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The History and Evolution of the
Graphic Facilitation / Recording Field

by Christina Merkley

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The 1990s: The 100th Monkey Syndrome

 Vision and Values Work


Recording of Product Development Session Photo courtesy of Leslie Evers

 

By the 1990s, graphic recording and graphic facilitation methodologies really began to multiple and take off.  Like the urban myth about the 100th Monkey Syndrome (how ALL monkeys on a remote island magically began washing their sweet potatoes after the 100th monkey adopted the habit) … the visual way of working appears to have hit its own version of Moore’s law … doubling, tripling, quadrupling its reach and effect every couple of years.  Now 20 years or so into its evolution, the field really began to make inroads into traditional and non-traditional settings.  The early work of the pioneers was bearing fruit.  In their own practices and in the practices and organizations of those they helped train and inspire.  Even the more conventional big consulting / accounting firms were getting into the act … since 1995, the consulting giant Cap Gemini Ernst & Young has built special facilities to capitalize on this tool in 10 cities in North America, 5 in Europe and even one in Australia. Their centers pool creative change management, strategic planning, visioning, facilitation, illustration, computing and tech solution specialists together in exciting ways for their large, and deep-pocketed clients.

Back in the San Francisco Bay Area, at the grassroots level, a different sort of collection energy was happening.  Two graphic recorders from the early IA days, Leslie Salmon-Zhu and Susan Kelly were lamenting how they never got to see one another and swap trade secrets due to the solo nature of their work.  Frustrated by the lack of a community forum, these two women rallied themselves, and others, to create a solution.

In 1995, the first informal gathering of ‘visual practitioners’ occurred … drawing 17 graphic recorders and facilitators to a ranch in Northern California.  Since that time the gathering has grow to 100+core members and has become an annual conference.  In 2000 The International Forum of Visual Practitioners (IFVP) became an official association, led by a rotating, volunteer Board. The Board manages the annual conference, maintains the website and hosts online exchanges via a growing distribution list.

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