In preparation for the construction event today, we have spent the past few days speaking with the client about their agenda, speakers and content, and getting a feel for the images and metaphors that will both reflect the intent of the discussions and resonate with the audience. Our scribing lives on in large murals at the London Transport Museum, and the offices of News UK, and Microsoft. Sometimes, the scribing will be developed into an infographic, an annotated illustration (what we call a “rich picture”), animations, storyboards, etc. The visual content acts as a record of that moment in time, which could afterward be used as a piece of communications for a larger audience who were not present at the event. Primarily, scribing is a tool to break down the complexity of strategic conversations. There are many different reasons for using graphic facilitation, and many different contexts in which it can be employed. That is why scribing is such a powerful tool. Ultimately, the nature of the content makes no difference, because no matter what it is being discussed, we are experts in listening, understanding, and presenting the messaging in a way that everyone can understand and be excited by. Besides large media events such as TED Global or Wired’s annual Innovation Lectures, we have also scribed private and public events ranging from business leadership away days to global banking summits. We have scribed everything from child soldier experiences and talks about music in schools, to economic conferences outlining the latest trends in the industry, business strategy collaborative decision-making events where the content is being created as it is being scribed. The three-day conference I’m headed to today is located in central London and involves the construction sector, a sector I am familiar with because our team has had a lot of experience across a wide range of disciplines. Among the messages in my inbox is a client request to graphically capture their wedding (this is not the first wedding I have scribed)! I have a healthy breakfast and check my emails on the way into work. I wear comfortable shoes and do a few stretches to ensure I’ll be ready to spend the whole day on my feet. It’s the first day of a three-day conference so it’s an early start. Ultimately, we know through research that people are most susceptible to learning when they are in a “childlike” state, and the playful medium of drawing stimulates this, enabling the audience to access their collective inner child.Ī typical day in the life of a scribe goes something like this… This is most useful when graphic facilitation is employed to capture a group discussion as it breaks down the barriers of language and terminology, different levels of understanding and engagement. A mixture of iconography, graphic forms and metaphors instantly bring meaning to the words, and visualizing complex messaging and strategic thinking also helps to align people in a way that simply talking can’t. Visual capture brings the messaging to life and makes it more approachable and memorable, particularly to those who employ a more “right-brained” way of learning. It works afterward to help those who weren’t there access the overall themes and shape of the session. The visual map of a discussion aids those present by providing visual interest and capturing the flow of ideas, so the participants can see what they are saying. The primary function of scribing is to visually capture a conversation into a clearer and more digestible form. If you have seen our work at an event or a conference, this might answer some of the questions we are often asked about this fascinating and vibrant discipline. If you haven’t come across a scribe before, then we hope this will provide insight into how an Innovation Arts graphic facilitator works.
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