Sketching Bootcamp

Sketching Bootcamp: Using Visuals to Sell Ideas and Solve Problems

Whiteboard (or flipchart) sketching is the fastest and easiest way to convey your ideas, to help shape the conversations in meetings and foster team alignment…yet many of us don’t feel comfortable in the front of the room with a marker in hand 

In one dynamic day, you’ll get a basic framework for selling ideas, solving problems and sketching complex information in an engaging way. We’ll focus on enhancing your visual vocabulary and building your confidence to create compelling visuals in your everyday work. An expanded visual vocabulary means drawing boxes and arrows that sing, people that don’t look like blobs and leaving with a back pocket full of visual frameworks for all the things you have to communicate.

What will I learn & take back to work?

1. Visual vocabulary
In language we use the alphabet, in visualization there are basic forms to sketch representing people, places, actions or how time has lapsed. Having a larger visual vocabulary means not having to think about what you’re drawing, but focusing on what you want to convey.

2. Process mapping
When we’re conveying ideas, the small concepts mentioned above add up to make a story. This story could tell how produce moves from the farm to our table or how cash flows through an organization. Understanding how to put the small pieces together to paint a grander picture is important for systems thinking and strategy. 

3. Frameworks
Flowcharts, pyramid diagrams, bulls-eyes, journey maps…there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel when so many frameworks already exist. Having a good understanding of each type of visual framework and what it does will help you quickly express ideas for yourself and to your team. 

4. Summarizing and presenting data
As we start to build confidence in our visual vocabulary, mapping abilities, and have multiple frameworks to choose from, we can now start putting all of these components together. We’ll integrate quantitative and qualitative data into our sketches to sell an idea that helps move an audience to action.

Regardless of your role in the organization, being able to clearly define your thoughts and ideas visually is a valuable skill. In this one-day class, you’ll take your visual skills to the next level with exercises to practice and tools you can use right away to build the confidence to draw out ideas.