Are you a working person who aspires to use some visuals to communicate better or help others understand the ‘big picture’? Visuals help people align their thoughts, see gaps in one’s thinking and in group discussions and understand content. Whether it is in getting people to agree or work out solutions, the ability to visualise instantly takes the discussion one notch higher in meetings, learning environments and conversations. We’re not illustrators or artists, we’re not creating art for the museums. We’re creating art and visuals that people understand.

You will rekindle your innate ability to use the visual language. This skill is going to be useful whether you are visualising in large or small formats. At the end of the workshop, be ready to impress and surprise yourself and others with your ability to turn content into visuals.

What are we in for?

We promise you a fun and safe learning environment as we step into the world of visual language. Here’s what we will do:

• Hold the marker, draw the line - Know what the tools needed in the trade are, for both physical and digital settings.

• Put together a visual dictionary - Dismantle your misconception that ‘I cannot draw’. All visuals are made up of a combination of lines and arcs. We’ll learn how to draw simple shapes and drawings, connectors, containers and figures. We’ll also get you to design your very own characters!

• Colours are not just colours - Let’s think of colours beyond making visuals look pretty. Colours can be used to evoke emotions, convey meanings and supplement content.

• Back to penmanship - Improve your handwriting and create your own hand lettering styles - at least 10 of them!

• ‘Me-te-phors’ be with us - Create unique visual metaphors. Express ideas in a simple manner with a creative twist. Metaphors lend a voice to the unspoken and the hidden messages. In the process, you will realise that any noun can become a metaphor.

• Instant visuals, instant engagement - Create visuals live and witness the magic that happens when people see their ideas transformed before their very eyes. It’s instant because it’s a matter of putting together the different visuals in your visual dictionary to form a holistic picture. When you do that, people feel heard, conversations go deeper, and the mental picture becomes clear.

• Invite participation, welcome co-creation - Let’s turn content into visuals that invite participation. Get people to visualise together, whether it is agenda, instructions, learning materials, financial planning worksheets or goal setting worksheets.

• See what you hear, work on the fly - Visually record a conversation by working on the fly, whether it is by starting with a visual template or on a blank canvas. Not only will we learn to design our own visual templates, we will also cut through noise and create visual summaries to align.

• Balance the act - Speed, aesthetics and content are the three aspects we need to grasp in creating visuals. We will find out how to balance them for various visuals that serve different purposes.

Should I attend this?

Of course! These 2 days are specially put together for anyone who wants to enhance team communication and collaboration and we think that will include:

• Anyone who puts together sessions to help people talk and think about things - Managers, leaders, educators, coaches, facilitators

• Anyone who works in a team and needs to consult others in projects - user experience designers, solution provider, product owners

• Anyone who does public engagement or gathers public feedback

• YOU! Pick up this new language that gives you the ability to visual-think. From planning your next holiday itinerary to teaching your kids, this universally understood language can help you to articulate your thoughts and organize your ideas.

What’s in my bag after the session?

• A specially-curated kit which contains the tools you need to get started in visual thinking

• Handbook put together to help you recap the new knowledge

• Sketchbook to get you going and journey on in visual thinking

• A roll of your flipcharts - it’s a knowledge repository of what you worked on

Connect with us if you have questions! Reach us at Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or creativitystarts@artesestudios.com