Questions, terms + classification
Orientation towards visual work, collaboration and organizational development
Graphic recording + visual documentation
What is graphic recording?
Graphic recording is a form of visual documentation.
During talks, workshops, presentations or events, content is captured in real time in images.
Thoughts, connections and key messages emerge visibly on a large format.
In this way, what is said is not only heard, but also seen at the same time.
Graphic recording supports understanding, orientation and memory – both during the event and afterwards.
How does a graphic recording process work?
A graphic recording usually begins with a short preliminary discussion.
This clarifies the purpose, context, and framework of the event.
During the event, I listen attentively, recognizing patterns and connections.
and translate content into a visual language.
The image is created live and develops in parallel with the conversation.
After the event, the graphic recording will be available as visual documentation –
as a photograph, digital processing, or as a basis for further use.
What happens after the event?
The resulting image serves as a visual memory of the shared process.
It can be used for:
internal communication
Reflection and further work
Documentation of decisions
Preparation for further steps
Many teams continue to use the image weeks or months later.
to revisit the content and think it through further.
Wann ist Graphic Recording besonders sinnvoll?
Graphic recording is particularly suitable for occasions,
where a lot of content is conveyed
in complex or abstract topics
when different perspectives come together
if results are to be recorded sustainably
It supports both large events and smaller work formats.
Difference to sketchnotes, visual facilitation and protocols
Graphic recording differs from other visual formats:
Sketchnotes are personal notes, usually for personal use.
Minutes record content in textual form, often linearly and in a condensed format.
Visual facilitation actively accompanies the process and structures conversations.
Graphic recording focuses on the visual recording of what is said.
and creates a common picture for all involved.
Classification
Graphic recording is not a decorative element,
but a working tool.
It supports collective understanding,
makes thinking visible
and creates a common basis for further cooperation.
What is a strategy image?
What is a strategy image?
A strategy image is a visual condensation of key themes such as strategy, target vision, orientation, or change.
It makes connections visible that are often difficult to grasp using purely linguistic means.
Unlike a traditional presentation, a strategy image is created as a complete overview.
It does not show individual points, but rather the interplay of goals, challenges and development directions.
A strategic image serves as a common reference for orientation and understanding.
Wie entsteht ein Strategiebild?
A strategic plan is developed in several steps.
The starting point is discussions, workshops, or existing content.
Through joint clarification, key themes, areas of tension, and interrelationships become visible.
These are gradually condensed and translated into a visual structure.
The image grows with the process and can be further developed over several iterations.
until a coherent overall picture emerges.
How are strategy images used?
Strategy images are frequently used as:
visual orientation for leadership and teams
Basis for communication and dialogue
Support during change processes
common reference image over a longer period of time
They help to make abstract topics tangible.
and to conduct discussions on a common level.
When are strategy diagrams particularly helpful?
Strategy diagrams are particularly useful,
when complex topics need to be reviewed
when different perspectives need to be integrated
when orientation arises in change
when strategies are not only to be formulated, but also understood
Especially in dynamic contexts, they create clarity without oversimplification.
Alternative terms and classification
Depending on the context, strategy images are also referred to as target images, vision images, maps or orientation images.
Regardless of the term used, the goal is always to make a shared understanding visible.
and to keep developments relevant over time.
Classification
Strategy diagrams are not illustrations of a finished solution.
They originate in thought and accompany the development process.
As visual orientation, they support communication and decision-making.
and continuing to work together.
Co-Creation + Facilitation
What does co-creation mean?
Co-creation describes the joint development of topics, solutions, and procedures.
Different perspectives are brought together, ideas are shared, examined and developed further.
The focus is not on finding answers quickly,
but rather the shared understanding of the issue.
Co-creation fosters participation, orientation, and sustainable results.
which are supported by the participants.
How does a co-creation process work?
A co-creation process begins with clarifying the issue.
Together, we will consider what the issue is about and which perspectives are relevant.
and what questions remain.
During guided work phases, ideas are collected, structured and further developed.
Interim results are made visible, reflected upon, and adjusted.
The process is deliberately designed to be open and evolves based on shared insights.
What does facilitation mean?
Facilitation refers to the conscious design of framework conditions for good cooperation.
The aim is to provide structure and enable dialogue.
and to support groups in thinking together.
The focus is less on content.
and more strongly focused on process, dynamics and understanding.
Facilitation creates a space in which development becomes possible.
What role do I play in the process?
Depending on the situation, I take on different roles.
Sometimes the focus is on visually capturing content,
sometimes based on joint development in the workshop
or on the active support of a process.
We will determine together which role makes sense –
tailored to the objective, context and composition of the participants.
Distinction from moderation and coaching
Moderation, facilitation, and coaching partially overlap.
However, they pursue different priorities.
Moderation structures conversations.
Facilitation shapes development processes.
Coaching accompanies individual or group-related learning processes.
In practice, these roles often overlap –
What matters is what is supported in the respective context.
Classification
Co-creation and facilitation do not produce ready-made solutions.
They enable collaborative thinking, learning, and decision-making.
Especially when dealing with complex issues, they offer a viable framework.
to consciously shape development.
Visual Workshops + Learning
What is a Visual Workshop?
A visual workshop teaches the basics of visual work for everyday professional life.
Participants learn to make thoughts, content, and conversations visible using simple means.
The focus is not on artistic skills,
but clarity, structure and comprehensibility.
Visual workshops help people use visual thinking as a work tool.
What content is taught?
Visual Workshops teach, among other things, the following basics:
simple symbols and figures
Typography and legibility
Setting up flipcharts and posters
Sketchnotes as visual notes
visual storytelling
The content is structured in a practical way and can be directly applied to everyday work.
How does a visual workshop work?
A visual workshop is highly practice-oriented.
After a brief introduction, many exercises and joint experimentation follow.
The participants work step by step with simple shapes.
and develop confidence in using pen and paper.
The focus is on learning by doing.
and on the transfer to one's own work context.
Who are visual workshops suitable for?
Visual workshops are suitable for people,
to convey the content more clearly
accompany the meetings or workshops
want to make the presentations more understandable
who want to use visual thinking in everyday life
No prior knowledge or drawing talent is required.
Classification
Visual workshops are learning formats.
They teach fundamental skills and create confidence in visual work.
They differ from graphic recording or facilitation in that...
that the focus is on empowerment – not on accompaniment.
Design thinking + innovation processes
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is a user-centered approach to addressing complex issues.
It is used when challenges cannot be clearly solved and different perspectives need to be considered.
The focus is on a deep understanding of the situation: the people, the circumstances, and the connections.
Instead of rushing into developing solutions, the first step is to clarify what the issue actually is.
Design Thinking creates a structured thinking space in which new perspectives can emerge.
What is Design Thinking suitable for?
Design Thinking eignet sich besonders für Fragestellungen,
-
bei denen Ziele noch nicht klar definiert sind
-
bei denen unterschiedliche Interessen aufeinandertreffen
-
bei denen bestehende Lösungen nicht mehr greifen
-
bei denen Lernen und Entwicklung Teil des Prozesses sind
Typische Kontexte sind Innovationsvorhaben, Organisationsentwicklung, Service- oder Angebotsentwicklung sowie interne Veränderungsprozesse.
How does a design thinking process work?
A design thinking process proceeds in several phases, which are deliberately designed to be iterative.
Understanding, observing, developing ideas, building prototypes and testing are all interconnected.
What is important is not the linear sequence, but repeated learning.
Insights gained from one phase influence the next and often lead to new questions.
The process makes it possible to visualize assumptions and test hypotheses.
and to develop viable solutions step by step.
What is the underlying philosophy of Design Thinking?
Design Thinking ist weniger eine Methode als eine Haltung.
Sie basiert auf Offenheit, Neugier und der Bereitschaft, bestehende Annahmen zu hinterfragen.
Fehler werden nicht als Scheitern verstanden,
sondern als Teil eines Lernprozesses.
Diese Haltung unterstützt Organisationen dabei,
mit Unsicherheit umzugehen und Entwicklung bewusst zu gestalten.
The role of images in design thinking
Images play an important supporting role in the design thinking process.
They help to externalize thoughts and make ideas tangible.
and to visibly record interim results.
Visual representations promote collaborative thinking,
support dialogue and facilitate the transition from abstract ideas
to concrete prototypes.
They do not serve to beautify,
but rather understanding.
Classification
Design Thinking does not offer a quick fix.
Rather, it creates a structured framework,
in which learning, participation and development become possible.
Especially in complex organizational contexts
Does this approach support sustainable innovation?
instead of short-term optimization.
Systemic organizational development,
Terms + Classification
What does "systemic" mean?
Thinking systemically means not viewing organizations as machines,
but to be understood as living social systems.
People do not act in isolation, but always in interaction with roles, expectations, structures and relationships.
Behavior therefore does not arise solely from individual decisions,
but from the respective context.
A systemic perspective focuses less on blame or causes.
and focus more on connections, patterns and interactions.
Organizations as social systems
Organizations are not just made up of organizational charts or processes.
They consist of communication, decisions, routines, and informal rules.
These elements influence each other and are constantly changing.
Development therefore cannot be fully planned or controlled.
but only accompany and shape.
Systemic organizational development accepts this dynamic.
and consciously works with it.
Key concepts of systemic organizational development
Certain terms repeatedly come up in systemic work.
They serve not as methods, but as tools for thinking.
Patterns and dynamics describe recurring behaviors in organizations.
They show how decisions are made, conflicts are handled, or changes are implemented.
Roles and functions differ from person to person.
People take on roles – however, these are part of the system and not of their personality.
Tensions and paradoxes arise where contradictory demands exist simultaneously.
Systemic work does not attempt to resolve these issues, but rather to make them consciously manageable.
Meaning and purpose provide orientation.
They answer the question of what an organization or team exists for.
Observation and reflection
A central element of systemic work is observation.
Not only the "what" is considered, but also the "how".
Through joint reflection, new perspectives on existing situations emerge.
This allows learning without having to act immediately.
Systemic development thus creates spaces
in which organizations can better understand themselves.
The role of images in systemic work
Images support systemic thinking,
because they can make relationships, interactions, and tensions visible.
They make it possible to talk about systems,
without oversimplifying them or judging them prematurely.
Visual representations serve as a common observation surface.
They invite you to look closely, reflect, and develop new perspectives.
Classification
Systemic organizational development does not pursue quick solutions.
It helps organizations to better understand themselves.
and to consciously shape development.
In this sense, images are not answers.
but rather invitations to think.
Visual work and art – a classification
Visual work in an organizational context
Visual work in organizations serves to clarify, orient, and promote understanding.
It helps people to look at complex topics together.
and to make development visible.
Images here are always created in relation to a specific concern.
a process or a question.
They have a function:
They help with thinking, deciding and continuing to work.
Art as free expression
Art does not follow predetermined goals or clear questions.
It arises from an inner impulse and may be open, ambiguous, and contradictory.
Art doesn't have to explain,
It may irritate, touch, or leave questions unanswered.
Their value does not lie in their function,
but in the experience it makes possible.
Where visual work and art meet
Although visual work and art have different contexts,
They share a common basis: perception.
Both work with images, symbols, and meanings.
Both offer new perspectives and invite reflection.
Artistic practice influences attitude, sensitivity, and language.
– even in professional work.
Why both have a place on this website
On this website, visual work and art are deliberately placed side by side.
Not because they are the same, but because they nourish each other.
Professional work benefits from artistic openness.
The artistic work is shaped by experience with people and systems.
Both are different expressions of the same attitude:
To create spaces for perception and meaning with images.
Classification
Visual work and art pursue different goals.
But both invite a closer look.
Not to become faster –
but to think more consciously.
What is graphic recording?
Graphic recording is the real-time capture of spoken content – as a combination of text and images. During a presentation, workshop, or meeting, a large, live image is created that visualizes the most important statements, connections, and results. This ensures that the content remains understandable and is remembered long-term.
What is the difference between graphic recording and sketchnoting?
In graphic recording, an external person creates a live visual representation for an entire group – usually on a large wall or screen. Sketchnoting, on the other hand, is done by participants individually in their own notebooks. brandSTIFT offers graphic recording services as well as workshops where teams can learn visual work techniques themselves.
What is Visual Facilitation?
Visual facilitation goes beyond mere documentation: it uses images to guide groups through a thought or decision-making process. The image is created in dialogue with the team and helps to clarify complexity, set priorities, and find common ground.
What is a strategy image?
A strategy image condenses a strategy, vision, or process into a single, clear visualization. It serves organizations as a common reference point, providing orientation beyond the immediate moment – for example, in the internal communication of goals.
For which occasions is graphic recording suitable?
Suitable events include congresses, conferences, strategy meetings, workshops, team development sessions, product launches, and anniversaries. Anywhere complex content needs to be presented in an understandable and memorable way.
In which region does brandSTIFT operate?
brandSTIFT operates throughout Switzerland – in all German-speaking Switzerland (including Lucerne, Zurich, Bern, Basel, St. Gallen, Chur) as well as in Italian-speaking Switzerland (Ticino: Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno). The company is based in Egolzwil in the canton of Lucerne; work is carried out on-site at your location or digitally.
In which languages does brandSTIFT work?
In German, Italian and English.
Can graphic recording also be done digitally or remotely?
Yes. In addition to on-site use, digital graphic recording is also possible – for example, for online meetings, hybrid events, or webinars.
How much does graphic recording cost?
The price depends on the format: duration of the event, preparation, number of images, and whether the work takes place on-site or digitally. A brief, no-obligation consultation is recommended for a specific quote.
How does a collaboration work?
It all starts with a no-obligation consultation to clarify your needs and the most suitable format. This is followed by preparation, implementation at the event itself, and delivery of the finished visualization (analog and/or digital).