Visual Practice
A video exploring my visual practice collaboration with UN Climate Change, graphic recording the Global Stocktake climate negotiations across 18 months in 2022-2023.
Highlighted project
White paper ‘The How and Why of Visual Practice at UN Climate Negotations’
I was invited to write an article on my ongoing visual practice collaboration with UN Climate Change by the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Public Policy. I took this opportunity to write it as my own white paper on visual practice, a deep dive into the complex creation process and my philosophy on the deeper functions and potential of the visual practice field at large. The article was published in the journal’s November 2023 special issue, ahead of COP28 in Dubai.
If you want to know what visual practice in UN climate negotiations looks like behind the scenes and learn the analytical and creative processes that go into the making of these artworks, you're warmly invited to read further! It's an academic publication, but - I promise - written in accessible language, with lots of pictures and even a full visual summary of the whole article at the end.
What is visual practice?
A visual practitioner translates thoughts into images. Simple as the concept may be, the outcome is powerful. A sweeping visual landscape captures the essence of a collective thought process, whether at a conference, stakeholder consultation, strategy meeting or shared learning journey. It is a tool for live note-taking and sense-making, and acts as a parallel processing pathway for all the visual learners and thinkers among us - as visual shorthand for our brains.
My visual style focuses on both synthesising the content of the conversations, as well as capturing the atmosphere in which those conversations took place. During an event, it brings unique clarity and shared understanding, for example as a template for evaluation. After an event, it serves as a collective summary giving participants a doorway back into their memory of the full experience, while facilitating the on-boarding of those who couldn’t be present, and providing engaging PR material for event organisers.
My visual practice services
My work approach is characterised by an eye both for the content and undercurrent of a collective conversation, and a deep engagement with the subject matter, no matter how technical. Beyond an ability to visually summarise, I am skilled at reflecting back the essence verbally, and narrate and recap the key points in a collective conversation.
All my services are bespoke, but generally fall into the categories below. I specialise in visualising complex content in climate science, policy and negotiations, peace & reconciliation and leadership development, and I prioritise work with organisations dedicated to addressing climate change. I work for all sectors, from intergovernmental and public, to corporate, academic and community organisations. Contact me to start the conversation about how visual practice might support your project.
In-person
graphic recording
Summarising visually on the sideline of large events
Learn more about how I work here…
Digital
graphic recording
Summarising visually for events on video conferencing platforms
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Visual facilitation
Creating your collective vision together
Learn more about how I work here…
Illustration
Enlivening publications for web or print
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Training & Workshops
Demystifying the craft of visual practice for you
Click here to learn about current offerings
Visual Reporting
Visually documenting my on-the-ground experience at COP
See my latest COP Visual Report here…
Recent Projects
Reviews
“There is always so much interaction and excitement around the works of art Stéphanie and her team create. They succinctly and accurately capture the essence of any discussion, transcending language limitations, and adding immense value to the communication and presentation of thoughts and ideas.
Working with Stephanie doesn’t feel like outsourcing a service, she works as part of the team, always open and responsive with a kind and calm demeanor.”
“Stéphanie has co-facilitated with me on several occasions, and I am always impressed with her ability to deeply listen to a room. Her visual recording of processes is exquisite. She engages people where they are at, and pulls from their conversation what really matters, bringing people toward new and better understandings of themselves. She is gifted, sensitive, articulate and wise in her work - quite a combination!”
“I worked with Stéphanie on a complex programme of work. She was flexible and responsive and her clear images and high quality design provided us with an elegant and detailed finished product. It doesn’t get much better than working with someone who hears, thinks, sees and creates in a challenging environment with such an innate grace and composure to capture the essence of a project.”
“Stéphanie is full of daring, courage, optimism and big vision. She is one of the best and brightest young people I have crossed, something that will become apparent when you meet her.”
Previous clients include
Dive deeper…
Visualisation wakes up both sides of your brain
Why is visual practice so effective?
We tend to communicate our thoughts in spoken or written words. But 80% of our sensory input is visual, and our brain is therefore specialised in processing information visually.
An effective visual is a game changer for getting your idea across. People instantly feel the difference between an idea explained with the help of a candid visual, rather than spoken and dissipated into thin air. Visual practitioners use the power of visuals to literally bring people on the same page.
Visualisation wakes up both sides of your brain, combining creativity with analysis, and lifts boring meetings to whole new levels of engagement and productivity. The contrast is profound, and for many people seeing visual practitioners at work is one of the most memorable things about a conference, and when they’re handed visual thinking tools themselves it can revolutionise their own way of working.
Words carry different meanings for everyone. Visualisation literally brings people on the same page.
Inspiration
Visual practice has been developing since the 1970s and while it is still a niche profession, it is gaining traction from the corporate world to grassroots movements, and recent years have seen a proliferation in applications and styles. For example, visual practice is offered as an active tool in process facilitation, as graphic recording during events, and as animated video illustrations for talks and speeches.
I am a proud member of Drawesome, a network of independent graphic recorders and facilitators across the island of Ireland. We joined forces to share our projects and professional development journeys, and work towards establishing Ireland as a hub for visual facilitation! I represent Drawesome as Northern Ireland’s only full-time visual practitioner.
Still hungry for more? Go to my Writing page to explore my Visual Blog, Behind the Scenes articles, COP Visual Reports and workshop offerings. Or navigate to the websites of some of my own mentors and sources of inspiration…
