Hi fellow visionary, nice to meet you!

The short version: 

I'm Ingrid Lill, a Visual Strategist who helps entrepreneurs clarify complex ideas through simple sketches. After years of creating everyone else's brand but struggling with my own, I discovered that (simple!) drawing is the key to clarity, creativity and fun in business.

 

The long version

As a child, I was a magician. I created worlds filled with magical forests, and white horses.

Being an only child in a boring small town, this was my escape.

As I grew up, I hated being taller than my peers. I wanted nothing more than to fit in, be invisible, or both. I wore the flattest possible shoes for the prom.

I almost forgot about my inner worlds – but only almost.

 

 

An Artist Who Didn't Dare to Draw

I left my small town to study Visual Communication and then to work in advertising.

I designed countless corporate identities, brochures, and websites.

But  I struggled to create my own brand.

I never used illustration. I thought I wasn't good enough.

 

 

Marketing? for myself? Didn't happen.

Maybe a remnant from my flat-shoes-time?

The low point came when one of my word-of-mouth clients asked me to design a leaflet with a wall of 8 pt text and a bunch of ugly logos.

Something had to change. I realized, my life is too short to do boring work!

But how should that look like?

 

If your message can’t be illustrated, it isn’t clear enough

I discovered sketchnoting. Imagine! Drawing doesn't have to be art. It can be a communication tool!

Listening to Donald Miller’s book StoryBrand  heard him say: "Paint a picture of your client."

it hit me like a ton of bricks: Wait. I can literally draw a picture.

It was so obvious that I almost laughed out loud. I could combine my communication design background with my newfound love of simple sketches.

I realized that visual thinking is a powerful business tool. Instead of just designing for clients, I could help them think through their business.

 

Fear of visibility? Gone.

Lack of "something to say"? Gone.

Idea overwhelm? Gone.

And a miracle happened: Marketing became fun!

 

The Visual Minds method became my signature service - the unique combination of my communication design expertise and my love for simple, powerful sketches.

 

Stand out, pencil in hand!

This is how the Visual Minds method was born - a way to use simple sketches to create business clarity and help entrepreneurs communicate their unique value.

I do that in live sessions on Zoom where we're co-creating the vision of their business, and I teach my method in the wonderful Visual Minds community.

 

Now I make way more money with my simple sketches than I ever did as a designer, while having way more fun than I ever did as an artist.

 

Here's the irony: I'm now doing exactly what I was most afraid of in my earlier years. Back then, I wore the flattest shoes I could find to avoid standing out.

Now? I stand tall – pen in hand, drawing LIVE in front of audiences – doing exactly what I was afraid of! And you know what – it totally energizes me! I can do 2 or 3-hour sessions with a team, and I love every minute of it.

I'm not a psychologist, but maybe there is some merit in looking at "what scares you". It could be the thing that will energize you most.

 

Sketching should be taught in school

What I do know for sure is that for creative people, sketching is an invaluable business (and life) skill. It should be taught in school. I wonder why writing is considered essential, and drawing a "luxury" for the few "talented" ones.

Yes, some people might be more talented than others – but who says everybody has to be a poet? Grocery lists are also important. The same goes for drawing - not everyone needs to be Picasso.

I'm passionate about helping others discover this transformative approach through the Visual Minds method - and watching them light up when they realize they too can sketch their message,  regardless of "talent."

 

Visibility isn't about being perfect, it's about being clear.

And if you can't sketch it, it isn't clear enough.

 

Let’s Stay Connected

Today, I run my business from a remodeled barn in the Danish countryside, working with clients worldwide. When I'm not sketching for business, I'm drawing for fun (check out my LiLLuminations!), or exploring nature with our dog Pushkin.

Let's keep in touch! Subscribe to my illustrated newsletter or follow me on LinkedIn for regular doses of fun sketches and business clarity.