Learning Curve Masterclass: Metaphor As Concept Design with John Elliott, PhD
At The Subtext, we want to provide more opportunities for creatives to embrace their curiosity, bust out industry echo chambers and soak up fresh perspectives. That’s where Learning Curve comes in.
So if you’re like us, and craving creative enrichment, join us on March 5th for our first Learning Curve Masterclass with John Elliott, PhD in Linguistics. In this 90-minute session, John will explore language concepts and principles and go deep on conceptual metaphor as a continuation of his published piece "Making the Most of Metaphor." He’ll help you see how metaphor isn’t just a literary device, but a fundamental tool for communication and storytelling.
What to Expect:
A New Perspective on Language
John will introduce you to the principles of usage-based linguistics, showing how language functions like design—combining form and function to create meaning. You’ll explore how language changes over time, and how variability can be a source of creative potential.
The Power of Conceptual Metaphor
Metaphor isn’t just another tool—it’s fundamental to how we make sense of the world. You’ll learn how metaphors shape thought, communication, and design by mapping abstract ideas onto familiar concepts. John will illustrate this through linguistic examples, like how Mayan languages use body parts to express spatial relationships.
Hands-On Metaphor Mapping
You won’t just learn about metaphor—you’ll practice it. In a guided exercise, you’ll take an everyday object and body-map it, transforming its parts into human-like features. This simple yet powerful exercise will help you extend metaphors naturally, unlocking new ways to explain and enhance ideas in your work.
Practical Takeaways & Tools
Attendees will receive a recap summarizing key concepts, along with a visual template for metaphor mapping to integrate into your own creative process.
Why Attend?
Gain a deeper understanding of how metaphor shapes communication
Learn practical techniques to make your writing and storytelling more compelling
Develop tools to generate fresh, creative ideas with less reliance on intuition
Expand your perspective by drawing insights from the field of linguistics
Strengthen your argument for why language matters in all aspects of business and life
This is a limited seat session so secure your spot now!
Bonus: Learning Curve masterclass attendees will receive a discount on our paid Substack subscription.