If you read my previous post on the pitfalls of why you stop taking visual notes after a few attempts and you thought ‘Oh that sounds like me!’, then read on.
In today’s post I am offering you a playful strategy to help you get out of any of the pitfalls you fall into – perhaps again and again.
For the practice I like to invite you into, I thought of using the metaphor of an ‘all you can eat’ sushi restaurant concept. From the menu you can select multiple rounds of servings and each time, you focus on something new you wanted to taste.
The way you are going to practice your note-taking, is by selecting from three sections of the menu, each time you practice. There are only two ‘rules’.
Develop your visual note-taking skills like dining in an ‘all you can eat’ sushi restaurant.
The 3 main components of visual language that help you focus while practicing your note-taking skills
You must select 3 servings, each from one section: the 3 components of visual language.
See them as a required combination to leverage the power of visual language to make comprehensive meaning possible:
COMPONENT 1 – WORDS
- lowercase
- capitals
- narrow
- wide
- large
- small
- thick
- thin
- contour
- dashed
- dotted
- lined
- shadowed
- outlined
- coloured
- italic
COMPONENT 2 – SHAPES
- dot
- line
- arch
- roof shape
- loop
- spiral
- circle
- rectangle
- triangle
- oval
- pentagram
- cloud
COMPONENT 3 – VISUALS
- separators
- listings
- arrows
- people
- flora
- fauna
- buildings
- transport
- objects
- icons
- symbols
- visual metaphors
RULE #2
If you order more than 3 servings, only focus on enjoying three of them.
In a ‘all you can eat’ sushi restaurant, you order round after round. You make a selection and once your dishes are served, you take a look, smell, taste and eat your servings before ordering again.
I am not saying you can’t select more than three servings, but to ensure you don’t fall into any of the pitfalls, you may want to limit yourself by focusing for your development on only three. After all, I don’t like for you to get overwhelmed and fall into any of these pitfalls.
Now each time you take visual notes, you can select a new set of elements to focus on. Or you continue to practice the same set until you are satisfied with how you use them. Enjoy!
MAIN INSIGHTS
INSIGHT 1 ⚡️ Visual notes are made out of visual language
INSIGHT 2 ⚡️ Visual language consists of words, shapes & visuals
INSIGHT 3 ⚡️ Combining words, shapes & visuals increases the power of your notes
INSIGHT 3 ⚡️ Focus on only 3 elements at a time when taking visual notes
Do you want to learn how to create visual tools for your training?
Join the next visual empathy in person training on June 30 & July 1, 2022 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This 2-day training will help you to develop your visual empathy and trainer skills, enabling you to convey your message clearly and visually and to increase understanding and engagement during your training. Step-by-step. Easy. Effective.
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My name is MIREILLE VAN BREMEN
I work internationally, incompany and online, as a ...
◉ Visual Empathy Trainer and Coach
◉ Graphic Recorder, Illustrator, Designer
◉ Conflict Coach & Mediator
Learning organizations and training & development departments hire me to visually empower the communication strategies of their organization and/or train their staff in visual communication & presentation skills, so that more connection and interaction is established and the subject matter can be learned and understood with ease and pleasure.