Graphic facilitation for project managers
I hold theme days on the Academy Programme in Innovation, Product and Production, University College Absalon. The Academy Programme in Innovation, Product and Production focuses on three key areas:
Innovation, product optimisation and product development that provides a wide range of skills and enables you to navigate complex quality, technical and environmental challenges in a company or municipality.
I teach graphic facilitation and how visuals can be used as an effective communication tool in the role of project manager.
- During the day we work with:
How visuals can help others better understand and remember your messages - How simple and straightforward lines can explain processes, workflows and more
- Frames, icons, shapes and large format were practised
Nudging and visual communication
Mettelene Jellinggaard, behavioural expert and author, and I delve into behavioural design, nudging and visuals in our 2-day course in "Nudging and visual communication" at Mannaz.
Over the two days, participants will be given concrete tools to analyse behaviour and equipped to design their own nudges that work. In addition, we go in-depth with:
- Analysing target groups and barriers
- Working with a concrete method to design nudges
- The visual toolbox, a simple drawing technique that supports messages and strengthens communication with just a few strokes
Graphic facilitation for members
The participants all took home some very concrete tools that will enable them to create vibrant, targeted and not least personalised presentations in the future. So, goodbye to standard, boring powerpoints filled with text and bullet points.
And yes to hand-drawn icons and beautiful project plans.
"Great course", "Very inspiring and useful, and not least fun" were some of the great feedback.
graphic facilitation course
- Abstract concepts like integration, enforcement and web services were iconised
- Visualisation of complex issues in large format
Graphic facilitation course
At the Danish Defence Air Technical Training Squadron, I held a course in graphic facilitation for their training team and administration.
Visuals, whether on flipcharts, whiteboards or smartboards, should be seen as a complement to power point, and together they can enhance learning and help students understand and remember new concepts and processes.
We went through the basic elements and how to build templates for meetings, workshops and training.
During the two days, we went through:
🖍 The basics of graphic facilitation
🖍 Visualised lesson plans, agendas and processes
🖍 Large format and layout were practised
"It's easier than you think", "With just a few strokes I can draw" and "You can use it in many ways" - some of the participants said.
Visual summary
Do you find it difficult to remember everything that's said when you're at a conference?
Then maybe you need to gather the day's golden nuggets in one place!
I helped the Danish Technological Institute with this when they organised the conference The Great Secretary Day at Comwell in Copenhagen.
The amazing speakers from the day were:
Mia Wagner, Henrik Leslye, Line Ullmann, Yvonne Evers and Charlotte Bøving. And last but not least, thanks to Louise Wolff, who ran the show!
Graphic facilitation workshop
I held a couple of workshops with representatives from different departments across the administration at Det Kgl. Theatre.
It's amazing to be able to draw in such an artistic house and set the scene behind the stage.
Visual summary
I helped bring together today's golden nuggets in one place during the World's Best School Vision - 2022 conference held in Copenhagen.
I helped bring together today's golden nuggets in one place during the World's Best School Vision - 2022 conference held in Copenhagen.
Lots of inspiration and food for thought by
- Marie Holt Hermansen, Chairman of Danish School Students
- Kim Boye from Medgang
- Anne Skare Nielsen, Henrik Good Hovgaard from Universal Futurist
- Vagn Strandgaard from MiLife
- Nicolai Moltke-Leth from True North
- as well as Tina Lykkegaard Marker, Head of School in Rødovre Municipality, Christin Walter from GoMentor, Nanna Paarup from Solve-It
Course for subject specialists and development consultants
12 department heads, subject specialists and project managers from Tønder Municipality got to draw for more than 12 hours in 2 days.
I spent two exciting and creative days with a team of super creative students.
Agendas and processes were visualised Abstract concepts like co-creation, values and ownership were iconised Large format templates ready to use at work
Team building for consultants
Teambuilding with graphic facilitation training
3 creative hours with 60 fresh Deloitte consultants jumping into all the challenges I gave them. During the workshop we got:
- Reviewed the basic elements such as icons, frames, letters and people
- Iconised concepts such as resources, risks and goals
- Illustrated agendas and practised large format
Process facilitation and illustration
Pårørørendeklubben is "The digital community of the future for carers across diagnoses" - run and developed by the passionate Rikke Struve.
I had the pleasure of facilitating a workshop with Rikke where together we put words and pictures to a rough sketch for an overview. I then illustrated the value the club creates for its members.
Read more about the club https://pårørendeklubben.dk
"Marie's line is "SPOT ON". Marie has an eminent ability to draw the essence of the task perfectly. In addition, Marie is supis sweet, sharp and highly recommended."
- Rikke Struve, Founder of Pårørørendeklubben
Teambuilding
Learn simple drawing techniques
- and have fun together.
After 3 creative hours with the talented staff team, we got:
🌟Reviewed the basics like icons, frames, shadows and people
🌟Iconised concepts like knowledge, respect and safety
🌟Drew this year's Halloween and Christmas party invitation👻🎄
Workshops at Margård Manor
After a fantastic 8-week programme in "Future Sense" with Anne Skare Nielsen and Henrik Good Hovgaard, we concluded with a LIVE day.
The day was held in beautiful surroundings at Margård Estate on Funen.
I had the pleasure of organising a few mini workshops in graphic facilitation for a group of newly graduated futurists.
"We met a huge group of futurists at Margård and Marie willingly volunteered for something as abstract as visualising future dreams, trends and possibilities.
Marie is trustworthy and very approachable. Many visualisation experts give "nice minutes", but Marie brings so much more to the process - a deeper understanding, presence and a lift that participants would otherwise not be able to see themselves.
Best recommendations from here!"
- Anne Skare Nielsen, Chief Futurist, Universal Futurist
Illustrations
I've helped illustrate how the PUX tool can help solve specific challenges in daycare centres.
PUX is a dialogue tool from the research project "Better mental health in private daycare centres".
It's a dialogue tool that can help employees and managers solve practical challenges in everyday life and ultimately help reduce stress and increase employee well-being.
The tool was developed by NFA researcher Annette Meng and work environment consultant Helle Niewald from Ergosupport.
The PUX tool comes from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment research project funded by Velliv Foreningen.
Visual summary
UN Peace Day 2020 - Global Youth Assembly
The UN General Assembly declared 21 September to be the International Day of Peace. In this context, the Global Youth Assembly discussed the global challenges and delivered their declaration to the UN in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Young people from around the world discussed one of the most pressing questions of our time: How can we meet everyone's needs - within the planet's means?
I had the pleasure of being part of the process and met with representatives from City-Transformers, AIESEC, Masterpeace and other organisations on the Youth Island.
It's so inspiring to be among so many talented young people from all over the world. Hopefully this can help strengthen the collaboration between the current and next generation of change leaders. Here is a short summary with some of the best highlights.
2-day graphic facilitation course
I had the pleasure of spending two creative days with a team of super cool students who jumped into every challenge I gave them.
- Processes were visualised
- Abstract concepts such as automation, digitalisation and transformation were iconised
- Story-telling in large format
2-day graphic facilitation course
It was a great pleasure to spend 2 days with the team at "Courage to Educate" and "Ungeindsatsen", which is run by enthusiasts who are ready to guide, support and empower vulnerable young people to complete an education and get them well on their way in life.
Together with 15 consultants, project managers, mentors and psychologists, we practised the basics of graphic facilitation and drew a lot of lines together.
- Programmes and processes were illustrated
- Abstract concepts such as metacognitive, social competence and knowledge were iconised
- Visual elements were practised to strengthen communication to different audiences
Training videos for mentors
I have recorded a series of online courses where I teach how to express yourself more visually to visual learners.
You can use simple drawing techniques in many situations and for all age groups. I spoke to Founder and CEO Nicklas Kany about it and he was very enthusiastic.
The recorded online programmes are for all their mentors so they also have a visual language when teaching young people.
MentorDanmark is a truly exciting company, filled with passionate people. They offer professional homework help, motivation and a desire to learn, now also with a focus on dyslexia, and make a huge difference for our children and young people.
"Marie is really good - first I did a 1:1 session with her where she taught me a lot of tips and tricks. Then we took it further and made great videos so that the rest of the organisation across the country could benefit from her knowledge and skills. It turned out really well and Marie is very professional in her approach - so a big recommendation from here!"
- Nicklas Kany, CEO and founder of MentorDanmark, MentorNorge, Vikarland and Læseheltene
3-hour course
I've been out drawing with 25 managers, project managers, coordinators and consultants at Statens Administration.
- Learned the basics
- Iconised abstract concepts such as learning culture, task splitting, payroll & accounting etc.
Practised large format
Learning something new and having fun together
1-day course for project managers
I have the pleasure of teaching a full day course "Graphic facilitation for project managers" at the Danish Technological Institute.
These are open classes and participants often have a background as developers, product owners, consultants, advisors, project managers, managers, performance coaches, team leaders, etc.
- Frames, icons, people and letters are practised
- Agendas and processes are illustrated
- Abstract concepts are iconised and large format is trained
- Everyone gets to start their very own icon library
1 day course for project managers
I had the pleasure of teaching a full day of graphic facilitation and spending time with 14 project managers from the project section of Digitalisation and IT in the North Denmark Region.
We trained the visual brain and illustrated processes and agendas with icons and simple lines. Concepts such as Health IT, goal setting and visions were iconised and large format was practiced.
Previous customers
- Rigshospitalet
- National Board of Health
- Financial Services Union Denmark
- LÓrÉal
- The Royal Danish Theatre. Royal Theatre
- Statens Serum Institute
- North Denmark Region
- Danish Technological Institute
- Mentor Denmark
- NOCA
- Tønder Municipality
- Universal Futurists
- Mannaz
- State Administration
- NFA
- Bornholms regionsKommune
- TRYG
- Demant
- Defence
- Danish project management
- Banedanmark
- LEO Pharma
- seges innovations
- Aarhus University
- DAKOFA
- University of Copenhagen
- Energy grid
- Joblife
Nicklas Kany
Managing Director MentorDanmark
Marie is really good - first I did a 1:1 session with her where she taught me a lot of tips and tricks. Then we took it further and made great videos so that the rest of the organisation across the country could benefit from her knowledge and skills. It turned out great, and Marie approaches the task very professionally - so a big recommendation from here!
Melissa Karina Døssing Christensen
Scrum Master, Danish Crown
I have no - absolutely no - experience in drawing or graphic facilitation, so the starting point was low. But boy did I learn a lot of good drawing techniques. It works great for capturing my meeting participants. In a world full of technology, online meetings and hours behind screens, it's really cool to work tactilely and creatively. Marie is a great teacher and she gets my highest recommendations. Through simple drawing techniques, presence and fun challenges, she provides a great introduction to graphic facilitation. Get going - it can only make you happy!
Belinda Donkin
CEO, HeartTeam Denmark
I've just completed a course in graphic facilitation with Marie - and had my very own little party. It's so crazy - afterwards - to look at the significant development from page 1 to page 17 (as many A4 sheets as I managed to draw over). Marie is an incredibly skilful communicator and teacher. So you might think you can't draw. But you'll scrap that belief once you've been on a course with Marie.
Are you considering whether graphic facilitation can be used in your company or organisation?
Drop me a line. I'll get back to you as soon as possible to talk about how I can help you.
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