Visual Harvesting

“That’s a word. We want an image!” Going back...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:13:40 +0100

“That’s a word. We want an image!”

Going back in history… is this one of the first uses of graphic facilitation/ video scribing?

How would meetings go if all participants repeat and repeat until I finished drawing and scribing? Probably less information overload :-)

Still some New Year receptions in offices, then agenda’s...

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:36:57 +0100

Still some New Year receptions in offices, then agenda’s start to fill with meetings…and meetings. 21 ways for colourful and productive meetings in 2013!

Watch out this blog for more background on these… Coming soon: why’s, how-to’s, links,… your guide to extraordinary meetings.

Last year, same date I could never imagine my Visual Harvesting...

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 22:13:00 +0100

Conference on agroecology in European Parliament

First arabic graphic recording I even saw... great job from some of the participants of my training

Exploring possible futures for an old castle

Last year, same date I could never imagine my Visual Harvesting year would be so exciting, challenging, full of experiences, meeting incredibly nice people and had so much fun!

So key themes: travel, workshops and classes, wide variety of assignments, working in special locations and building a Visual Harvesting team.

Travel

Beside my work in Belgium, I worked in The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Wageningen, Culemborg,…) and maybe I need to think about subscribing to a frequent flyer program. I’ve been invited to work in Turkey (Istanbul), Estionia (Tallinn), UAE (Dubai), Sudan (Karthoum) and I travelled to the US (Pittsburgh and NYC) to reconnect with my tribe at the IFVP-conference.

Unusual, interesting places and an unexpected experience

I had the chance to work in some unusual places, like the European Parliament (yes, in the same room that welcomed Angela Merkel a few days before I worked there at a conference about agroecology), on a ship - Badboot - and in a big movie complex where my work was projected on the big screen… As my work is about engagement and participation, there is a lot of interaction with the participants of meetings and conferences. The most memorable and unexpected was a lady coming to my wall during a break…she gave me a big hug, telling how wonderful and useful my work was and then disappeared.

Classes and workshops

Spreading the word in different countries, lot’s of enthusiast participants and I’m happy to see their results in the field. So nice to see great work of Edwin, Fréderic, Geertrui, Ewoud, Veerle, … and many more. Looking forward to have more workshops Visual Changemaking in collaboration with Manuel and Oscar from Modelminds. And we are planning some advanced workshops together…to be continued.

As one of my clients said: Our interactive, visual leadership trainings have been successfully conducted and 72 attendees in four different workshops have been trained on how to make use of their creative potential.The participants expressed their deep interest in the content of the course and showed great enthusiasm. As the energy filled the training room, it was clear to SUDIA’s staff that a lot of buried talents have emerged while Martine Vanremoortele was igniting those timed bombs. Receiving many requests, SUDIA is now considering another round of creativity training programs and Martine seems happy about the idea of coming back sometime and work with brilliant minds and creative potentials.

A variety of assignments

I worked in small groups and for big groups, short meetings up to three-day conferences, Appreciative Inquiries, strategy sessions, Open Space, World Café, custom made processes…, worked on large paper and sometimes on small paper with projection on a screen, made some pre-charts and templates, illustrated some business reports… in English, French and Dutch. Every day was different.

Visual Harvesting Team

New kids on the block… to be able to respond to all client request and especially because it’s more fun to work in a team, Els and Axelle joined Visual Harvesting. Together we are ready for a great and surprising 2013!

Imagine you could do the impossible? Can you? How far can you...

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:01:45 +0200

Imagine you could do the impossible? Can you? How far can you imagine? Do you give up? And what about resistance and fear? Do you know your saboteurs?

And imagine someone would give you a yes-cheque. This cheque means that person will do the possible and impossible to fulfil your request. What would you ask… and who are you willing to give such a yes-cheque?

A lot of food for thought in this interesting keynote (Dutch) from Karl Raats at Accio.

While this interesting speech was going on I was in for an experiment: duoscribing. I saw this once at the International Forum of Visual Practitioners and knew I would like to try it. Together with Els Vrints we captured the whole story while Karl was challenging the audience.

Last week I was a member of the WAIC 2012 Media Crew (World...

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 +0200

Last week I was a member of the WAIC 2012 Media Crew (World Appreciative Inquiry Conference in Ghent, Belgium) It was an interesting and intensive week. I made a visual harvest of keynotes and some workshops. Right after the presentations the harvest was scanned, so it could be posted immediately on the WAIC blog. Together with the live streaming, the bloggers, Twitter, the WAIC radio,… this was a way of sharing what was happening with all AI practitioners over the world who couldn’t be in Ghent.

Click at the right side of the picture to see them all…Enjoy!

Visual Changemaking workshop

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:56:00 +0200

A two-day learning journey with ModelMinds and Visual Harvesting
Register online: http://bit.ly/visualchangemaking

In times of change and uncertainty it is crucial to have conversations about what really matters: to communicate ideas clearly, to plan inclusively, and to get everybody on the same page. With Visual Changemaking one can do this: create a shared language and collective memory.

Visual Changemaking is a two-day Visual Thinking workshop on Graphic Facilitation and Harvesting. Based on action learning we tailor the workshop to the needs of the group. Understand how to use visuals, graphics, and images in meetings. Participants will leave with the feeling ‘Yes I can’ – plus have the tools and confidence to start right-away.

Download flyer for full information
Program
Day 1: Beyond Words and Text
Day 2: Using Visuals With Group Processes

Learning outcomes
• Get back in touch with your natural ability to say things with pictures
• Increase and build your confidence with a pen and marker
• Communicate ideas quickly with simple and powerful images
• Improve the quality of your communication by using visuals
• Create and use prepared templates on which to organize your information
• Learn simple visual techniques to better collaborate with others
• Use graphic facilitation to create more productive meetings and outcomes
• Get to know the right graphic facilitation tool for the right business challenge
• Practice hands-on story-telling, listening, neutral observing and reflecting
• Develop your unique style of visual practice and learn how to help others
• Learn tools, techniques and approaches that you can apply in your working practice today

Practical information
Program Fees : Early bird (register before May 15th): 595€ excl. VAT - Regular fee: 695€ excl. VAT
Fees include coffee breaks, lunch, materials and handouts
Dates and time
Dates: June 14th & 15th 2012, time: 9am to 5pm
Location: The Hub Amsterdam, Westerstraat 187, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Same program (in Dutch) will be held in Ghent on June 18 and June 19, 2012.
Register online: http://bit.ly/visualchangemaking

This program is also available for incompany training. Contact us for details and/or tailormade solutions.

Last week I was invited to record a two day conference in...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:45:00 +0200

Last week I was invited to record a two day conference in Istanbul. Participants from Eastern Europe and Asia discussed their vision for the future. I cannot go in detail (confidentiality) …what I can say, this is the ‘longest’ graphic recording I ever did. Listening, analysing, summarizing and drawing. I filled almost 25 metres of paper…and it was highly appreciated by the participants.

ACCIO is an initiative from Arteveldehogeschool ( Ghent,Belgium)...

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:33:45 +0100

ACCIO is an initiative from Arteveldehogeschool ( Ghent,Belgium) to promote creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. In March and April some interesting lectures are scheduled. First in row was Dirk de Boe with Creashock and Edushock.

Visual Harvest in Dutch - lecture based on Dutch book Edushock.

Synthesis and summaries

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:56:54 +0100

Inspired by the NYT bestseller ‘One Life, 6 Words, What’s yours?’ I held a company meeting where we shared our six-word-stories about our company. It was fun and reveiling. And also a recommended team building activity.

In fact, all of my work is about synthesing and visualizing complex information. When I work live at a meeting or an event the result of one day meeting with a large group of participants is summarized and made visible in a large report of 1,2 x 3m.

As you’ve probably seen on my blog I also like to capture the key content of TED Talks in sketchnotes. There are over 1000 talks to watch on TED.com. Watching all of these ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’ would take several weeks, …

Probably inspired by the same book and with a a budget of under $100, Sebastian Wernicke (TedX Zurich) took the amusing challenge to summarize and synthesize all the ideas. Have a look!

Ways to listen better When I work as graphic recorder, it...

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:20:56 +0100

Ways to listen better

When I work as graphic recorder, it happens more than once people come to me and say ‘Great work, oh, I wish I could draw like you…’ The essence of my work is not the drawing part…it’s the listening part. Being fully focused, listening to what is said, synthesizing and structuring… are the key elements.

Want to be a better listener? Check the 5 ways in this visual summary of this TED Talk. And know: practice, practice, practice!

I wish you could be happy 366 days in 2012. Click on picture to...

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:07:58 +0100

I wish you could be happy 366 days in 2012.

Click on picture to download pfd.

Tatjana Gürbaca will be the new opera director at the Staats...

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:07:06 +0200

Tatjana Gürbaca will be the new opera director at the Staats Theater Mainz for the 2011-2012 season. She stands for an inspired and contemporary approach to the repertoire, with a strong dramaturgic background.
In the Flemish Opera, home to this TEDx Flanders event, she was invited to direct a Tsjaikovski-trilogy with Mazeppa and Jevgeni Onegin. She was praised for this trilogy in the prestigious Jahrbuch (Yearbook) from the specialist journal Opernwelt. Today, she will direct us into the thriving world of what opera has become today : what is Opera in the 21st century?

And at TEDxFlanders the choir of the Vlaamse opera treated us to a rehearsal for their latest show. You will be amazed by their performance…

Don’t be rich, live rich! Nomadz.nu is two thirty...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:08:05 +0200

Don’t be rich, live rich!

Nomadz.nu is two thirty somethings’ experiment in lifestyle design to try and live like digital nomads, traveling while working remotely. During 2010, Catherine and Ine made a trip around the world, to 3 countries in particular, and set foot in several others. They did all this while working, questioning the current life templates they grew up with, believing in one meme: Don’t be rich, live rich!

Catherine and Ine teach you how to take clients and work projects with you on vacation, while meditating in a Thai Buddhist temple, savoring delicious wines in Argentina or driving a vintage car right next to the ocean in South Africa.

Do I want this badly enough? Champion skydiver Dan...

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:16:05 +0200

Do I want this badly enough?

Champion skydiver Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld is one of the most experienced competitors and coaches in the history of Formation Skydiving. He made his first skydive in 1980 and has made more than 15,000 career jumps to date.

He has been a role model for every competitor, no matter what their level. He motivates and encourages skydivers to build teams and experience the same excitement and challenges that he himself has been through. His book “Above all else” was published last month.

In 1992, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld was in a plane crash that killed 16 of his fellow skydivers and left him in a coma for 6 weeks with life-threatening injuries. With his broken neck caged in a halo brace, he planned the most astounding comeback.
Dan is now a six-time World Champion and coaches teams around the world.

His story underlines the power of the human spirit and its ability to overcome seemingly impossible odds.

Visual Harvesting in action… explaining my work, here the...

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:38:00 +0200

Visual Harvesting in action…

explaining my work, here the harvest of a world café.

Final result was posted here

Mahatma Gaga, the art of followership ““It’s NOT...

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:57:05 +0200

Mahatma Gaga, the art of followership

““It’s NOT about social media – it’s ALL about followership!”

In an insightful and entertaining talk on followership, Jamie identified three questions critical to generating a strong following: who am I, who are we and where are going.

Jamie Anderson is Professor of Strategic Management at Antwerp Management School. Recently named as a “management guru” by the Financial Times, he has also been included on a list of the world’s “top 25 management thinkers” by the journal Business Strategy Review.

Jamie’s research and teaching focuses on the interconnectedness between leadership, strategy and change, and he has advised a range of Fortune 500 firms on approaches to corporate renewal.

In his talk about ‘the Art of Followership’, Professor Jamie Anderson suggests that there can be no leaders without followers in any societal domain, and discuss the behaviors that inspire loyalty, commitment and unity of purpose amongst voters, customers and fans.
Central to his presentation will be a provocative comparison of the remarkably similar followership approaches pursued by Mahatma Gandhi, the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India, Steve Jobs of Apple, and the contemporary pop-singer icon Lady Gaga.

Small dreams, big ideasVisual harvesting of Aagje Beirens’...

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:11:05 +0200

Small dreams, big ideas

Visual harvesting of Aagje Beirens’ talk at TEdxFlanders.

My Machine is an initiative for children of all ages who want to create their own ‘dream machine’. Primary schoolchildren invent a ‘machine’ (an IDEA) which is developed further by university college students (a DESIGN) to be finally built by pupils from technical secondary school (a MACHINE). Throughout the project, children and students can use the expertise and assistance of various companies and organisations to build the smartest (or craziest) machines.

Decolonize western minds Growing up as a second generation...

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:51:05 +0200

Decolonize western minds

Growing up as a second generation Rwandese in Antwerp, Olivia Rutazibwa tried to convince herself that racism didn‘t exist here. But the more she had to explain to people that she not only ‘came from Antwerp’ but was in fact born here , the more she had to accept that it existed.

Too often we cannot see past the colour of other people’s skin. We all have preconceptions about non-Europeans. We think they are poorly educated, refugees or criminals. This is reinforced by our media and education.

Olivia tells us how to decolonize our minds… it’s day to day work!

Can pills change our morals? Does your sense of fairness...

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:51:05 +0200

Can pills change our morals?

Does your sense of fairness depend on what you ate for breakfast? Can Prozac influence your judgment of what is right or wrong? How can we encourage people to care about the welfare of others? Molly Crockett’s research addresses these questions. She believes that understanding the brain can enable us to design environments that promote cooperation instead of selfishness.

Why listen to her?
Molly Crocket tells us that our values change dependent on what we eat. Using blue cheese as a starting point, she continued the food motif but went on to explain how small changes in our chemical balance can have a real effect our values. While facts are still facts, a morality pill could make us more open to questioning our own values and could make negotiations on moral issues easier and more fruitful.

Molly’s research has taken her far from her native Southern California, where she studied psychology as an undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles. Molly’s curiosity about brain chemistry led her to the University of Cambridge, where she completed her PhD in neuroscience as a Gates Scholar. Now she collaborates with economists at the University of Zürich and neuroscientists at University College London.

World peace and other fourth grade achievements On the verge of...

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:11:15 +0200

World peace and other fourth grade achievements

On the verge of enlightenment, John Hunter’s father told him that he needed to get something else too: a job. When he did succeed in getting hired as a teacher he asked what he was expected to do. The answer gave him the enlightenment he had been seeking: what do you want to do?

In one of the most inspiring talks at TEDxFlanders John explained a little about his World peace game. The multi-level game teaches kids how to solve all the world’s problems and be a better person at the same time. Not bad for fourth graders. He gives examples of the girl who took it on herself to start a war to avoid a bigger one and slow-talking Pablo, who became a leader over the course of the game.