Are We Slaves to Time?

Have you ever felt trapped by your schedule? By the endless cycle of dates, meetings, weeks, and years that seem to rule our lives? It's a feeling many of us share, and it’s what inspired this visual metaphor.

This image sparks a compelling question: how can we visually communicate the concept of being enslaved by our own time?

Visual metaphors like this one rely on our ability to see everyday objects in new and unexpected ways. They’re powerful tools for storytelling, capable of conveying complex ideas with a single glance. In this case, the calendar, something we associate with organization and productivity, becomes a symbol of confinement.

Turning Objects into Cages

The secret to creating effective visual metaphors lies in observation. Nearly any object can be transformed into a cage if we play with its structure and meaning. Of course, some objects lend themselves to this transformation more naturally than others.

Here are two key tips...

One of the key techniques for creating metaphors is taking ordinary objects and using them in unexpected ways.

In this case, I’ve used a cage.

A cage is often associated with limitations and the deprivation of liberty.

But here’s the twist: by applying the "substitution" technique, I’ve added a new layer of meaning. Instead of simply presenting a cage,

I’ve replaced something people naturally expect to see int this scene: a backpack.

This shift changes the narrative.

Now, we’re not just talking about restriction but also about the burden or emotional weight this boy is carrying, symbolized by the tiny version of himself inside the cage.

When we understand the subtle meanings of everyday elements, we can craft metaphors that go beyond words, delivering symbolic messages and telling mini-stories.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach