Frequently Asked Questions
And Our Answers
Visualization
Visualization is the representation of content and processes by means of images and text. Abstract and complex issues, processes and stories, concepts and ideas can be translated and made more understandable or memorizable. It is a "cross-sectional discipline" with a wide variety of applications in business, science, technology, culture and much more.
Finding a common language is crucial. And what could be better suited than a picture? It dispenses with language, does not miss out on aspects such as intuition and emotion, and promotes collective intelligence. Promptly, associations, metaphors, new views and perspectives emerge, offering new solutions. And it brings to light important aspects that usually do not come to light in a purely linear or intensely cognitive way of working.
We know it takes courage to use and book this for the first time. We advise and guide you through these steps. Tell us about your challenge!
From proposal structure, to project management, to consulting, we serve you in co-creation with your VF contacts. We distinguish between work that we create live with you in a (online) workshop or similar, and studio work in our office. Very often we work digitally, i.e. visualize on graphic tablets. This has the advantage that change requests from you can be easily implemented. From version to version we keep you up to date until the final delivery.
Whether project status, vision path, change process or individual core elements of a larger context: Depending on the project, we create a strategic overview for you that generates insight, takes your strategies and your team one step further. Or we map values or project elements. You can use these visuals, without inhibitions and "too much new", directly in existing workflows and company structures (print, Powerpoint etc).
We usually start with a half- or one-day concept workshop (online). We understand your "why" and your content, we conceptualize first drafts together with you. This is followed by the creation of the final artwork in versions that we coordinate with you until the finished result.
We advise you around the most important success factors of Change maps, insight and dialog visuals.
We have provided numerous visual services over the years (our founding goes back to 2005) for business, strategy, event and presentation - all of the following overview and much more.
Neben unseren Kernleistungen (siehe Websitemenü) sind besonders zu erwähnen noch Visualisierungen von Timelines, z.B. Ihrer Unternehmensgeschichte.
Ob Sie etwas Besonderes planen, oder einfach nur ein ertragreiches Meeting planen – erzählen Sie uns davon!
Besides Graphic Recording and Visual Facilitation we also offer Strategie-Visuals and handskizzierte Videotutorials an – all das mit einem soliden Erfahrungshintergrund und Kundenreferenzen. Ebenfalls können Sie für Ihre Vorhaben auf uns als Moderatoren und Facilitators zurückgreifen.
Visualization methods such as graphic recording are in themselves independent of topic and industry. We are characterized by a high level of general knowledge and have the experience of thousands of projects and numerous industries. But that's not all: we are masters in interdisciplinary thinking, networking information, listening and using metaphors. We don't need to understand every detail, but we do need to know your goal and purpose. We always take care to prepare well, in consultation with you.
Schedule a initial call for today: Let's talk about your challenge and your goals - about what you need and how we can support you. Especially if this is your first use of visualization, we'll take you by the hand, prepare you, and guide you through the process. Do not hesitate to contact us via our contact form of by phone.
Graphic Recording
Graphic Recording is the process of using hand-sketched images and text to visualize meetings or workshops in real time (since a few years also conferences). Graphic recording is primarily focused on the idea of supporting meetings, generating insights, fostering collaboration and group processes. The core skills, of this work are listening, asking (open) questions, meta-level building, pattern recognition, conceptual skills, people skills, recognizing group processes, general education, energetic skills, etc.
We visualize digitally or on large sheets of paper during live events on site. In the case of a digital creation during an online event or meeting, the visual expert participates as a participant in the meeting and can do a screen-sharing either during and/or after the event. This is done depending on the length of the event and the planned objectives of visualization for this event.
When working on site, sheets of paper are attached to fixed or movable walls so that everyone can follow the process. By combining images and text, graphic recording speaks to the mind as well as the heart. Take a look at our portfolioto get impressions of our visualization work.
First, our focus is on preparation. We are known for our prudent preparation work and fitting the visualization into the processes and communication going on in your organization. In this phase, we ask about your goals. During the event, we are usually there as a silent companion in your conference, meeting or workshop, visualizing and writing down all that is talked about. Your event runs as usual, you don't need to change your agenda. The product is usually final as soon as the last words are spoken at the end of the meeting. At this point it is possible for us to present the image if you wish. In case of an analog creation, the picture will be photographed in a high quality and handed over to you. A post-processing follows, so that you have an edited JPG available shortly afterwards. In the case of digitally created recording, you will receive the image immediately after the event.
Use Graphic Recording if you want to: Communicate interactively, anchor content sustainably, have high-quality documentation. We listen carefully, filter and link what we hear before we put it down on paper. And we bring it into interaction. So we are more of a business partner and facilitator than a draftsman. In addition, we often adopt a meta-perspective during our work in order to grasp the overall context as well as the different points of view. This increases understanding of complex connections, productivity and creativity. It also helps you remember the important aspects of the conversation - long beyond the event.
Visualization methods such as graphic recording are in themselves independent of topic and industry. We are characterized by a high level of general knowledge and have the experience of thousands of projects and numerous industries. But that's not all: we are masters in interdisciplinary thinking, networking information, listening and using metaphors. We don't need to understand every detail, but we do need to know your goal and purpose. We always take care to prepare well, in consultation with you.
There will be a preparatory meeting by phone to clarify content and logistics. All you need to provide is a fixed wall or partitions (e.g. Metaplan) as a work surface and a high table. We talk together about your concerns and let you know if you need to prepare anything else. Usually we need 45 min. before the event starts to prepare our material in the room and to coordinate with you. The best place is to the left or right of the stage/speaker position in the first third of the room against a side wall. Anything else we use, we bring ourselves. For digital graphic recording we need a table, chair and power connection (beamer connection if necessary).
For on-site assignments, they will be yours after our session (except for a ProBono / free service). You will have all rights to the visuals. So feel free to use them for your internal and external communication. Included in our fee, if you wish, is a follow-up session by phone and a consultation on how you can sustainably use the images after the actual event to continue to pursue your goals. We will also send you tips on how to do this by email.
We are distinguished by our ability to achieve this in terms of both team size and project management. We have the largest team of visualizers in the German-speaking countries and one of the largest in Europe. If we send you a team of visualizers, it will always have a team lead and thus a central contact person for you.
We take responsibility for our field of work and train both process facilitators and illustrators who want to become good visualizers.
Graphic Recording originated about 40 years ago on the West Coast of the USA. It is therefore a relatively young discipline that belongs to the larger context of "visualization" (and not to the illustrative or artistic field). Graphic Recording emerged at that time from process support, consulting and organizational development. This is still the case today. The way of working is comparable to flipcharts of consultants and trainers.
The KSK is based on the principle that illustrators, artists, etc. create works in which authorship arises. So, in a way, it is about the creator, i.e. the author. Graphic recording is not about the author. On the contrary, it is a basic component of the method, since its emergence in the 70s, that one takes oneself out as completely as possible as a visualizer. Personally, from the interpretation of the contents of the, up to the focus why one visualizes: It is always about the process, never about the product (image).
The necessary skills of a good graphic recorder always lie mainly in process support, listening, processing/filtering information, forming meta levels, and only secondarily in the area of "drawing" (we say "visualizing" because graphic recorders write a lot).
We at Visual Facilitators fully live this original attitude and intention of Graphic Recording.
Explanatory Videos.
What is it about? What topic do you want to visualize? During our first conversation we would like to understand your communication goals in order to support you efficiently in your project. You are also welcome to provide us with key data (such as story, target group, initial image ideas, metaphors) and we will work out the concept and commentary - everything always in consultation with you.
Of course, this depends to a large extent on the topic. As a rule, 60 to 90 seconds are perfectly adequate. In individual cases, however, a longer film can also make sense, e.g. in the area of eLearning. We recommend always keeping the attention span of the audience in mind. In addition, our experienced copywriters are happy to help with sensible shortening and concise wording to create a good story.
Depending on the speed of approvals and feedbacks, we will create your video within 3-4 weeks. Want it to go faster? Ask our experts what is possible: Let's talk about it..
- They are the stage. We pay particular attention to a very good story that is visualized in a seamlessly fitting way.
- We have our own fast, lean workflow in the creation process.
- We create videos with the goal of maximizing viewer engagement without distracting elements (e.g., a hand with a marker).
- Professional visualizers guarantee the highest quality illustrative presentation.
Talk to us and, after an initial call, we will come up with an offer that supports your goals.
Here we are not limited. In principle, EXPLAINAS explanatory videos are possible in any language. Our speaker database includes professional speakers of numerous languages and dialects. We have many years of expertise in German and English.
We create the file formats you need - for inter- and intranet, for smartphones and tablets as well as presentations of all kinds. By default, we deliver in Full HD size in the file format mp4 / H264.
Explainer videos created by us may be used on all online and mobile platforms as well as offline (e.g. at trade fairs) for an unlimited period of time and space. TV or cinema use will be charged separately.
Besides Graphic Recording and Visual Facilitation we also offer Process Visualization, Wissensvisualisierung, Strategy VIsualsbilder - all of this with a solid background of experience and customer references. You can also rely on us as moderators and facilitators for your projects. We accompany change and transformation projects with Visual Facilitation.
Schedule a initial call for today: Let's talk about your challenge and your goals - about what you need and how we can support you. Especially if this is your first use of visualization, we'll take you by the hand, prepare you, and guide you through the process. Do not hesitate to contact us.
Our collaboration
Everywhere. Although our headquarters are in Germany, we work primarily online. And globally. We are also available internationally on site. Our team lives distributed in all German-speaking countries and our network of first-class visualizers is spread worldwide. Our global travel experience covers over 80 countries. We accompany events of any kind, any size and at any location - and of course you can also get our service remotely/digitally.
He or she will be in good company: Our customers. are numerous companies from DAX-30, Fortune-500 and medium-sized businesses, as well as NGOs and cultural sectors. Since 2005, we have handled thousands of projects, producing hundreds of visualizations each year. We have worked with clients who have far recouped the cost of visuals through the benefits: at meetings or workshops through sustained communication and insight, at conferences through image gain or sponsorship.
Schedule a initial call for today: Let's talk about your challenge and your goals - about what you need and how we can support you. Especially if this is your first use of visualization, we'll take you by the hand, prepare you, and guide you through the process. Do not hesitate to contact us.
We work primarily for companies (B2B), preferably for medium-sized businesses and self-employed people in any industry.. The classic challenges are in the area of corporate culture (values, vision, mission statement, strategy image - reaching people), in the simple presentation of complexity, goals and potential, and in the design of online collaboration. We used to accompany all kinds of events: from conferences for more than a thousand people, internal or public speeches, strategy sessions, design processes, world cafés to conference calls and online courses. Accordingly, our experience is. We wish to work for transformation and change processes in this new world in order to be able to support a sustainable and holistic change process. Thus we explicitly address decision makers, owners, executives, project managers, change managers etc.
Above all, a solution to your challenge. Our package and daily rate fees include preparatory work and research, our time together during meetings/events and follow-up. Our calculation is always based on a detailed clarification of the assignment with you. Project costs depend on the scope of your project. If the collaboration does not take place online but on-site, expenses such as travel costs and accommodation are not included. We have a modern, paperless accounting system and send our invoice to you as a PDF. All prices plus 19% VAT or, in the case of billing addresses abroad, according to the applicable tax laws.
We primarily work online and therefore globally. We are also available internationally on site. Our headquarters are in Germany, and we have an international team plus a global network. Our global travel experience covers over 80 countries. We are internationally experienced, bookable and deployable.
This is where you find our cancellation terms. Send us an e-mail. We will confirm the cancellation and gladly reserve a new date in our calendar for you.
After your booking: We understand that plans can change. Cancellation of booked orders is possible free of charge up to 14 days in advance, although costs of any travel tickets, material orders or bookings of external suppliers (e.g. room bookings, etc.) that should already have been booked must be refunded regardless of the time of cancellation. Thereafter: We charge 20% of the fee if the visualization or trainer service is cancelled 7-14 days prior, and 50% of the fee if less than 7 days prior. Depending on the cancellation conditions of external providers, up to 100% of the service included in the offer by external providers.
For short notice orders: The above cancellation policy applies if the booking took place more than 20 days before the event date. i.e. if the booking takes place within 14 days before the event date, the cancellation fee is also 20% and if less than 7 days before, 50% of the fee. If the booking takes place within 6 days before the event, the entire fee is due in case of cancellation.
Exceptions: If, after cancellation of an event by the customer, an order is placed on another date, the cancellation costs may be be regulated separately.