Bendis & Bierce: Perfect Together
From “Abracadabra” to “Zeal”…An Interview with Keith Bendis
The Marshmallow Challenge
One of the exercises we do at executive workshops is the Marshmallow Challenge. This exercise is based on a TED Talk by Tom Wujec. The participants are divided into teams of four.
Each team is given:
- 20 sticks of spaghetti
- 1 yard of string
- 1 yard of tape
- I marshmallow.
The challenge is to build the largest, free standing structure with the marshmallow on top in 18 minutes.
This exercise reveals:
1 The deep lessons of collaboration
2. Provides a shared experience
3. Provides a common languagey@creative
4. Shows the importance of prototypes
5. and as Wujec explains, Design is a contact sport
At a workshop it’s a great icebreaker and a way for participants to get to know each other.
Dan Roam, “Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work”
One of my favorite books that deals with visualizing ideas is Dan Roam’s best selling, “Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work”. I decided to illustrate it’s main themes in my studio. I emailed the finished piece to Dan and it blew him away. I do a lot of work in my studio. It gives me a chance to do more specific work for a client.
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/Blah-What-When-Words-Dont/dp/1591844592
Graphic Recording for Business Model Generation Workshop in Saudi Arabia
It’s hard to believe that’s it’s been a year since I worked in Saudi Arabia. I was asked to graphic record for a Business Model Generation workshop in Medina. We were part of a week long business conference. I was a bit apprehensive but once there we were made to feel very welcome. I don’t think the participants had ever seen a graphic recorder before let alone a cartoonist. In our particular conference room there was a “gender wall” dividing the room in half, men on one side and women on the other. However, during the breaks the women wanted to take photos with me and my work.
- Graphic Recording for Business Model Generation Workshop in Saudi Arabia
- Graphic Recording for Business Model Generation Workshop in Saudi Arabia
- Graphic Recording for Business Model Generation Workshop in Saudi Arabia
- Graphic Recording for Business Model Generation Workshop in Saudi Arabia
- Graphic Recording for Business Model Generation Workshop in Saudi Arabia
Alex Osterwalder , author of Business Model Canvas Graphic Recording for panel discussion
In Sept Alex Osterwalder , the author of Business Model Canvas, asked me to illustrate some of the main ideas in the book in one illustration. He used this for a presentation at a business panel discussion.
Alex’s website: http://alexosterwalder.com/
Business Model Canvas: https://strategyzer.com/canvas/business-model-canvas
Graphic Recording for Non Profit Domestic Violence Organizations
In July I recorded a meeting of two non profits that were merging to create a new organization that would become the largest provider of domestic violence shelters in New York City. The two organizations were the Center Against Domestic Violence (CADV) and the Urban Resource Institute (URI). Participants were asked to write on a large white board the positive characteristics of each organization. I took the information on the whiteboards and created an illustration showing what the separate organizations would bring to the merger and how that would help create a new more innovative organization.
- Keith Bendis, Graphic Recording for Non Profit Organizations
- Keith Bendis, Graphic Recording for Non Profit Organizations
Links:
Graphic Recording for Lois Dostalik of E4 Strategic Consultancy
In June 2017, I worked with one of my favorite consultants, Lois Dostalik of E4 Strategic Consultancy in Lancaster, Pa.. This was a leadership retreat for a large utility company. At the end of each session Lois displays my finished boards and uses them to review the material that was covered that day. By doing this she puts the participants on the same page . The visual record of my graphic recording also helps to organize the work accomplished by the participants.
Link:
Graphic Recording with author Alex Osterwalder
In June I graphic recorded in Boston my 11th workshop with Alex Osterwalder, the author of the million selling book, Business Model Canvas. For these workshops I usually work on 32” x 40” foam core boards. As each board is completed we display them so the participants can review the material and take pictures. I also take photos of my work and create a power point for the client so they can send it out to the participants. Here are some shots from the last 2 workshops.
Graphic Recording: Empowerment Summit
Graphic Recording by Keith Bendis.
Empowerment Summit Story Sharing Video.