It was great to work with my friends at the AndPartnership last week at their annual free seminar. This years event explored the topic of ‘Leading in a Changing World’ and featured a number of guest speakers (including Andy Cope author of ‘The Art of Briliance‘). Here are the graphic recordings I produced live during the event:
Great day graphic recording for Superdry UK and Europe store managers conference at Fazely Studios in Birmingham.
Here’s a visual thinking approach to checking the logic and clarity of your organisations business model:
1. Print off a copy (as big as possible) of @AlexOsterwalders Business Model Canvas from the Business Model Generation website. This will give you a great framework in which to visualise your thinking about your business model.
2. Use minimal words and lots of pictures to complete the canvas in a maximum of 5 minutes.
3. Now ask yourself the following questions:
Visit www.crackerjackvisualthinking.com and www.crackerjackbizstartup.com to learn more about how visual thinking can be used to help you think differently about your business.
If you’re looking for an effective way to increase innovation, creativity and communication in your organisation, here’s a plan:
1. Buy enough coloured marker pens and large sheets of paper for everyone in your business!
2. Give them the confidence and skills (via appropriate visual thinking training) to be able to sketch/scribble/draw their thoughts, ideas and moments of genius.
3. Encourage them to share their sketches with others in the business.
4. Encourage people to (constructively!) add to, amend, change and develop each other’s sketches.
5. Set up an ‘art gallery’ (real or virtual) and display everyone’s sketches and masterpieces.
6. Arrange for everyone to visit the gallery and ask everyone to show which sketches they would buy (i.e. which thoughts/ideas they think have most potential to move the organisation forward) by either ticking the sketch or sticking a post-it to it.
7. Identify the top three most popular sketches/ideas in your art gallery.
8. TAKE ACTION! Try and implement the top three idea/s in your organisation! After all, a good idea that isn’t actioned remains just an idea!
Visit www.crackerjackvisualthinking.com to learn more about how visual thinking can be used to drive innovation and creativity in your organisation.
Crackerjack Visual Thinking believes that the combination of a pen and a piece of paper is one of the most powerful business and thinking tools available.
The visual thinking approach is fundamentally based on using these simple tools (or their iPad style equivalents!) to create visual images that communicate ideas, facilitate discussion, engage thinking and provide a catalyst for co-creation between people.
The visual thinking approach enables organisations to experience increased creativity and innovation – ultimately leading to growth and success.
To find out more about visual thinking please visit www.crackerjackvisualthinking.com or call John Ashton on +44 (0) 775 282 6227.
Here’s one of the latest pieces of feedback we’ve received about our graphic recording work from Charli Buxton (Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University):
“John attended our All Staff conference which focused on our new University strategy. It was important to us that we had visual record of the day as it panned out and of the initial feedback which the strategy received.
John attended workshops and plenary sessions, he visited stands and stalls in our Market Place, constantly picking up themes and information to include in the final visual. John worked on the visual throughout the day in the main entrance to the University where people passing by were able to see his work in progress.
By the end of the day we had a fantastic visual record of the day, brilliantly incorporating the feel of the conference, the architecture of the university and, most importantly, the engagement with and initial feedback from staff to the strategy.
We now have the original visual and an electronic version which we will display around the University for those people who were unable to attend on the day.”
Crackerjack Visual Thinking is very happy to share this latest testimonial from one of our clients:
“We all know that one of the key pillars for effective change management is to have good communication. We have tried many different ways of getting key messages to our workforce and are always looking for new and innovative ways of engaging with them.
The important thing for us was not only to achieve effective communication but also to gain buy in of the direction in which the business was heading, the future challenges we faced and their part in this. We wanted to make it real and for them to feel part of the journey.
Working with John Ashton at Crackerjack Visual Thinking, we were able to put the corporate message across along with employees views and opinions in a unique imaginative style. We have found that this really makes people want to understand what has already been achieved and ultimately where we would like to go.
Within a very short period of time we had a communication tool that makes people want to engage and be part of it. A very effective approach and one we will again consider in the future.”
Factory Manager – Major UK Food Producer
To find out more about our work and how we could help you and your business, please visit www.crackerjackvisualthinking.com
#visualthinking #visualisaton #graphicrecording #communication
Why not move beyond PowerPoint and written reports of meetings by using graphic recording to create an impactful, lasting and engaging record of your next meeting, conference or event?
You could have a large (5m x 1.2m) hand-drawn graphic (like the one shown below) created in real-time during your event!
To find out more visit www.crackerjackvisualthinking.com or call +44 (0)775 282 6227.
Really pleased to have just secured a project to develop a graphic vision for an organisation. Even more pleased that they have agreed to allow me create the graphic incorporating input and ideas from their team members to ensure it is a truly authentic and engaging vision of the future for their business! #engagement #vision #visualthinking
