VisualsSpeak blog

VizThink is one!

This is part of a series of posts about the VizThink Challenge. Previous posts have covered how the challenge came about, an overview, what images were used, and what the words tell us.

Other levels of information

In this post we’ll be looking at the third and fourth levels of information derived from a VisualsSpeak Strategic Thinking process. Below are the four levels of data we analyze:

1. Which individual images were selected across all groups.
2. Analysis of the content of the written descriptions.
3. The visual language in the structure of each table’s image.
4. The intersection of the words and images, and how they are used together. Read the rest of this entry »

The VizThink Challenge offered Artrain a chance to have three facilitators using three different visual techniques work on an organizational challenge as part of the VizThink 08 conference. Forty table groups using the VisualSpeak ImageSet each created an image and wrote a description in response to the question:

How can we visualize the power of the Artrain experience to engage individual and corporate sponsors?

For the first level, we looked at the frequency of image use. We then invited our colleague Dr Rene-Marc Mangin to bring his perspective as a marketing communications consultant to analyze the narrative used by each table to describe their images. Read the rest of this entry »

The VizThink Challenge engaged close to 400 visual thinkers attending VizThink 08 to work on an organizational challenge with Artrain USA.

Forty table groups participated in the VisualsSpeak part of the process. Each table created an image and a written description in response to the question: How can we visualize the power of the Artrain experience to engage individual and corporate sponsors?

Each group used the VisualsSpeak ImageSet, so they all had the same 200 tested images to choose from. The set is organized into four main categories, each with three subcategories. We created a chart reflecting the category breakdown in the set. We then organized the images by how many tables used each one. Read the rest of this entry »

At VizThink 08, we participated in a challenge to assist Artrain with an organizational challenge. They are transitioning from using trains to specially designed trucks to bring their exhibits around the country.

We didn’t have time to prepare, and there were two other facilitators and techniques working on the same problem. I worked with forty tables of participants, perhaps as many as 350 people. We were presented with a question, and had 30 minutes to respond.

Each table had the same 200 photographs and produced a collective image along with a written description. We have been looking at the data to see what kind of wisdom emerges from a large group of visual thinkers.

About the audience

Artrain wanted input on how to engage individual and corporate sponsors. This was an ideal audience to ask for this sort of feedback. The conference fees were significant enough to discourage those who were not totally committed to attend. The audience was composed of people who were already in visual thinking or were interested in the field. And their were representatives of major corporations there such as: Apple, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft, Wells Fargo.

Where the data comes from

We are looking at four sources of information.

1. Which individual images were selected across all groups.
2. Analysis of the content of the written descriptions.
3. The visual language in the structure of each table’s image.
4. The intersection of the words and images, and how they are used together.

Each one of these different data points can offer insight, as well as a big picture view emerging from the patterns running across all four of the information sources. Read the rest of this entry »

Who came and what they were interested in

Five groups joined me for a facilitated break-out session at VizThink 08 to explore the various aspects that make visuals speak.

The first session I facilitated was on Monday afternoon. By this time, I knew the community that came together for this event was special. The only other times I have been with so many people interested in visuals was when I worked at Penland School of Craft and attended RISD. The difference this time was this audience also shared an interest in the intersection of visuals and business.

I wanted to get a bit more information about them as a group, so I drew a quick mini-assessment on the Nomad Rolling Dry Erase Panel provided by Kinetic Energies.

The top chart column asks for people to identify the sector they work in: non-profit, education, government , or corporate. The rows ask about role: small business owner, independent consultant, individual contributor, manager, or executive. The largest number of participants were small business owners and individual contributors working in a corporate environment.

The section at the bottom asked about the topics they were most interested in. The ones that came out at top were:

• visual literacy
• visual language
• creativity and innovation
• creating visual tools Read the rest of this entry »

As part of the VizThink 08 conference, philanthropic partners were selected to take part. One of those selected was Artrain USA. For thirty seven years Artrain has brought artwork to rural communities around the country in an antique train.

“Artrain USA is America’s Hometown Art Museum. A nonprofit organization, its mission is to enrich lives and build communities through the arts. As an art museum housed in vintage rail cars and traveling via the nation’s railways, Artrain USA brings world class art exhibitions and art education programs to communities and their residents. Artrain USA delivers exceptional opportunities for learning, growth and art appreciation while encouraging the development of local cultural programs and organizations.”

Artrain visited the town I live in. I was very impressed with the quality of art, the way they had installed it in the train, and how the staff engaged us when we were visiting. So I was particularly thrilled when I discovered Artrain was the organization I would be working with for the VizThink Challenge. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are more posts written by the VizThink facilitators. VizThink is also collecting all the materials from the conference and putting them up on a wiki, which will serve as one piece of a membership site.

Ryan Coleman is the coordinator for VizThink Toronto. He’s been doing a great job getting his local area inspired about visual thinking. I know I have wanted a community around this aspect of my work for a long time.

• VizThink Wrap-up: Building Visual Thinking Communities

Jamie Nast specializes in mindmapping. I had the pleasure of working a bit with her for the VizThink challenge, which I will be reporting on soon.

• IdeaMap: VizThink Breakout Sessions

Brent Schlenker is someone I have exchanged blog comments with. I’m always interested in meeting people in person to see if my impressions of them formed through their online identities match with face to face. Brent has an edgy humorous online feel, yet I found him to be quite warm and personable live in the room.

• Scott McCloud - Understanding Comics
• CommonCraft - Photo Sharing in Plain English - VizThink08
• VizThink08 - Thoughts from Monday
• VizThink08 - Day 2 - Morning General Session
• VizThink08 - Evening 1 - My search for the VisualThinking eLearning connection

Dan Roam. Bring extra napkins if you are around Dan. He got everyone around him drawing on them. I heard lots of great things about his session.

• Jazzed about napkin sketches

Matthew Homan facilitated several exercises with the almost 400 participants. Having had that experience also, I truly appreciate what he was able to do. He wisely picked things that fit into the short times alloted, yet brought a bit of reflection to an otherwise very crowded schedule.

• Use Haiku to Get to the Point

SO much.

It’s been a week and I’m still sorting through it all in my mind. It all went by so fast, and there was never enough time to have all the conversations with the amazing people who were there. Not just the facilitators and sponsors, but there were things to learn from every person who attended.

We have a lot of photos and video we are combing through, so there is quite a bit that will be coming. In the meantime, some of the other facilitators, attendees, and sponsors have started to post about the conference.

Luke Wroblewski

• VizThink 08: Influencing Strategy by Design
• VizThink 08: Introducing Visual Thinking to Your Organization
• VizThink 08: Visualizing the Presentation Ecosystem
• VizThink 08: Ethics in Visual Thinking
• VizThink 08: Drawing the Big Picture
• VizThink 08: Bob Horn Interview
• VizThink 08: How to Draw with Dave Gray

Ryan Coleman

• VizThink Wrapup: The Conference in General
• VizThink Conference: Not quite the Wrap-up post yet…

Dan Roam

• First impressions don’t matter

Lee LeFever

• VizThink in Review

Karen Bennett

• Visual summaries
• Trying new things
• Bob Horn at VizThink ‘08

Mindjet

• Are you a visual thinker?
  
• Reflections on the VizThink Conference 08

Even professionals struggle with creative anxiety

Meet my Fear Monster. Lovely fellow, eh? What’s he got to do with visual thinking? I’d say a lot. Because he’s the one I let torture me when I think about putting my drawings and images out where people can see them.

Does his cousin live at your house?

Now, you might think this little devil wouldn’t come visiting, or if he did, I’d know how to control him by now. After all, I’ve had many opportunities to wrestle with him. For those of you who have not been to art school, a large part of what happens there is staying up very late at night slaving over some piece of artwork. The next day you bring it to class and pin it up on the wall. Then the class shreds it with help from the instructor. At the end of the semester you have the opportunity to face an entire panel of critics with a pile of your best work. I don’t remember a lot of compliments, but I do remember crying in the alleys outside. I must have done something right since I did graduate. (Rhode Island School of Design)

My Fear Monster is quite arrogant and laughs at my silly little attempts at cleverness. And I know he is poised to bite me with those poisonous pointy teeth as soon as I turn around.

Keys, keys, and more keys

I have been doing exactly what I suggested you do in my earlier post. I’ve been exploring the visual aspects of my keychain, by doing quick sketches while I’m listening to webinars or conference calls. I’ve also been taking photos of it to illustrate some of the visual language aspects I want to show you in subsequent posts. I’ve been thinking about what might be the best way to show you what I’m thinking about and have been looking at tools like screencasts and video which seem promising.

Mr Fear Monster has been rearing his ugly head because I’m thinking about posting unfinished ugly drawings, and using new tools I am not expert in. Now, I know one of the points I am trying to make is that unfinished ugly drawings are part of the process of visual thinking. Does the Fear Monster care? No.

So why am I feeding his ego by writing a post about him? Because I am trying to make the process of creating visible for you, and wrestling with him is part of it. He doesn’t stop me from doing it. But his toxic voice talks in my ear and I have to tell him to be quiet, go away, and refuse to give in to him. Even deciding to tell you about him has got him laughing.

Do you have a Fear Monster that keeps you from creating? How do you handle creative anxiety?