Visual stories from Alicante from ‘visually speaking’

Five days. Eight countries. Twenty-four participants. It may sound brief, but in reality, it was a journey filled with creativity, expression, and meaningful connection.

From the very first day, we were immersed in the creative process. No hesitation, no filters. Each of us was invited to create our own moodboard, using materials we personally chose — images, words, colors, textures. It wasn’t just an artistic exercise: it was a way to capture our expectations, as well as the fears we carried into this experience.

Through this process, we began to “read” each other beyond words. Visual storytelling was no longer just a concept, but something we were already experiencing in real time.

As we dove deeper into the program, the technique of lateral thinking truly surprised me. I realized how many ideas I actually had — ideas that I might have never explored under more “logical” ways of thinking. For those unfamiliar with it, lateral thinking is about approaching problems and decisions in unconventional ways, often stepping outside strict logic.

We started with simple yet revealing exercises: drawing objects and faces without looking at the paper, identifying common characteristics between completely different items, and finding solutions to hypothetical problems. It may have seemed unusual at first, but it pushed us to think freely and creatively. And that was only the beginning.

As the workshops progressed, we focused on techniques for analyzing colors, typography, and visual effects, learning how to transform them into tools for storytelling. Step by step, we began creating our own visual narratives.

Below is one of the outcomes of my collaboration with two other participants, centered on the theme of artistic expression — a process that combined our different perspectives into a shared story.

In just five days, I gained essential knowledge and practical tools that I will carry with me as a future primary school teacher. More importantly, I learned how important it is to break away from what we think we already know — to let go, experiment, and simply create.

Because in the end, creativity is not about having the “right” idea — it’s about having the courage to explore, to make mistakes, and to see the world through a different lens. And sometimes, all it takes is five days to change the way you think forever.