idea cartography
Complicated becomes clear, unclear becomes clear, unspeakable becomes negotiable.
Our world seems to be becoming increasingly complex, diffuse and confusing. Getting a quick overview of that complexity is increasingly challenging.
For directors, decision-makers, managers, entrepreneurs and organisations, a quick, broad and deep understanding is important and valuable. 'Actually, we should map this out sometime' you hear then.
That's convenient, because I map everything. My idea cartography depicts not landscape, but the nested complexity of complicated subjects. Thus, the complicated becomes clear, the obscure clear and the unspeakable discussable.
At a glance, you can see where the connections and barriers are, where the opportunities and difficulties lie. Where are the gorges to be bridged, where are the rapids, the wastelands to be bypassed or crossed, the swamps to be avoided or reclaimed.
This mapping provides groups of people with different frames of reference with a common vocabulary for exploring complex topics. You can orientate on your position in a unique new way, trace achievements and set goals, circumvent problems and set and clear strategy.
My work opens eyes, unfolds and new vistas, channels conversations, fosters engagement, kindles enthusiasm, triggers-and keeps conversations going, and contributes to making complex issues stick in a sympathetic, effective and more interactive way than thick reports do.
Let's hear from you if you are interested in this new way of looking, ordering and mastering. Getting acquainted is always non-binding and interesting, and who knows, I might also map your world.
Read more about it in the publication 'Atlas of Everything.' If you are interested in a copy, contact me.
how it works
In an orientation meeting, we determine the working method.
- We gather the key concepts of the topic to be mapped, for instance through file studies, surveys, interviews, conversations or organising workshops.
These workshops can also be an enjoyable and effective team-building event. - Then I bring patterns and connections into these keywords. I represent these in a cartographic way.
With periodic feedback, I refine the structure and execution and incorporate feedback from participants. This also helps promote participant involvement already during the creation process. - The maps are published. There are all kinds of possibilities; in different formats, in offline and online applications, interactive or not.
A cartography may be a one-off drawing, or several versions may be produced over a longer or shorter period to visualise a development.
What's in it for you
These cards are used for various purposes,
- for internal or external workshops
- Internal or external communication
- To initiate and keep conversations going
- Quickly give people from different backgrounds a common vocabulary to facilitate talking about complex topics
- Common orientation to goals
- Plotting, monitoring and tracking strategies
- Visualising and exploring scenarios
- Creating support or engagement
- Idea cartography stimulates mental activity through spatial orientation. This makes it much easier to remember and understand complex information for longer.
what it costs
Creating a complex and fine-grained design is neither easy nor cheap. Moreover, it is manufactured on the basis of a thorough understanding of the coherence of complex information. That takes time.
And there are many variables. Depending on the complexity of the information, the number of participants, duration of the project, number of versions and applications, print runs and other variables, the budget can get bigger or smaller.
Email me to make an appointment for a coffee. then we clarify that together with a brief exploratory introduction.
