Visuals for a Better World
Recently, I was graphic recording at a leadership conference for a large private sector company. Fantastic event, and maybe because this company had never experienced graphic recording before, I saw an unexpected benefit of graphic recording. It is your secret speechwriting weapon. I hadn’t seen this before, so I thought I’d share. By the end of day 1, I … Read more Graphic recording is your speechwriting secret weapon
One of the top questions I get asked about graphic recording is “how did you get into this?” The team at Wacom was curious, too. They wanted to know more about my passion for helping groups solve problems with drawing. It’s so awesome to be interviewed by the people who make my favourite tablet! Hop … Read more Feature interview about visual thinking on Wacom blog
The visual facilitation challenge: a 5 day planning session, 25 elected leaders, a room with no windows. The task: engage meaningfully about the organization’s 5 strategic areas, and use visuals. It was the exact opportunity to design a new visual tool: a paired photo walk for strategic planning. Here’s why. I’m passionate about better meetings. Whatever the type of meeting, there’s probably … Read more A visual facilitation tool – try a paired photo walk
During graphic facilitation, I’m often asked, “but how do you leave enough space?” People say to me that it’s “magic” watching the page fill up when everything fits just right. I can tell you that the balance of white space isn’t quite magic, although it can feel that way: there’s a plan behind what’s happening. It reminded … Read more How Graphic facilitation is Agile – Vancity
Busy people in leadership positions need meetings that work. Visual templates help groups get focussed, fast. This week, Kevin Millsip (from Next Up) and I co-facilitated a 2.5 day meeting for the BC Federation of Labour. Kevin and I used Visual Facilitation with templates to structure the strategic planning. At the end of the session, someone said … Read more Visual Facilitation with Templates
Last year, visual thinking led me a lot of firsts. Which is interesting, because every graphic facilitation event can be the first time for something. I listen with fresh ears. Anything can happen. But the uncertainty doesn’t make me nervous – like a singer onstage, I embrace the zone of being in the moment. No … Read more My year of visual thinking in 10 seconds
The community at Elsie Roy Elementary school is on a journey together. And part of charting that course is being able to share it with others. So, let’s use graphic facilitation to make their vision visible! This was drawn live during the session. Working with the leadership of Principal Jenny Chin and BFO Consulting, we facilitated a … Read more Visioning and Graphic Recording with Elsie Roy Elementary School
You live and breathe your organization’s mission – but how do you help your customers, clients, or members connect with it? Sometimes, we live and breathe our values but they’re the hardest to put into words. It’s a challenge whether you’re an solo entrepreneur or managing a large workforce. For me, that’s where a Journey Map comes … Read more Journey Mapping for Organizations
Super excited to join Wacom this Wednesday on G+ to talk about styli and iPad sketchnotes. Styli are the digital pens you use on a tablet for drawing and note-taking. With a stylus and iPad, writing + drawing is portable and sharable in new ways. This could be sketchnoting, graphic note-taking, handwriting notes, and different types of visual thinking … Read more Talking with Wacom about iPad styli and sketchnotes
After the EuViz conference, I’m more convinced than ever that visual thinking has the power to transform everywhere we learn. In the next month I’m working with first year students, CEOs, and at a public engagement. Visual thinking is valuable because it comes in so many forms – so it makes sense that the theme of … Read more Report from EuViz- visual thinking conference
Graphic recording supported facilitator extraordinaire Dawna Jones to help PWL Partnership team explore vision. PWL Partnership makes places that people want to use – they’re landscape architects with big, green, hearts. One special thing stood out that made this day a success. It’s a very simple tool that any group can integrate. No special tools or equipment required. But without … Read more Visualize Your Values Leading You to Your Vision
The City of Chilliwack needed unique visuals to explain the new Official Community Plan (OCP). An Official Community Plan sets the vision for the next 30 years – and it’s an important time for residents speak up. But not everyone wants to read a long report. With hand-drawn illustrations and graphic recording techniques, dense OCP information is easy to read. Here’s … Read more Official Community Plan gets visual – City of Chilliwack
While graphic recording about healthy schools, I heard Paul Born ask, “How do communities change? By involving the people the issue affects until it feels like their change.” Paul Born is a keynote speaker and community-builder extraordinaire. Pretty great advice for a room full of leaders working on building healthy school communities. I was pleased … Read more Graphic Recording for Healthy Schools
This week, I was on the road to engage the public about libraries using graphic facilitation. I’m home from a week on the road asking Calgarians about their public library. Graphic facilitation was a key feature of the public engagement strategy. But you can’t just plonk down a big piece of paper and expect people to give … Read more Engagement about libraries using graphic facilitation
It was a great week of public engagement and graphic facilitation about libraries. I’m home from a week asking Calgarians about their public library. Graphic facilitation was a key feature of the public engagement strategy. But you can’t just plonk down a big piece of paper and expect people to give you good feedback. There’s an art to … Read more Engagement about libraries with Graphic Facilitation