What makes visuals speak? VizThink Breakout Session
Who came and what they were interested in
Five groups joined me for a facilitated break-out session at VizThink 08 to explore the various aspects that make visuals speak.
The first session I facilitated was on Monday afternoon. By this time, I knew the community that came together for this event was special. The only other times I have been with so many people interested in visuals was when I worked at Penland School of Craft and attended RISD. The difference this time was this audience also shared an interest in the intersection of visuals and business.
I wanted to get a bit more information about them as a group, so I drew a quick mini-assessment on the Nomad Rolling Dry Erase Panel provided by Kinetic Energies.
The top chart column asks for people to identify the sector they work in: non-profit, education, government , or corporate. The rows ask about role: small business owner, independent consultant, individual contributor, manager, or executive. The largest number of participants were small business owners and individual contributors working in a corporate environment.
The section at the bottom asked about the topics they were most interested in. The ones that came out at top were:
- visual literacy
- visual language
- creativity and innovation
- creating visual tools
Creating Individual Images
Each table had a VisualsSpeak ImageSet containing 200 photographs. We used the framing question: What makes visuals speak? Each person selected photos and assembled them on a piece of construction paper.
We looked at the patterns in how each individual constructed their image on the page.
- Did they stay within the rectangle?
- Did the images overlap?
- Are they aligned with the edges?
- Is the background covered?
Over years of watching people go through this process, we’ve observed most people make similar images in terms of how they assemble their photographs on the page which correlates to how they think. Seeing the difference in how the images are constructed can help people understand each others perspectives.
The stories
Understanding deepens as people share the stories of what the images mean to them. Difference emerges, from what is seen in the individual images to how the images are discussed.
Working in a group
Each group then created an image together to answer: What makes visuals speak? It was up to the members of the group to determine the process they would use. Each group’s process is unique.
Creating an image with other people is different. Suddenly you have to negotiate. Or not, as the case may be. The process and conversations become as important as the product itself.
What does make visuals speak?
Here are five perspectives, along with what I heard from them. What do you think? Anything missing?
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
