
Control And Being Controlled
Final score:
5points
#56
Introvert And Outrovert
Final score:
4points
#57
Racing Time Or Racing Yourself
Final score:
4points
#58
Inner Child And Kidult
Final score:
4points
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