How to Help Participants Cocreate, Connect, and Inspire at Your Multi-Day Event

The full synthesis map from five days of the virtual GCSE+Drawdown conference.

Once again for the people in the back, you CAN have an interactive and participatory virtual conference with over 3,000 participants from all over the world! 

In early January (let’s talk about how these folks know how to start a new year!), the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE), and Project Drawdown brought together researchers, leaders, and community members to learn, share, and create solutions for people and planet.  

As a visual thought partner for the virtual event, I wanted create ways that graphics could support meaningful work with the huge number of participants and volume of content. There were eight Thematic Pathways with concurrent sessions, and more than 50 simultaneous Collaborative Action Groups which emerged from brainstorming sessions over the course of the week. 

How could we work together to look for patterns and themes across multiple, very full days? 

How could we make sure participants could see their ideas emerging throughout the week? 

And how do this as just one recorder? 

We needed a plan!

The organizing team and I collaborated before and during the conference to develop communication systems, like a designated note-taker in each Pathway with access to a shared Google Doc template for key ideas. I could then distill and illustrate these notes, and combine them with insights from real-time graphics of plenary panels and keynotes (these drawings were included in the final piece as well). 

Communication of key ideas? Check. 

We decided to use Miro as a virtual platform to host the emerging map. Similar to shared Google Docs or Slides, with a shared link we dropped into the chat each day, participants could view the Synthesis from start to finish throughout the week. They could zoom in to see details in graphics I had drawn real-time in plenaries, or zoom out for the overall flow, and could share it with others they thought would be interested.

Participant observation? Check!

The result was a massive Synthesis Illustration mapping how research feeds action for climate solutions, which participants could SEE AS IT GREW throughout the week on the conference website’s gallery, as well as via the link shared frequently in the chat box throughout the conference. 

So, what emerged as key themes for science and solutions for people and planet? Explore for yourself! For me, a theme I’ve hear not only at GCSE+Drawdown, is that for these solutions to work, it comes down to one thing: people working together. 

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.

Cheers, 

Where in the Virtual World is ConverSketch?

Adobe Creative Campus Collaboration: Learning from creative educators and students how to nurture the “magician” in each potentially creative student. 

Filming a New Drawing Connections Video: Did you know that mosquitos are not native to Hawai’i? In the newest video with the NPS, I can’t wait to take you through a journey of endangered birds, avian malaria, and climate change. 

Natural Areas Strategic Vision: I’m delighted to finally be able to share this studio illustration created last year in partnership with the City of Greeley’s Natural Areas program, showing the history of the land, input from the community, and vision for the future.

Number Nine, Feeling Fine -- Happy Birthday ConverSketch!

Happy Wednesday! Why so happy?

Yesterday was ConverSketch’s Golden Birthday, so let’s celebrate together with nine insights from NINE YEARS in business with you!

One of the best parts of being a graphic recorder is that I get to listen to fascinating conversations spanning industries and sectors. From climate science experts, to local governments working to solve community issues, to public health leaders ending the HIV epidemic, to supporting just and fair elections, to neuroregeneration science, to visual thinking in middle school classrooms. I get to listen, distill, design, and offer visuals to support these teams working on important issues around the globe. 

What can we learn from each other and apply as we move together through and beyond the pandemic? What are the things I hear over and over, regardless of the topic? 

Today, I’d like to share observations that span these sectors and might offer an insightful new perspective for you, along with process or reflection ideas for you personally, or your team. 

1. No matter what you do, figure out how to communicate effectively. In nearly every event I graphic record or facilitate, I hear how important it is to bridge between silos or share our story with our audience. But how? 

   Internally across silos: Create a one-page illustration of your mission, vision, values, and goals for the next 1-5 years. Have each leader walk their team through it and do an exercise to help every person see how they’re contributing to the big picture. 

   Externally to your audience: Tell a story that resonates with them! Figure out how what you’re doing solves a problem, fear, pain point, or question they have, and put your audience at the center of the story you’re telling.

2. Technology is incredible and provides so many opportunities for access and information sharing. But what is the technology supporting or driving? Human connection! It’s tempting to focus on the technology, rather than the process. Instead, define your purpose clearly, keep it front and center, and select tech, tools, and processes that support that purpose.

   Question: Is our purpose to build networks or share learning? How will we do this? What does our purpose NOT include?

3. Say yes…and say no. Say yes to opportunities that spark energy in you, even if they take you by surprise or don’t initially seem relevant. Say no to things that fragment your attention or offer the trade-offs if you do that something else on. 

   Framing: “My team can work on this, but we’ll have to let go of this other project. Which do you want to prioritize?”

4. Listening to a podcast recently, this struck me: “The more wrong you’re willing to be, the better your life will be.” This little sentence combined curiosity, vulnerability, and an open heart – tools we can all deploy every day to let go of defensiveness and create a culture of collaboration. I’m going to call this unconditional curiosity. 

   Question: When do you notice yourself feeling defensive? Why? How might you lean into being wrong?

5. Stand on the shoulders of giants rather than recreating something that already exists. This ties back to communication. When researching a new project, look to different fields to see what has been successful, then adopt new strategies in your own work. 

   Question: Find an example of a company or organization that has successfully navigated a problem you’re working on. What do they do? How can you learn from them? 

6. Trust yourself and cultivate intuition. There is more and more research showing the connection of the mind and gut through the microbiome. So when you feel something, pay attention, listen, and learn from your body.

   Question: How am I cultivating trusting intuition in myself or my team?

7. Social and environmental justice are important to a growing population. Make your Why clear and provide opportunities for your people to engage with causes you care about. 

   Question: How do our organizational values support social or environmental work? How do we tell that story clearly to our audiences?

8. After a powerful retreat, then what? How do you make sure all the focused work keeps momentum? Returning after an awesome meeting (virtual or not), staying focused can be the biggest hurdle. 

   Action: Figure out how to set yourself up for success, whether it’s setting a 15-minute timer, or setting out supplies for creative practice or a workout first thing, or writing down your top 3 priorities the night before so you can jump right in. 

9. This world is filled with remarkable humans doing incredible things for others and the planet. You matter and have important gifts to share. This year has been…something. And to everyone who has struggled with loneliness, loss, carrying the weight of too many things…You are a miraculous spark of light in the world and I’m so glad you’re here. 

   Action: Give yourself a hug or quick dance break to a favorite jam – you are amazing!

Thank you from my heart and soul for making NINE YEARS possible! With deep appreciation for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place --

Cheers, 

Where in the Virtual World is ConverSketch?

Northwestern Health Sciences University: For the annual Homecoming conference sharing state of the science and best practice in chiropractic.

Driving K-12 Innovation Summit: Working with the Consortium for School Networking where educators across the globe shared stories, trends, and ideas for the future of learning. They really know how to host online meetings – instead of panels, participants were treated to an interactive gameshow style virtual event!

HIV Leadership Academy: Visualizing stories of participant in this year’s Leadership Academy for community leaders working to end the HIV epidemic.

Michigan Climate Action Network: Creating a thank you graphic for Governor Whitmer for her forward-thinking agenda and legislation to protect Michigan’s clean water and climate for the future!