We have sent out a request to the visual thinking and practice community asking for everyone to contribute with visuals which can explain some of the key messages and concepts discussed during the Barcelona Climate Talks leading up to the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen.
Imagine you have a visual language which can help you communicate exactly what you need to communicate. And you would be able to visualise it with simple strokes on the whiteboard or a napkin or a flipchart.
The above post it’s show 12 words/ concepts which each have a following icon. The topic is Climate Change. The situation where they can be used is in a dialogue around how your organisation considers its rol in the current debate around climate change and COP15.
What visual langauge do you need?
Post a comment below with the Top 10 words you’d like a illustration and/ or an icon for.
Please include three things in your comment:
1) What industry / topic?
2) When – In what situation do you need it?
3) What 10 words / concepts would you like to have a Visual Langauage for?
This is a pilot project which we intend to run over the next ½ year. We will gather all the words we get and follow up on our blog with the progress we are making and get back to those of you who have submitted words.
We are always on the lookout for strong visual language which can help people have great dialogues about complex issues. Thanks to Simon from the Kaospilots we got to know of the GreenMap project. They simply make map and icons for green issues.
We do know, that a visual language can help us make meaning in a world of complexity and can support us in making meaning of it all. But exaclty how does it work? Tom Wujec, who is a information designer gives here an explanation to why and how visuals work. (And by the way – it’s supercool!!).
Sometimes we forget that we have one: A Visual Language. You can use a visual langauge to convey messages, create meaning together with others and build shared understandings. When working in a team over a longer period of time, your team can benefit from building a shared visual language. Start with listing the most common words you use. Then draw some fast sketches of icons of each word. Then expand your vocabulary and link them in groups. Continue making rough sketches. You can read more about Visual Language in Robert Horns Book.
There are so many great initiatives around “being green”, doing the right things, living sustainable etc. And the best part is almost that they have all gotten the thing about communicating in a powerful visual language. I found this site on John Grants blog, and just love the simplicity, the overall theme, the visual language – and finally the way you as a reader is guided through the site.
