What makes visuals speak? VizThink Breakout Session
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
Creating Individual Images
Each table had a VisualsSpeak ImageSet containing 200 photographs. We used the framing question: What makes visuals speak? Each person selected photos and assembled them on a piece of construction paper.
We looked at the patterns in how each individual constructed their image on the page.
- Did they stay within the rectangle?
- Did the images overlap?
- Are they aligned with the edges?
- Is the background covered?
Over years of watching people go through this process, we’ve observed most people make similar images in terms of how they assemble their photographs on the page which correlates to how they think. Seeing the difference in how the images are constructed can help people understand each others perspectives.
The stories
Understanding deepens as people share the stories of what the images mean to them. Difference emerges, from what is seen in the individual images to how the images are discussed.
Working in a group
Each group then created an image together to answer: What makes visuals speak? It was up to the members of the group to determine the process they would use. Each group’s process is unique.
Creating an image with other people is different. Suddenly you have to negotiate. Or not, as the case may be. The process and conversations become as important as the product itself.
What does make visuals speak?
Here are five perspectives, along with what I heard from them. What do you think? Anything missing?
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Artrain’s challenge
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 more »
More VizThink 08
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.
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.
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.
What happened at VizThink 08?
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
Dan Roam
Lee LeFever
Karen Bennett
Mindjet
Online Print Gallery
Affordable photographic prints of paintings
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