What's so great about visual thinking? Watch this quick sketch animation to find out!
Visual Thinking & Meetings: Why ARE We Here?
Why bother to have a meeting if nobody knows why they're there? And they're still wondering what that meeting was all about after they left? Sometimes, all it takes is a simple visual to make things crystal clear. Visuals can remind those in charge to state the objectives and make sure everyone understands them before work begins. Visuals can also remind people to ask questions when things aren't so clear. And if someone's mind wanders, just looking at that visual will bring them right back into your content.
Nine Ways to Draw a Handshake
Hands can be hard to draw sometimes. Handshakes can be even harder. Mainly because you can't shake hands with yourself to see what a handshake really looks like! When doing live graphic recording, there's no time for that anyways. You just have to draw!
Here are nine different ways I tend to draw handshakes when graphic recording. I've found it really helps to have a number of different ways to draw something - some super simple, some more complex. That way, if you only have a few seconds to draw something, you've already found a way that works.
It's also good to do experiments like this behind closed doors, instead of waiting until you're standing in front of a big bunch of people or on stage!
Graphic Recording: Use those visuals after the event!
Graphic recording happens live, in real-time and on a large scale right in front of everyone. That's part of what makes it so powerful, engaging, and memorable. But those images can be quite powerful, engaging, and memorable after the event, too. So how do you put them to good use? Shop.Org had a great idea, as shown above in this Twitter screenshot.
Visual Thinking & Sketch Animation: One Squiggly Line
I added this quick animation to my Services page. Unfortunately, many sketch animations are confidential, created only for internal company use, so they can't be shared. But they're a great way to bring training materials, sales presentations, product highlights, or any other information to life.
Graphic Recording: TEDxBerkeley ~ Steve Wozniak
Graphic recording is full of surprises. You never know who you're going to run into or what they're going to say. But no matter the speaker or the topic, the process remains the same - listen and draw!
This image was created just a few days ago at TEDxBerkeley by the last speaker of the day, Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple Computers Inc. He had a lot of great stories to share about his times on the Cal campus as a student. He talked about all kinds of random things - shaving cream, pay phones, saltine crackers, and typing, to name a few. All great stories in and of themselves, but far too many for me to capture visually in such a short time. But that doesn't matter. His overarching message was crystal clear - find happiness.
That's what graphic recording is all about - making the big picture clear for everyone, even those not in the room.
Visual Thinking & Graphic Recording: Is Bigger Better?
Part of the power of graphic recording is that it is done live and at a large scale. The most common size is eight feel long by four feet high. Even when given the dimensions, most folks don't realize how large that is. A Smart car is about nine feet long by five feet wide - roughly a foot less in length and width than the average graphic recording surface!
Obviously, working at a scale that large is not the best option for a small meeting space. But just because the event venue is humongous doesn't meant a ginormous board is the best option. There may not be enough space to display those great big visuals for people to discuss later. And that's where a lot of the magic happens!
The image above was created on foamcore board roughly the size of flip chart paper. It's large enough for a small group to look at and discuss. Yet small enough to be easy to carry and display afterwards.
Pre-Event Visuals: Why Bother?
Email vs. a handwritten note. Wonder bread vs. homemade bread. Spaghetti-O's vs. homemade spaghetti. Clothes off the rack vs. clothes tailored to fit.
There's a difference. A big one. And people notice. Handmade things with a personal touch are almost always preferred to the mass produced.
Hand drawn pre-event visuals (like the one above) are much warmer and friendlier than the standard computer generated visuals most folks use. And they can support your branding just as much as those slick and glossy computer generated prints.
Synthesis Images: What Are They?
Who would want a synthesis image and why? Any number of folks for any number of reasons! Companies, nonprofits, or businesses like them to sum up lengthy reports. Website owners like them to show what their website has to offer in a glance. Educators use them to give the big picture of their topic. Professionals use them to showcase their experience...the list goes on!
No matter who uses a synthesis image or why, social media loves them! So if you're looking to draw people into your content, try a synthesis image.
