Crackerjack Visual Thinking

Category: Engaging your people

  • Why the Crackerjack Visioning Process Creates Double-Loop Learning

    Double-loop learning
    Double-loop learning

    The most valuable insight from a visioning workshop often appears after the workshop.

    During the session, ideas connect, assumptions get challenged, and the emerging model becomes clearer. But something interesting happens when the thinking from the workshop is turned into a strategic visual artefact — often a rich picture.

    Suddenly new insights appear:

    – Missing connections.
    – Hidden assumptions.
    – Strategic tensions.

    In other words, the picture creates a second learning loop.

    The workshop improves the thinking. The visual artefact changes the thinking.

    I wrote a short article on LinkedIn about how this shows up in the Crackerjack Visioning Process™. You can read it by clicking here.

    #VisualThinking #StrategicThinking #SystemsThinking #OrganisationalLearning #StrategyDevelopment #CrackerjackVisioning

  • Creating a vision rich picture for Project 4 Learning Lab

    Creating a vision rich picture for Project 4 Learning Lab

    Crackerjack Visual Thinking recently worked with Project 4 Learning Lab (P4L) to create a rich picture of their vision for the future.

    P4L help organisations find their flow; delivering products to market faster, accelerating flow of knowledge work and accelerating flow of product. They work with organisations including Rolls-Royce, Astra Zeneca, Alstom and Infosys.

    Crackerjack ran a half-day visioning workshop with the team using the Crackerjack Visioning Process™ and then created the rich picture based on the outputs from the process:

    Project 4 Learning Lab Vision

    Click on the image to see the full size PDF version of the rich picture.

    Click HERE to see the animated build version of the image.

    Keith Howells, P4L CEO, shares his experience of the process…

    Why did you want to visualise your vision?

    We were looking for a way to communicate our vision and the work that our organisation does in a holistic way that was both multi-dimensional and engaging at the same time.  We also wanted to ensure that as a team we were absolutely aligned in what we do, how we do it and why that is important to us and our stakeholders.

    How did you find the visioning process (both the workshop and the image development process)?

    The visioning process was exciting and really easy for us all to engage in.  It gave us a structure to have conversations to help us align as a team without it ever feeling constraining.  It was really interesting to see how the process engaged everyone involved and allowed them to express their thoughts and opinions in a slightly different way to how we might in a “normal day”.

    We found the visioning workshop really energising and by the end we felt good that we were in agreement of around 80 or 90% of the inputs that went into the generation of the final picture.

    The image development process was straightforward too because it was staged around the definition of a high level concept and supporting layout before focusing on the details of the imagery and the finer points of the text.

    John was very open to change (whilst also guiding us towards something that was coherent) as we asked for one thing and then decided that we needed something different!  It was a really good experience.

    How do you intend to use the finalised rich picture?

    We plan to use it in two main areas…firstly, to explain to potential new clients about the work we do, how we do it and the difference it typically makes to our clients, and secondly, to support the onboarding of new team members by providing a foundation so that they can become really effective really quickly.

    Find out more…

    Find out more about Project 4 Learning Lab at https://www.p4learninglab.com

    To find out more about the Crackerjack Visioning Process™ and our work, visit https://www.crackerjackvisualthinking.com

     

    #project4learninglab #visualthinking #crackerjack #visioning #richpictures #engagement #communication #business #vision #onboarding #alignment #collaboration #storytelling

  • Visual thinking: Helping simplify complexity in UK power generation

    Visual thinking: Helping simplify complexity in UK power generation

    Creating a future-proof power generation system for the UK is a hugely complex and costly task (as todays announcement of the UK Governments £14.2bn investment in Sizewell C shows).

    Here at Crackerjack, I’ve been working with a client to help them simplify complexity and visualise how they can help increase the speed and efficiency of three of these major infrastructure construction projects: Sizewell C, Hinkley Point C and the STEP fusion energy project.

    In each case, I’ve been able to create visual rich pictures that have facilitated a deeper and clearer understanding of my clients work for the project teams from each of these construction projects. This also works in reverse, with the creation of the rich pictures enhancing my clients understanding of how they can best support these vital construction projects.

    In one case, the rich picture I originally produced for my client is now being used by a senior exec member of one of the infrastructure construction project teams as a key element of their keynote presentations to key stakeholders (including to the UK Government).

    The more complex a project becomes, the more important it is to simplify complexity in order to engage people with your work and ensure they understand the role you can play in it. Visual thinking and rich pictures can be the bridge between complexity, and simplicity and understanding.

    Find out more about my work here on our website or contact me to explore simplifying your complex project.

    John

    Crackerjack visualthinking communication engagement understanding powergeneration sizewellc hinkleypointC HPC SZC STEP fusionenergy simplifycomplexity

  • Visualising complex product ecosystems

    Visualising complex product ecosystems

    Organisations like SAP, Siemens, and PTC offer comprehensive solution ecosystems that span multiple domains—PLM, simulation, digital twins, IoT, and more. While these solutions are powerful, they are also complex. As a result, many customers struggle to understand how the various tools relate to one another and, more importantly, how they align with their own operational challenges and transformation goals.

    The Communication Gap

    • Customers often focus on immediate problems and can’t always see how a broader platform approach addresses their needs.
    • Sales and product teams may describe capabilities from different angles, leading to inconsistent messaging.
    • Internal stakeholders may lack a shared view of how the offer is positioned for different markets or maturity levels.

    A Visual Thinking Approach

    Using a facilitated visual method—such as the creation of a rich picture—can help bridge the gap between technical solutions and customer understanding. A rich picture is a large, illustrative diagram that captures:

    • The customer’s operational environment and key challenges.
    • How different products or tools contribute to solving those challenges.
    • The broader transformation journey and how solutions align to that trajectory.
    • Dependencies, touchpoints, and contextual factors that are difficult to convey in text or slide decks.

    Benefits of this Approach

    • Customer Understanding: Provides a visual narrative that helps customers see where they fit and how the solution supports their goals.
    • Sales and Marketing Alignment: Offers a consistent, reusable asset that can guide strategic conversations and value positioning.
    • Internal Clarity: Acts as a reference point across teams—helping product, sales, and delivery functions align on message and intent.
    • Adaptability: Can be tailored by sector, persona, or maturity level to suit different engagement scenarios.

    Common Use Cases

    • Industry-specific product overviews.
    • Executive briefings and stakeholder workshops.
    • Onboarding tools for new clients or internal teams.
    • Strategic planning, partner enablement, or bid development.

     If you would like to explore how visual thinking can help you engage clients with your product, please contact us.

    #VisualThinking #CustomerEngagement #ComplexitySimplified #SolutionSelling #DigitalTransformation #TechMarketing #EnterpriseSoftware #StrategicAlignment #IndustrialSoftware #SystemsThinking #EngineeringDesign #CustomerSuccess #InnovationConsulting #VisualConsulting

  • #livescribing back in 2016!

    #livescribing back in 2016!

    Site icon
    #livescribing back in 2016!
  • Engage your customers during the sales process with a Rich Picture

    Engage your customers during the sales process with a Rich Picture

    Over the last couple of years, Crackerjack Visual Thinking has been working with clients to support their sales processes by creating bespoke rich pictures showing how their products and services align with their existing and potential customers needs.

    Rich pictures help customers ‘see’ how our clients products and services fit into their customers world (with its complexity, challenges and opportunities) and will help them achieve their aims and objectives. This results in:

    • Customers understanding how my clients products and services will benefit their business.
    • More effective conversations between my clients and their customers due to having a rich picture image to talk through and explore together.
    • Customers appreciating the investment and time my clients have taken in preparing the bespoke rich picture for the sales meeting. It demonstrates my clients commitment to wanting to understand their customers needs on a deeper level.

    Following successful sales outcomes with their customers, the multiple benefits of rich pictures during the sales process have led clients to adapt this visual thinking approach into their sales processes. We look forward to continuing to support them in achieving successful sales over the coming years.

    John Ashton – Crackerjack Visual Thinking

    We’d love to talk about your ideas and see if we can help you visualise them!

    Click on the button below and let’s start a conversation…

    CONTACT US
  • How rich picture’s help engage people during onboarding

    How rich picture’s help engage people during onboarding

    Based on my previous experience in L&D (working for Boots the Chemists and The Nottingham Building Society), one of the crucial elements of engaging people during onboarding is providing them with a sense of purpose and place in the organisation.

    We can help people have a sense of purpose and place by:

    • Helping them have direct line of sight from their role to the customer.
    • Understanding how their role ‘fits’ into the organisation.
    • Understanding the impact of the organisation on the wider world (including environmental impact).
    • Getting a sense of the culture/values/ethos of the organisation they have joined.

    It’s a lot to cover!

    Throughout my career (both as an employee being onboarded myself and as an L&D manager doing the same for others), the most effective tool for growing understanding, driving discussion and generating insightful questions about an organisation has been (in my opinion) the effective use of rich pictures as part of the onboarding process. So much so in fact that I now spend most of my time creating these for organisations!

    Nursing and Midwifery at NUH Rich Picture
    Nursing and Midwifery at NUH Rich Picture

    Rich pictures are images that share complex organisational stories and messages in easy to understand and impactful ways. They can be static images or evolving images that build to create a complete story over the course of the onboarding process.

    Used standalone or as part of planned onboarding and induction programme, rich pictures can be shared on-line or in print formats including posters, murals, large format displays and interactive business games.

    Rich pictures can be shared before an employee joins an organisation as a pre-orientation tool or during the onboarding process itself once they have joined the organisation.

    RICH PICTURES ARE ALSO IDEAL FOR VISUALISING, COMMUNICATING AND ENGAGING PEOPLE WITH THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:

    • Organisational / Business Vision
    • Organisational / Business Strategy
    • Culture and Values
    • Transformation and Change
    • Health & Safety and Regulatory Compliance

    I’m very happy to have a further conversation about the use of rich pictures in the onboarding process if that would be helpful. Feel free to contact me or visit www.crackerjackvisualthinking.com to find out more about our work.

    John

  • Quick Guide to identifying the right Visual Thinking solution for your business needs

    Quick Guide to identifying the right Visual Thinking solution for your business needs

    A quick post to share our Quick Guide to identifying the right visual thinking solution for your business needs. Hope you find it helpful!

    Use our QUICK GUIDE below to identify the right visual thinking solutions for your needs…

    THE SUBJECT YOU WANT TO VISUALISE, COMMUNICATE AND ENGAGE PEOPLE WITH…CLICK ON THE LINKS TO LEARN OUT MORE ABOUT OUR VISUAL THINKING SOLUTIONS…
    Organisational / Business Vision >Rich Pictures | WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS
    Organisational / Business Strategy >Rich Pictures | WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS
    Culture and Values >Rich Pictures | WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS
    Transformation and Change >Rich Pictures | WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS
    Customer Engagement and Sales Presentations / Pitches >Rich Pictures | WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS
    Induction and Onboarding >Rich Pictures | WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS
    Health & Safety and Regulatory Compliance >Rich Pictures | WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS
    Meetings, Events and Conferences >LIVE SCRIBING | GRAPHIC RECORDING | VISUAL FACILITATION | GRAPHIC FACILITATION
    People Development >PERSONAL VISIONS | Rich Pictures
    Leadership Development >PERSONAL VISIONS | Rich Pictures
    Visual Thinking Skills Development >SCRIBBLE LAB™ TRAINING

    We’d love to talk about your ideas and see if we can help you visualise them!

    Click on the button below and let’s start a conversation…

    CONTACT US
  • Whiteboard Animation – 1 minute overview

    Whiteboard Animation – 1 minute overview

    STORIES SHARED…

    Whiteboard animation is ideal for bringing extra energy and impact to communicating ideas and stories to your people.

    Eastlight Community Homes Value for Money Whiteboard Animation

    Deliberately simple in their approach, yet highly impactful, whiteboard animations build-up stories and guide people around the narrative at a pace that enables understanding and maintains engagement. Voiceovers, music, sound effects and motion add further layers of engagement to the experience.

    WHAT THE PROCESS INCLUDES:

    • Scoping session.
    • Storyboarding.
    • An iterative design process.
    • Music and VoiceOver (where required).
    • Full feedback and sense-checking phase with stakeholders and a cross-section of your target audience.

    RESULT: You have an impactful animation that be shared across your multi-media channels including websites and social media feeds.

    We’d love to talk about your ideas and see if we can help you visualise them!

    Click on the button below and let’s start a conversation…

    CONTACT US