One of the single, life-altering, most impactful facts I ever learned: people can see images in their minds!
Back in 2020, it was going viral on Twitter. I remember sharing this fact in pre-live-presentation chatter with Erin Weigel and Kelly Mullins, “Did you know people can see things in their mind‽”
This is how I learned about aphantasia, or the inability to visualize in one’s “mind’s eye.”
Aphantasia test

The viral tweeted test is simple. Close your eyes, picture an apple. Open your eyes, and—via the chart above—what most closely represents what you saw?
The amazing bit: people can actually see an apple as an apple just by thinking about it!
Meditation makes much more sense.
Throughout my off-and-on-again meditation practice, I never understood visualization inside one’s head is an actual ability humans have. Headspace’s introductions to meditation frequently used the “blue sky” metaphor that, conceptually, I understood…but had never imagined people could actually visualize these things.
Visual problem-solving
Yesterday, I read a post that prompted today’s post. It was about how design is a tool for informed decision-making…visually.
…we are talking about "using visuals to solve problems." This can mean UI, but often it means diagramming; making information understandable and actionable for decision-makers internally, rather than customers externally.1
Since learning this about myself, and the rabbit warren of self-discovery, I’ve come to the conclusion my aphantasia was one of the major factors that drove me into studying and becoming a professional designer.
Convergence of design
I can’t visualize in any way, internally, so that visualization & thinking-process becomes external. Design has given me the tools to take that thinking to whiteboards, post-its, notebooks, mind-mapping.
To visualise; to communicate.
While I my ways of thinking diverges from statistical norms, design provides a process of convergence. Going through the process of giving form to function—and finding the function to form—is an essential part of my practice as a designer, manager, and leader. It’s one of the essential ingredients that has, I believe, contributed to my success and life-path thus far.
It’s also why I’m a photographer.
I’ve been taking photos since highschool: writing my final Senior Project on digital vs. film photography, saving up for my first DSLR, working at the University newspaper as a photographer, interning at a photography studio, even taking product shots of diamonds for a client.
I can’t recall memories in any way that’s visual. Photographs give me access to memories of the people & places I’ve encountered throughout life.
Wired for design
Aphantasia is one of the prompting concepts that I plan to explore in a book: Wired for Design, exploring the relationship between neurodivergence and design.
I’ve yet to pin down if it’s a memoir or exploratory where I get to interview people or not.
If it sounds like a book you’d be interested in, let me know.
1 Samsonov, P. (2024, July 29). Pavel Samsonov on LinkedIn.