The very beginning idea of the graduation project is in a job market, which called IOB, where I met Dennis there. We had a very interesting discussion there. I thought that the way JAM is doing now is something I would like to do in the future. I meant that it is so relevant to help people to across the barriers of misunderstandings and build up shared understandings, especially in a "globalizing" world.
Nowadays, people have less time to communicate but have to deal with more issues in more diverse groups, i.e. cultural difference, professional background, religious difference, etc. Using a hand drawing skill to cope with the problems is a powerful idea to eliminate gaps in diverse groups. As a basic "language" or "platform" for an efficient meeting, hand drawings are naive and unfinished, compared to computer graphics, but open to interpret.
JAM help people to speak out-loud and to use their imagination freely with the hand drawings. People will not be afraid of offending others or embarrassing themselves, and that is just an ideal start of an efficient meeting.
It is also interesting for me to know how they turn a personal interest into a real business. So I just started to try out to do a graduation project in JAM. And, fortunately, I got the chance to give it a try and dedicate myself in this field.
Hello Po!
ReplyDeletetodays globalizing world is a big reason for everyone to start communicating more with visuals. Slowly this is happening but it is still a jungle out there because as a "GLOBE" we have not decided upon the rules for our communication. (you should check out Dave Grey's Blog: www.communication-nation.blogspot.com... also an evangelist of the visual language!).
Looking at this trend from JAM's perspective, focuses in more on the use of drawing skills as a katylist for communication. We have the skill, they don't... that is why people hire us. We are no experts in facilitation even though years of experience working with them gives us a unique view on all different approaches and how sketching fits in to them.
your earlier drawing about the influence of a visual is very interesting in that respect. It shows the difference between a supporting visual which sets thought free and a leading one which actually tries to confine thought...Define within some sort of frame.
And then there is the quest to get everyone drawing again... maybe that is like teaching people to fish in stead of catching fish for them...
good luck deciphering the difference!
Hey Dennis! Thanks for your comments!
ReplyDelete"... that is like teaching people to fish instead of catching fish for them."
I agree with this opinion very much. The drawing techniques somehow is just a tool. The gem of the visual thinking is a convincing, leading drawing, which indeed is from people's mind instead of any others'.
No matter there is an excellent facilitation or drawing technique, they are simply the hammers or screwdrivers for people to forge their shared understanding. Not until the shared understanding is forged, their values can not be manifested.