Graphic Documentation and Facilitation
If you are hosting a visioning, planning or dialogue with a group of people, this is a dynamic and inspiring way to for everyone have an experience of seeing their process as it unfolds and naturally encourages everyone to think together. This experience is energizing, clarifying communication and generating collective creativity and innovation.
Basically, how it works…
A graphic facilitator reflects what is being expressed verbally, using pictures and key words, on a large piece of paper or white board. Sometimes they will ask questions to clarify and draw out what is being expressed, with a goal to accurately capture what is being said. At the end of the time, the group is has a visual representation of their work together that they can use in any number of ways, such as feeding forward into the next time they meet, communicating their ideas and process quickly and effectively with others, promoting their work through websites, social or print media, or using the graphic in a report, such as this one:
http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/en/researchResourcesPublications/resources/PolicyAdvocacy_PromoteMentalHealth_WaterlooRegion.pdf
There are many different ways to use graphic facilitation.
Two specific approaches, often used with individuals and their support circle networks for Person-Centred Planning, are Maps and Paths. These approaches can also be adapted to any situation that is focused on visioning and planning for the future, with any individual, group or organization.
Graphic from an individual’s MAP process with their support circle
Graphics can also be commissioned for particular purpose, such as the graphic below that was created to show the organizational structure of Transition Guelph.
Graphic of organizational structure of Transition Guelph.