Puzzles are more than a pastime; they represent learning and creating meaning. When we solve puzzles, our brains look for answers, test hypotheses, and celebrate ‘Aha!’ of the discovery. This process reflects the structure of cognition itself.
I chose ‘puzzle’ as one of the keywords to explore. Compared to other keywords, Puzzle gives the first impression of rules and logic. The word usually leads to associations with a problem, or a model that needs to be reconstructed, and an answer that requires thought to arrive at. Words such as maze, puzzle, breakout, quiz, etc. are all easily associated with puzzles, and almost everyone encounters puzzles in their lives, and still do on a regular basis.
I have noticed that images associated with puzzles usually have a strong sense of stability. For example, in maze images, the image tends to be relatively static and the composition tends to be more balanced, symmetrical, or rhythmically repetitive. This stability made it easier for me to understand the states represented by the puzzles on a visual level.
In looking at this material, I have come to realise that puzzles are not just about solving the answer, but that they require an understanding of the relationships involved. How the elements interact with each other, whether the order is important, whether the missing parts change the overall structure, these are all associations that the word Puzzle naturally invokes. Even if there are no clear hints in the picture, people will instinctively try to find the pattern. At this stage I am trying to complicate Puzzle as a way of organising information. By using this keyword, I can look at the structure of the image more clearly and analyse which visual elements make the image look regular and logical, and which ones make the image chaotic.
Cognition
Research by psychologists has shown that solving puzzles activates working memory and pattern recognition – the same systems used for learning and creativity. Wittgenstein once said that language is a puzzle: a structure we use to make sense of chaos.
Emotions
Life is also like a jigsaw puzzle when it comes to emotions. Our memories and emotions are scattered pieces that we spend years trying to put together. Each experience adds something new to the mix.
Socialising
When it comes to socialising, jigsaw puzzles represent connections. Each person is a unique piece of the puzzle that only gains meaning in relationship with others. Society is like a mosaic; it is the imperfections that make it beautiful.
Artistic
Artists and designers also “solve” puzzles – arranging and combining colours, forms and ideas until something clicks. Creating is the act of finding order in chaos.
Philosophy
Philosophically, life itself is an unfinished puzzle. Perhaps our goal is not to complete it, but to keep piecing it together – piece by piece. Puzzles remind us that understanding takes time, and that’s the beauty of puzzles.
Images are from the web