{"id":1666,"date":"2020-04-22T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/staffdevelopment\/?p=1666"},"modified":"2020-04-22T10:00:14","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T09:00:14","slug":"too-graphic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/staffdevelopment\/too-graphic\/","title":{"rendered":"Too graphic?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

That age old trope “I can’t draw” is often nonsense. Most people are fortunate enough to be able to mark make in some way – what we usually mean by that statement is that we can’t draw like a pro, or what we produce isn’t what we had hoped in our minds eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

I am not a professional artist, have never put myself forward as someone with oodles of creativity or, indeed, interest in the finer studies of art, craft and technique; my daughter got that gene in our family. What I do appreciate though is visual representation, an attempt to use more than words to display ideas or key points, whether that be literal or metaphorical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a meeting or classroom context this can include graphic recording or sketchnoting. Turning notes into visual displays that are far more engaging than a set of minutes or actions. Creating artistic frames of top tips. Using icons and simple drawings to frame a workshop agenda. Even the doodling we all do has meaning and purpose. Simple icons and images help us to make connections and remember far more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We have always used visual displays to represent ideas in both work and academia – theoretical models as pyramids, cycles etc (see here for a mind-blowing array of ideas<\/a>). Words may remain king for explaining detail and nuance, but for emphasis and engagement I believe that imagery can be invaluable. Think about those presentations you have sat through – were the PowerPoint slides best when a mass of words or when they were a simple image or diagram? Perhaps we need to start with an intention, what is it you are trying to convey and in what context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images can often convey more than words, and are open to personal interpretation. In my workshops and coaching I often turn to a set of cards<\/a> which have images on one side and words on the other; when I invite delegates or coachees to use the image side to express themselves I experience a broader and deeper response that gets to the heart of an issue. Don’t get me wrong, I love words, the rhythm of a narrative, the delight of unexpected vocabulary, the allure of alliteration. However sometimes, an image really does say a thousand words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juliet Flynn, Organisational and People Development Advisor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PS I would highly recommend this FREE online course<\/a> to get you started!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

That age old trope “I can’t draw” is often nonsense. Most people are fortunate enough to be able to mark make in some way – what we usually mean by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136217,"featured_media":2038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[333,329,46],"tags":[389,386,77,73,61],"class_list":["post-1666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-creativity","category-development","tag-graphic","tag-ideas","tag-images","tag-sketchnote","tag-visual"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t