Ever had a meeting where you just couldn't get people to talk? Or maybe you're bored with your usual icebreakers and want to add a new facilitation tool to your repertoire?
The visual deck (or whatever you call it) can be a super helpful tool for stimulating ideas, especially in visual thinkers (like myself.) Props to my friend Bronwen for introducing me to this idea, though there are many out there who use a similar deck for all kinds of activities.
This is a simple tool you can make yourself. It's just a collection of photographs and illustrations cut out of magazines, glued on to card stock and (ideally) laminated. Bronwen put hers together with her daughters as a family activity, and I did mine last night on my office floor while procrastinating and putting off a bunch of businessy things I could have been doing instead.
The more evocative the picture the better, in my opinion. See that one in the top pic, with the crying face and the word "love"? Or, in the next set down, that semi-creepy, round flower? Or the lady carrying the bear? Open to some pretty crazy interpretation, which is what you want.
Once you have your deck, use it in meetings/groups to help guide creative thinking and reflection. This can really help people to open up, think creatively about a topic, and learn to see each other in new ways, all good things for effective group work!
Sample questions could include:
- choose a picture that represents [topic x] to you. Why did you choose that one?
- choose a picture that represents how you feel today. What about this picture resonates with you?
- select a picture that represents your dreams for this community. How does that picture reflect your vision?
- choose an image that represents how you wish the world saw you. What in this picture conveys the inner you?
I'm sure you can come up with lots of your own, I would love to see suggestions in the comments! Have fun with it :)
- J
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