by Lisa | Mar 31, 2017 | Art, Education, Visual Thinking
April 4th is National School Librarian Day. Let’s give librarians a round of applause and celebrate them with visual thinking.
When you think of a librarian, what image comes to mind. Books pop into my mind.
Here is a quick lesson on how to draw a book in 5 easy steps. Give it a shot.
Icons like this can help build your visual vocabulary. Of course you can use this icon to draw tons of concepts. For example a book can represent learning, school, teacher, research, and so much more. And several books together can make a library!
Can you think of more ideas a book icon can represent? I’d love to hear it.
Thanks for reading! If you want to use visual thinking for your next project, conference, or strategy session, just contact me for ideas.
by Lisa | Mar 6, 2017 | Visual Thinking
My first interview on a podcast! Woot Woot! Yes, I am excited, can you tell.
I’ve been following the podcast of Lisa Anderson since last year. I love the interviews on her show because she has great advice for small business owners. No surprise, I was super excited when she contacted me to be a guest on her show.
Listen in on our conversation where I share ideas on visual marketing, graphic recording and fun facts you probably didn’t know about doodling. I’ve heard so many positive responses from this episode, have a listen, just click here.
Interview Link: http://www.lisadanderson.com/podcasts/capture-audience-visual-marketing-lisa-nelson-p2p-033/
Thanks for reading! I want to write news that has great content, is fun and valuable to you. Let me know know your feedback and please share this with someone you know.
Do you want to use visual images for your next project or event, contact me for ideas.
by Lisa | Feb 2, 2017 | Art, Visual Thinking
“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.” – Lauren Bacall
Did you know that February 8 is National Kite Flying Day?
Who would have thunk it!
I just happened to be looking at the National Day Calendar and saw this special day observed for flying a kite.
If you don’t have time to fly a kite on Feb 8th, you can draw one! Here is a quick lesson on How to Draw a Kite in 5 Easy Steps.
Hope you had fun with this lesson. Let me know if you fly a kite on Feb 8 or draw one!
I draw kites when creating visual notes to represent childhood, freedom, the wind or sky. This one image of a kite, has so many meanings!
Click here to learn how we can help your group use visual thinking to communicate ideas, innovate, and see the big picture.
by Lisa | Jan 9, 2017 | Graphic Recording, Uncategorized, Visual Thinking
“Wow! What do you call that?”
I hear this question all the time. Most people have never seen graphic recording in person, but once you see it, you never forget the experience.
Event planners and consultants hire me for their conferences and meetings. Graphic recording is a process of listening, synthesizing, organizing and drawing what’s being said.90
The magic comes in when a Graphic Recorder does this process real-time at your meeting or event. Yes, I said “Magic!”
Picture this, you are at a meeting or a conference. Your listening to the speaker or having a strategy session. A key point just came up but you didn’t catch it. Uh oh.
Lisa Nelson, Graphic Recording
Then you look up and see a graphic recorder at the side of the room taking notes and drawing pictures for you. No worries. Yeah, it’s like magic!
When you see an image and text together, you have an 80% chance of remembering the content. That’s HUGE.
Do you know a meeting planner, consultant or facilitator? Go ahead and share this info with them so they can benefit and subscribe. Thanks!
by Lisa | Sep 21, 2016 | Graphic Recording, Visual Thinking
Graphic recording is the art of capturing conversations with hand drawn pictures so that meetings and events come alive! Check out this time lapse video from one of our projects, to see the visual summary come to life.
Here is a quick video that outlines just a few of the reasons why you should use graphic recording for your next meeting, workshop, conference, or leadership retreat.
The benefits of graphic recording:
- Supports the Facilitator. Graphic recording supports the facilitator by making ideas visible so the group can get on the same page. That’s a good thing.
- Validates Participants. The graphic recorder listens to the conversation during report outs, brainstorming, focus groups and other group discussions. Participants can actually see their input being captured and visualized with illustrations and text.
- Better Decision Making. Ideas are clarified and visible to everyone in the room. “Once the facts are clear, decisions jump out at you”- Peter Drucker.
- Increases Memory and Comprehension. Graphic recording creates a “visual memory” for attendees and it can increase retention up to 30%.
- Helps the Group to Maintain Focus. It’s easy for participants and attendees to get distracted, especially after lunch. Before you know it, someone is yawning and someone is looking at their cell phones. Having a graphic recorder in the room gives participants a way to bring their attention back to the discussion, catch up and stay focused. It’s also great for people who did not attend the meeting or conference. I often hear people say “I felt like I was there” after seeing the completed charts.
- Promotes Creativity. As soon as participants enter the room, they realize this is no ordinary meeting or conference. Big paper means BIG ideas. Graphic recording sets the stage for conversation and creativity.
Learn how you can use the power of graphic recording at your next event, click here.
Please comment below, I’d love to hear what you think about the benefits of graphic recording.
by Lisa | Aug 25, 2016 | Business, Productivity, Uncategorized, Visual Thinking
The International Forum of Visual Practitioners (IFVP) had their annual conference in Washington, DC this year.
You know what that means. It means I had to be there! I live in the DC metro area, so I was delighted to spend 4 days with a group of folks that love visual thinking as much as I do.
Here are 5 ways to make the most out of your next conference. I will use IFVP as an example, so here we go…
- Have a Plan. Conferences can be overwhelming, especially when it spans several days. One hack I tried that worked very well for me is setting an intention each day. Each day before I arrived, I determined what I wanted to practice and what I wanted to learn from others. For example, on Day2 I wanted to practice graphic recording using my iPad. At the end of each day I felt a huge sense of accomplishment because I was focused and intentional.
- Participate. The best way to learn is to DO. After all, that’s why you are at the conference. I know it’s tough, especially when sessions run one after the other and it seems like you have a IV drip of coffee. Make an effort to participate no matter how small. Ask questions during your sessions, talk with your neighbor, and jump in on the exercises and group activities. That’s what I did and it always helped me connect with the people at my table.
Group exercise for building a mobile.
Completed mobile. WOW. Designed by Team Sculptures
- Make time to meet up. Conferences are the perfect time to meet up with friends you don’t see often. The best advice I have for this is to plan before the conference. Find out who is attending and connect with them early so you can make plans for a morning walk or happy hour. I was so happy to see my buddies from the #CincyTakesOnPoverty project.
- Talk to the Vendors. The vendors participating at a conference can give you fresh ideas on how to help your clients. They also have insight on trends in your industry, so learn what’s hot and what’s not from them. You can usually buy supplies, get significant discounts and save on shipping.
Neuland was in the house, so that means stock up on ink and markers. I picked up my free gift too, love the marker bag!
Scribes-To-Go shared ideas on using print materials to make our events POP!
- Have Fun! Look at this crowd. Yes, the photographer told us to say cheese or something like that. But we were all genuinely having FUN together. Such a supportive community to be a part of. The conference theme came true in this picture for us, United We Scribe!
What’s your best tip for getting the most out of a conference? Please share and comment below.
