Notes from Visual Communication Course at CHI2016

1. Visual Facilitation
for Design Groups
CHI2016
Instructor: Eileen Clegg
“Words capture ideas; images free them.” – Bonnie DeVarco.
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2. 1. Fundamentals of Visual Communication
The ability to capture a group’s ideas in visual language (words +
images)—in real time, while people are talking-- is a powerful tool for
innovation and design. Everyone who knows how to “talk with their
hands” has this ability to visually communicate on large paper with
markers. It is a simple matter of re-learning natural gestural language.
So we start the session with a somatic exercise in which individuals
discover their innate ability to communicate in images. We practice
the basic sign language that everyone knows. Then, we transfer this
activity to large paper. Everyone practices using basic, easily-drawn
shapes and signs, as others are speaking. Very quickly everyone (really,
everyone) discovers their innate capability for visual communication.
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3. 2. Individual Visual Expression
The simplest images are the most powerful: Arrows, circles, spirals,
trees, waves, mountains….and your own “doodles.” In addition to a
universal symbolic language that we find all around the globe, there
are also unique visual expressions most people developed in
childhood. We will explore our natural, individual art style—looking
for shapes and pictures we can draw quickly and easily. This
exercise will be completed in blank notebooks as participants take a
walk and sketch. For many, this will be a return to simple childhood
drawings. After people will re- discover and share their own symbol
system, we will practice visual facilitation in pairs.
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4. 3. Engaging Multiple Viewpoints
Tapping into the minds, hearts, and creativity of individuals is essential to
group design, but frequently communication is limited by clashes in
cognitive styles, as well as some people’s natural reticence. Therefore in
collaborative group work we use techniques enabling people to express their
individual viewpoints in an intellectually and emotionally safe envrionment.
Instructor will demonstrate these techniques that enable people to deeply
explore their own ideas before sharing with the larger group: clustering,
pair-interviewing, silent responses. Participants will act as the “group” while
instructor will model these factilitation techniques.
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5. 4. Practicum
Participants will have an opportunity to immediately apply their
learnings, using real-world challenges and opportunities they face.
Participants will divide into groups of five to leverage their new
skills. One participant will serve as the facilitator, using the
techniques to engage multiple viewpoints. Another will capture
the ideas visually. The other three will be participants. The focus
will be on the real-world challenges, with the goal of generating
insights, solving problems, and deepening interpersonal
engagement.
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6. 5. Theoretical Basis
Until this point in our workshop, learning has been experiential.
In closing, participants will learn about the theoretical basis for
visual communication and the use of metaphor, based on the
philosophies of Rudolph Arnheim, George Lakoff, Carl G. Jung and
others who explored the power of imagery. Also participants will
learn real-world examples of how organizations have achieved
results with visual communication. Participants will visually
document this lecture in their notebooks and/or on big paper
on the wall. Afterwards they will share their insights.
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