What is Visual Facilitation?

A broad field

Visual facilitation is a broad field that draws from and overlaps with many other approaches to facilitation. In simple terms, a visual facilitator helps a group to do their best thinking together, using visual methods. Graphic Recording can be used as part of a visual facilitation process, but you are more likely to use diagrams, context maps, x/y axes and lots and lots of sticky notes. As well as listening and capturing, a visual facilitator works with the client to design a process, creating visual templates or adapting visual tools as they go. They lead the facilitation and harvest the outcomes.

Process Design

A visual facilitator starts by understanding what you, the client, need to achieve. This may be for one day or over multiple events. Then, a process is designed to achieve this. The process will draw on multiple methodologies, according to what is appropriate for your group but the emphasis will be on making things visible. For example, perhaps your group has an in-depth discussion about a programme that just concluded. A visual facilitator will structure that conversation and make sure that it is captured in a way that it can be reflected back to the group. Perhaps your group want to explore new opportunities and make decisions. A visual facilitator will give your group tools to make new ideas visible and shareable, and will also support the group to collectively prioritise ideas. After the process has concluded, the facilitator will put together a “Harvest” of the outcomes.

Why Visual Facilitation?

Words are wonderful. A good conversation can have a big impact. AND- we often rely too much on written and spoken words to communicate. Visual tools support creative thinking by moving us out of our comfort zones of text-based literacy. They are also potentially more inclusive. Not everyone is confident to speak their ideas aloud, but they may be able to contribute on a flip/chart or on post-its. Visuals support groups to think through their ideas and iterate, arriving at faster solutions, than simply by talking about them. So, if you need groups to be more creative, more effective at collaborating and more inclusive of all voices then you need a visual facilitator!