Visuals for a Better World
Every so often a client will tell me about a bad graphic recording experience: it wasn’t readable or it didn’t make sense to them, so they didn’t see the value. It doesn’t need to be this way! Clients, participants and graphic recorders all need great layouts to provide a flow of information, elevate decisions, and … Read more Graphic Recording: great layouts and planning for success
Graphic Recording and Group Work Go Together Are you planning a highly participatory meeting with lots of small group work, and wondering how a graphic recorder could work in this setup? Need an easy-to-read, and visually appealing, way of theming and synthesizing many small group discussions? Unsure if this meeting should be online or in … Read more Graphic Recording and Group Work Go Together: Free Facilitation Agenda
I got an email this week that gave me goosebumps. My graphic recordings were part of a final report, and it turns out that when the Big Decision Maker saw the images, she was moved to tears – saying she could “see” the voices in the meeting talking about the impact their sector is making. … Read more Starting Your Graphic Recorder Career – first projects and wise practices
Next Generation Meetings: 8 Wise Practices and Creative Tools Here’s my webinar for Tech Soup Canada: Improve online gatherings and foster connection! This far into a pandemic, we’ve all changed our perspectives on what makes a good meeting. Do you find yourself wondering, “What is this meeting about? Is this the best use of our … Read more A new, free facilitation resource for creative meetings in 2022
Graphic recording helps us see complex information in new ways. It creates more understanding, helps us hear each other and can connect us to purpose – while inviting in more creativity. After hundreds of online meetings during the pandemic, here’s 10 things I’ve learned about adapting graphic facilitation to an online world. Graphic facilitation can … Read more 10 Things I’ve Learned About Graphic Facilitation in a Virtual World
Are you also a facilitator who gets squeamish about self promotion? or is that just me? Marketing can be a way to share your facilitation perspective and true voice. The International Association of Facilitators asked me to give a talk to the Europe and Middle East branch of the IAF. I’ve pulled together my favourite tips … Read more Successful Marketing Facilitation Services: For the Reluctant Marketer
What’s the best thing to do with graphic recording images after a meeting? Use them! But how? Meetings are a major investment in time and effort. You may have invited graphic recording to help you: inform* people about something, consult and get feedback, involve key groups in discussion or refining ideas, collaborate in decision-making, or … Read more Get the most value from Graphic Recordings – after your meeting
“Could this meeting have been an email?” Sometimes ….yes. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. When you need to meet, make it count. Maximize your time together – and bring a sense of usefulness, a higher level purpose, or connection in how you gather. Here are some quick tips to diagnose if this … Read more Things that pretend to be good meetings – and how visuals make it better
The best part about being part of a wide facilitation network – being surrounded by talented colleagues who offer great trainings! I recently attended more than 20 hours of how to move your meetings effectively online, and I brought my ipad for live digital graphic recording at the same time. We use graphic recording and … Read more Digital Graphic Recordings – tips for great online meetings
I’m resharing some great resources from Jessica Riehl and legend Kelvy Bird about Systems Scribing. Have you ever been curious about questions such as: How can facilitating complexity and systems thinking serve groups? What contribution to complexity and systems can visual practitioners make? What types of systems diagrams are there? How can we encourage the … Read more Systems Scribing: Resources for Visuals and Systems Thinking
Indigenous Cultural Safety is a core skill for non-Indigenous graphic facilitators Sharing wisdom from talking circles at Drawing Change workshops (2017-2019) Graphic facilitators in Canada and the United States need to have skills in Indigenous cultural safety to do our work well. Since 2017, Drawing Change visual facilitation training workshops (hosted on unceded Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, … Read more Graphic Facilitators Supporting Indigenous Cultural Safety
“Could this meeting have been an email?” Sometimes ….yes. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. When you need to meet, make it count. Maximize your time together – and bring a sense of usefulness, a higher level purpose, or connection in how you gather. Here are some quick tips to diagnose if this … Read more Things that Pretend to be Good Meetings – and what you could do instead
At this year’s IFVP International Forum of Visual Practitioners conference, a new book was launched! The World of Visual Facilitation shares new approaches and stories from 50 visual facilitators all around the world. New Book: World of Visual Facilitation I’m pleased to have two chapters in the new book, the World of Visual Facilitation. It’s … Read more New book: World of Visual Facilitation and IFVP 2019 highlights
My first freelance facilitation project, twelve years ago, was for a 3-hour offsite meeting. I charged them 3 hours to design and facilitate a 3-hour retreat – but I charged them $25/hr because that was the hourly rate of the office staff. A grand total of $75. It was a rookie move. I remember some … Read more Business skills for creatives and graphic facilitators
A few folks emailed last week with some overlapping advice for new graphic recorders. It’s wonderful to hear how the questions in the field are changing – people tend to ask me questions not about how to draw, but about how to approach the wall and the work. Here’s a summary of our chat – … Read more Learning graphic recording tips – in rhyming form