Visual Facilitation

What is Visual Facilitation?

Visual Facilitation, also known as visual process support, is a method in which content and group dynamics in meetings, workshops, or other events are represented through visual elements such as images, texts, and diagrams.

Where is a Visual Facilitator Used?

• Workshops
• Design Thinking processes
• Storytelling
• Meetings, forums, discussion rounds
• Barcamps
• Training and education

What Does a Visual Facilitator Do?

The Visual Facilitator works closely with the moderator or acts as both. Images are created in dialogue with the participants. The format varies from a simple sketch on a flipchart, to a moderated discussion for filling a visual template (a “canvas”), to a group collage. With the help of visualization, central questions are identified, information is collected, structures are developed, conflicts are uncovered, and problems are solved.

When is Visual Facilitation Particularly Helpful?

In almost any context where people communicate with each other, Visual Facilitation can make a positive contribution. Visual Facilitation is often used for the:

• Developing visions, strategies, measures
• Concretizing ideas, guidelines, principles
• Breaking through thought, communication, and behavior patterns
• Team building
• Defining/clarifying processes, interfaces, roles

What Other Skills and Tools Do I Bring?

Complex technical or business topics are quickly understood and accurately visualized by me. With an outside perspective, I can provide new creative impulses and contribute to the result in terms of content.

I like to combine Visual Facilitation with elements from improv theater. Like drawing, performing a small role-play is a way to make things visible. If you want to represent concepts like “good collaboration”, “societal value contribution”, or “resilience”, you have to consider what that means concretely in everyday life. And once someone has acted out a certain behavior, they can implement it more easily in real life later.

In my workshops, I often use the Business-as-Visual card set. The metaphorical imagery is a helpful inspiration for participants to find the right images and words for their thoughts.