Hello
and welcome to the second part of my workshop-blog, ‘Graphic Facilitation for
Absolute Beginners’. At the end of Part 1, I asked you to think of something
that has inspired or motivated you. Perhaps you would like to share this in the
comments below; if it has a visual element I’d be interested to see it.
For my
part I’d like to share something that inspired me many years ago when I was a
design student and still continues to influence me today. This is a diagram /
graphic created in the early 1970’s by Victor Papanek for his famous book,
‘Design for the Real World’.
Designer and educator Victor Papanek (1927-1999) was a strong
advocate of the socially and ecologically responsible design of products and
tools. He disapproved of manufactured products that were unsafe, showy,
maladapted, or essentially useless. His products, writings, and lectures were
considered an example and spur by many designers, and he was an untiring
eloquent promoter of social and ecological design. (Wikipedia)
I have a
large poster sized version of the graphic copied from an original poster using
a blueprinting machine (an early photocopying system). As students, we were encouraged
to add to the original with our own thoughts and with quotes that we had read.
My copy has been covered in ideas and links over the years. For me, the style
and process embodied in the graphic is the source of my approach to graphic
facilitation and recording.
So what
are graphic facilitation and recording? Facilitation is enabling others to
plan, take responsibility and assume leadership. Recording and facilitation can
be used closely together or stand apart as separate activities. But let’s start
with some simpler questions: What are graphics? Where do we see them? How are
they used?
I’m
sure you have lots of answers. In live workshops I ask participants to call out
their answers and I record them on a flip-chart like this:
As I
said in part 1, graphics are all around us. Many of them are sophisticated
designs, others are simple line drawings. The common factor in all of them is
that one way or another they are being used to communicate something. In
graphic facilitation and recording it is exactly the same; written words and
simple images combined to communicate ideas being discussed, explained or
promoted – a graphic language.
Graphic
language is a powerful tool when used to facilitate or record meetings.
Participation, creativity, understanding and focus are stimulated as key ideas
are captured directly in words and pictures.
The
display provides a visual record and group memory that can help to clarify
differences, misunderstandings, aspirations and dreams, and encourage the group
to define goals.
Graphic
recording can be a helpful tool to support and facilitate the work of all sorts
of groups working on all types of projects or problems. Examples include
business meetings, events, project planning, conferences, person-centred
planning, teaching and training.
The Key Skills
Anyone
can learn to be a graphic facilitator / recorder. The biggest block that people
have is the fear of drawing – the belief that you can’t do it; that it won’t be
good enough.
IT
DOESN’T MATTER – It doesn’t have to be “good”. And you can do it!
Drawing Basic Shapes
This is an exercise that is best done using a large sheet of paper, taped to a wall,
and a marker pen. Make sure the pen will not bleed through onto the wall; if
necessary, double up the paper.
Before doing the exercise it’s a good idea to limber up – do a few
simple warm-up exercises – move around a bit and do some stretches. I’d
recommend doing this before starting any scribing work.
Now stand, relaxed, facing square on to the paper and, using your whole body
(not just your hand and arm) make some large vertical lines.
 |
|||||||||
Draw BIG, bend your knees, flex your spine – BE BOLD!
Now, draw horizontal lines like this;
Don’t worry that your lines are not very straight. Do some wavy
ones, if you want. Just keep practicing drawing BIG.
Draw
some diagonal lines:
Next I want
you to draw squares and rectangles –
lots of them, all different sizes…..
And now some
triangles….
Finally, some circles, ovals and perhaps spirals….
Everything you need to draw consists of these lines
and shapes:
The greatest proportion of what you do when you are scribing is writing.
You need all these lines and shapes for lettering. You will need to practice
writing larger than you are normally used to and very legibly.
As you progress you will learn to draw specific images which at this
time, if you have seen some graphic facilitators’ work, you might think consist
of much more sophisticated shapes. In reality, they all consist of
modifications and combinations of these simple lines and shapes. When you are
scribing there isn’t time for anything more complex and it isn’t necessary. You
have to be able to work quickly. To be able to do this you will need to practice, but we’ll come back to that later.
Listening
The
most important skill to learn is how to LISTEN.
Listening
includes understanding all the ways people communicate; the way they speak,
their tone of voice, use of eye contact, gestures, signs, facial expressions
and body language.
Listening
also includes checking out what you have heard; making sure you understand and
can interpret it.
When
you are facilitating you need to let people see that you are listening – use
your body language; make eye contact, have an open posture, lean towards
people, respond by nodding, etc. – then….
Draw
the words and images
Check it out – ASK if it’s right –
MAKE CORRECTIONS.
This builds trust within the group you are working with and confidence in your role.
BE PRESENT – Listen – Draw – Don’t Judge –
BE THERE for everyone.
In the
next part of ‘Graphic Facilitation and Recording Skills for Absolute Beginners’
we will delve a bit deeper into the key skills and do some more exercises. In
the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the
comments box below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
