We’re excited to bring together both the UX Book Club and VizThink Philly communities for this special event. Capacity is limited, and registration is required. See you in June!
UX Book Club Philly & VizThink Philly The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Wednesday June 2nd
6 to 8pm Red Tettemer
1 South Broad Street 24th Floor
Have you ever had to sit through an unengaging, unproductive meeting? Or started a project only to realize halfway through that what you are working on is not what the client actually wanted (even though they said it was)?
At the March VizThink Philly, second year UArtsMID grad students Justin Witman and Fraser Marshall gave a workshop on using visual tools to hone in on a group’s collective purpose.
Using a methodology they call Humantic Design, Justin and Fraser use an Agile-style iterative design process to help people working in groups recognize their common goal and work toward achieving it. The collaborative tools that come out of this process are usually cognitive artifacts—any artificial device used in the process of thinking, remembering or problem solving. Some cognitive artifacts we use daily are to-do lists and calendars. Some successful cognitive artifacts created by Justin and Fraser include role-playing cards, and a card-sorting system.
When group members are involved in the creative process, they have a greater investment in desired outcome, and therefore in the creation of the tools. As the project progress, their investment increases, and their anxiety decreases.
Justin and Fraser walked VizThink participants in a mini version of their process. Normally, they would conduct interviews with everyone involved. However, in the interest of time, they brainstormed what they thought might be some common goals of VizThink members and attendees.
First, from the stack of post-it notes we were give, we each chose the 6 most important goals related to visual thinking. If one of our goals was not listed, we had two blank post-its for defining custom goals.
Next we stuck them to a drawing on white board, with the most important in the head, and the least important in the body.
Finally, we pulled out the ‘greatest common denominator’ goals that proved to be thematic in the group. Within half an hour from when we started, we had identified a goal common to all VizThink attendees: “I’d like to have a way to visualize important goals with clients” Additionally, we identified a value common to all but one VizThink attendee: “”Visualizing would help me overcome roadblocks that verbal communication cannot.”
Perhaps in upcoming VizThink meetings we will focus more on these goals, as well as some of the outliers that emerged from the blank post-it notes.
In the upcoming VizThink, we will look at some processes and visual tools to make group collaboration more productive.
Justin Witman and Fraser Marshall will lead a mini-workshop on visualizing individual character and group profiles, which can then be used to find collective group purpose.
When a group has a shared sense of purpose, collaboration becomes much more productive.
The duo are in the last semester of University of the Arts’innovative Masters of Industrial Design program. At UArts, Justin and Fraser are focusing on "The science and design of sustainable collaborations, founded on basic principles of human behaviors that govern learning, motivation and purpose." They call this focus, humantic design.
When:
6:30-8PM Weds, March 10
Where:
Where:
Room 116 SHDH (downstairs)
Steinberg-Dietrich Hall
3620 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Between Spruce and Locust Walk along what would be 37th
street. Note: Locust walk is a pedestrian only area on UPenn campus.
Thanks: As always to Erin Murphy and The Wharton School of Business Alfred West Jr Learning Lab for being our hosts. RSVP HERE
Had a great turnout for VizThink Philly’s December 16 show and tell. The format was simple. First a little mix and mingle accompanied by flowchart cookies.
Then Julia Pellicciaro managed the flow of the show and tell activity, where attendees talked for a few minutes about what they did, and their interest in visual thinking.
Meanwhile Jonny Goldstein did graphic recording of the event. The attendees came from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank, pharmaceuticals, design, academia, and many other areas.
We wrapped up with some more unstructured conversation.
Then a pack of hardy souls braved the cold to eat and drink at the Blockley Pourhouse.
What: A chance for you to share your work, how you use visual thinking, or just what you are interested in, with the VizThink Philadelphia community. And a great opportunity to learn about what other Philly area VizThinkers are working on or fascinated with. All that and homemade flowchart cookies!
How it works: If you would like to share something with the group you have 4 options: show slides, show physical artifacts (a drawing, poster, gadget, etc.), draw on the whiteboard, or just show you. The first 15 people to respond will get a 3 minute slot. If we get further requests to show and tell, then we’ll create a waiting list and draw from that if time permits. Email jonny(dot)goldstein(at)gmail.com if you want to show something.
If you are showing slides, either email them to jonny(dot)goldstein(at)gmail.com, or bring them in on a computer or thumb drive and we’ll transfer them to our laptop. The slides must either be PowerPoint or PDF format.
You don’t have to show anything to attend. You will add to the festive spirit with your very presence.
When: 6:30-8PM Weds, Dec 16
Where:
Room 116 SHDH,
Steinberg-Dietrich Hall
3620 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Between Spruce and Locust Walk along what would be 37th
street. Locust walk is a pedestrian only area on UPenn campus.
Parking: There is a parking garage located at 38th and Walnut but
there’s also street parking all around the area as
well.
Public Transit:
El train to 34th and Market OR
#34 Trolley to 36th and Sansom OR
#21 Bus to 36th and Walnut
Thanks: VizThink Philadelphia thanks Alfred West Jr. Learning Lab of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for hosting this event and Erin Murphy for arranging the venue. Organizers and flowchart cookie creators: Julia R. Pellicciaro, Jonny Goldstein, and Bianca Cevoli.
(Heather Willems discussing her graphic recording process )
The ImageThink team demonstrated the power of graphic recording at their appearance at VizThink Philadelphia. After demonstrating their technique and fielding questions, they had attendees pair up and do graphic recording for each other.
(VizThink attendee, Livia Labate records her partner’s story)
They fielded questions throughout the session, and thoroughly engaged us.
(While Nora Herting talks, Heather Willem’s captures her words as visuals)
Particpants left the event energized and excited about the way that graphic recording can enhance learning and communication.
Big thanks to the ImageThink crew for sharing their knowledge and passion with us. Thanks to Erin Murphy from Wharton’s Alfred West Jr. Learning Lab for hosting us.
This event was coordinated by Bianca Cevoli, Julia Pellicciaro, and Jonny Goldstein.
RSVP to Join Nora Herting and Heather Willems of Image Think to learn about the emerging field of graphic recording. Nora and Heather travel North America drawing real-time murals interpreting what people say at meetings and conferences. Graphic recording helps identify patterns in conversation, clarifies themes, and creates a memorable record of key ideas.
Nora and Heather will explain what they do, why it matters, and then will demonstrate graphic recording in action. Then they will lead a fun activity where all of us will try our hand at graphic recording.
About ImageThink
ImageThink has enabled communication and problem solving for both
private and government sectors through graphic recording. They have
worked with many Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and
non-profits. They are based out of Brooklyn.
When: 6:30-8PM Weds, Oct 21
Where:
Room 116 SHDH,
Steinberg-Dietrich Hall
3620 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Between Spruce and Locust Walk along what would be 37th
street.
Parking: There is a parking garage located at 38th and Walnut but
there’s also street parking all around the area as
well.
Public Transit:
El train to 34th and Market OR
#34 Trolley to 36th and Sansom OR
#21 Bus to 36th and Walnut
(Bianca Cevoli looks on as people pour their thoughts onto paper at the SketchPark)
On September 18, 2009 VizThink Philadelphia created a mini-park on a busy street where pedestrians could stop and draw. They called it the SketchPark. The SketchPark was one of hundreds of temporary parks around the world created as part of PARK(ing) Day where organizations set up small temporary parks in parking spots to illustrate alternative possibilities for uses of urban space.
(Created by an urban planner showing connections between neighborhoods)
(Created by an architect who is in the process of career switching to rabbi)
(One of the first people to sit down created this urban landscape)
About the creators of the SketchPark:
Bianca Cevoli is graphic designer, writer, who blogs at geekadelphia.com. Julia Pellicciaro is an interaction designer who blogs at InterfaceInYerFace.com. Jonny Goldstein is an animator, artist-at-large, and slidedeck provocateur.
They are the founders of VizThink Philadelphia, a local chapter of the global VizThink community.
About VizThink:VizThink is a global community dedicated to the use of visualization in learning and
communication.
(Above: Image of the Graphic Recording of Jonny Goldstein’s mini-workshop on using visual techniques for public speaking, created by Nora Herting of Image Think.)
Vizthink Philadelphia conducted it’s 4th event last Monday, Sept 14, at Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania. Jonny Goldstein led a mini-workshop on using visual techniques to create an effective speech. The event was hands on and quite social as you can see in the images below. Afterward, participants headed to a nearby brewpub for some refreshment. Nothing like some nutrients and beverages after some concentrated VizThinking.
Nora Herting, a professional graphic recorder, did a lovely recording of the event as it unfolded. She and her partner Heather Willem will be leading October’s VizThink Philadelphia mini-workshop. Together they are Image Think, the graphic recording company.
Big thanks to Wharton Computing which stepped forward to offer us a space to meet. And as always, thanks to Julia Pellicciaro and Bianca Cevoli for getting the word out about the event.
Jonny will be reprising this mini-workshop at VizThink NYC on September 24. If you are interested in attending, RSVP here.
“ The number one fear of people isn’t dying, it’s public speaking.”
— Detective Richie Roberts,
American Gangster
At this month’s VizThink, Jonny Goldstein, will show a visual thinking approach to preparing and delivering an engaging presentation. As one who has given many a speech, Jonny can report that public speaking beats dying, and even can be a blast, especially if you use visual thinking tools to prepare.
By the end of the session, you will develop and deliver a 2 minute mini-presentation, with visuals, to a small group.
We have a fabulous new venue at Wharton School of Business. In order to access the space you MUST RSVP BEFORE FRIDAY, NOON, SEPT 11, in order to attend the Monday, Sept 14, event. Otherwise you will not be able to get in. Please bring ID to get into the building. RSVP here.
By the end of the session, you will develop and deliver a 2 minute mini-presentation, with visuals, to a small group.
Special Guest: Nora Herting, one half of the NYC based graphic recording company, Image Think will capture our session proceedings visually in a mural which she will create in real time. Check the video below for a demo of Nora creating a graphic recording.
(Above: Video of Nora Herting and Heather Willems of Image Think)
About Jonny Goldstein: Jonny is a Philadelphia based animation producer and public speaker. He has spoken at schools, conferences, universities, commercial venues, and theaters, and has appeared on Tech TV and New York 1. Jonny’s recent presentation at Pecha Kucha Philly was dubbed “a hilarious diquisition” by philadelphiaweekly.com.
About Nora Herting: Nora is a Brooklyn based professional artist who completeted Masters in Fine Arts at the Ohio State University. She helps clients make meetings more productive by providing expert graphic recording. She has teamed up with Heather Willems to create Image Think, the graphic recording company.
When: 6:30-8PM, Mon, Sept 14
Where:
UPenn, Wharton Business School
Huntsman Hall, Room G-50
3730 Walnut Street , philadelphia, pa
