#01 I wonder...
Sketchnotes Sunday 21-27th July
Dot and Dash
I had a great time running an AI taster session at the Digital Cafe, thanks to Andrew Mills' invitation. Around 10 business owners joined to explore how AI can benefit their businesses beyond ChatGPT. The session included networking and a hands-on AI strategy workshop, showcasing opportunity mapping and tailored AI solutions without technical skills. People left with a wider view of what AI was capable of and the amount of software available.
I’m currently preparing for an AI Strategy Design Sprint in September, collaborating with a team of senior leaders. Together with another AI Design Sprint ™ facilitator, we have been busy behind the scenes, working out the format, flow and experience of the session. Co-designing together we'll have a better understanding of the key goals, when and where to pivot. Facilitation is an art form in some ways...you're dealing with people, you can do all the planning but on the day you need to have a plan a, b, c and a wealth of tools in your back pocket to guide the process. Love designing workshops!
Illustration work continues on a training manual - so far working on the design brand document, layouts and typography and colour. Making it accessible for readers. Alongside this I am refreshing my graphic design knowledge since the UX days its been a while.
Networking - My duck jar is filling up nicely—every warm connection I make moves a duck to the "engaged" jar. Because why not gamify work! Reaching out to my network has not only moved ducks but led to great catch-ups with people I haven’t spoken too in ages.
App development
Another grant funding application has gone in - honestly my worst nightmare is filling in forms. Especially those forms that require all the details about things which I know in my head but you have to be in a mindset of writing which meets the criteria.
As someone with dyslexia, this is something I consistently find challenging. What might take a neurotypical person about an hour can take me closer to a week. It’s a time-consuming process, but it’s finally done. Hopefully, it now moves on to the next stage.
Sketchnoting
I just sorted through old posters from workshops I used to run in-house, and it was a trip down memory lane. Looking at them, it’s clear how much my style and lettering has evolved over time. It brought back fond memories of those fun sessions with people who initially had no idea what a properly facilitated workshop was. Transformed skepticism into engagement through facilitated workshops, turning the biggest skeptics into my strongest advocates. Not an easy task when an organisation is very embedded in set ways of doing things.
I no longer stick rigidly to timeboxing; the timings serve as a guide to help me facilitate the process.
Time to revamp these posters up now I have improved on lettering and icons thanks to working on this with courses from Heather Martinez.
Graphic Facilitation
Learning Concepts - Thanks to Benoit for a concepts mini course which he ran for the attendees of ISC2025 - Sharing tips for sketchnoting with the app. I'm learning it to digitalise my graphic notes, so it was great of him to share his time after the conference.
International Sketchnote Conference 2025 just dropped the highlights video, featuring my mini debut as a graphic recorder in front of 150 people.
No big deal—just me, some markers, and absolutely no pressure, my hand shot up to volunteer, before my brain kicked in to talk me out of it!
Honestly very happy to have broken the ice to do something so out of my comfort zone. Would love to do more of it so if you want a meeting, webinar or workshop visually illustrated let me know!
Andy Gray
I'm heading to Leicester for a Graphic Facilitation workshop with Penny Pullan here are the details for those curious about visuals at work.
Events
Facilitate Sheffield back next month with a topic of 'Pricing' ideal for solopreneurs and business owners looking to figure how much to charge for your expertise.
Workshops - In September I am running a 'navigating life transitions workshop' for a small group this is an extended workshop which I ran with 30 people in the south of France in a castle.
Inclusive Facilitation Exchange - You know when you sign up for consent for photos to be used for marketing purposes ...what the hell was I doing here? Thoroughly recommend the Inclusive Facilitation Exchange - already got my ticket for next year!
If you want to know what a PACT is.. this is taken from the book Tiny Experiments as my little experiment to get stuff done. Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous and Trackable. Read more
Current Pact(s)
PACT 1 (2 weeks) I will go to the gym every morning for 2 weeks Going well 3 days I won't be near a gym but doing mini workouts on holiday so it counts! Sunday 27th marks the end of this pact, so a new one starts next Monday!
PACT 2 (1 year) I will mindmap a book a week. Reading through 'Drawing on courage' Risks worth taking and stands worth making by Ashish Goel with the aim of developing more of a fearless mindset.
PACT 3 (30 days) I will produce a weekly sketchnote summary - whoop I got 2 more subscribers, celebrating as I got some lovely feedback. Lately I have been drawing ducks... and all sorts of animals to try and practice metaphors.