In the last newsletter I linked to the first version of a book on feedback. I’ve refactored things a bit since then, with a new style and website. Read on to find out more.
New Feedback comic!
I’ve refactored the Feedback book into a number of ‘comics’. This fits my style and gives me known format to work with. There are some constraints I can use that will help.
I’ve also narrowed the subject to Feedback for Creatives. When we’re looking at something someone has created that we can see or experience in a context, feedback becomes more manageable. I’m trying not to bite off more than I can chew.
The image below is the first part of the Feedback Cafe menu - designed to be a bit like a cafe menu, but for choosing the sort of feedback you’re looking for.
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I’ve also used the metaphor of a menu at a cafe, and a crew of feedback superheroes to carry these ideas. I’ve also got a Feedback Canvas and a Trainspotting inspired appendix of different types of feedback. (Trainspotting the hobby not the film :-) )
The parts to this comic series are.
The Feedback Gang!
Feedback Canvas
Feedback Spotting
I’m using constraints to make the comics better. Working physically I was drawn(!) to paper sizes, A4 and A3. I even have an expensive A3 scanner.
I’ve decided to use 1080*1080 square canvases for the comic panes, the same as Instagram. I’m also using a theme on Wordpress that shows these panels vertically like webcomics.
This means I can’t squeeze much content into each pane, and I’m steered towards panels that just say one thing.
Hopefully these self imposed constraint will result in easier reading.
Just Draw the Thing!
I’ve drawn the first two comics in the ‘Just Draw the Thing’ series.
I kinda find it funny that the first issues has words and not drawings on the front cover. That might be just me.
This series starts with an introduction, and a comic full of reasons to not draw the thing.
If anyone suggests an idea or theory to you, always ask when it shouldn’t be used.
This is a good check to see if they’ve thought about where is idea is applicable and checks they’re not just pushing the latest idea for everything!
The Just Draw the Thing series consists of
Examples of how to start drawing with a blank sheet.
Bringing it all together
I’m talking at MapCamp 2022, the community conference for Wardley Mapping.
My talk is on ‘Using Wardley Mapping to steal the ideas for a book’.
This is a big picture about how everything I do fits together.
I’ll be talking about how the map below begins to show how the things I’m creating on Feedback, Safe Spaces, Systemic Modelling, OODA and more all fit together!
Each of the dots on the visual above is a comic or series of comics, that together can be used to get more of what you want to see in the world - by finding someone doing stuff you like, working out what they are doing, and working out how to do it.
Finally…
I’ve written up two approaches to facilitation I’ve used on LinkedIn. These are detailed, real life examples with drawings. If you’ve got a workshop coming up have a look!
These LinkedIn posts are at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikethomashaber/recent-activity/posts/
I’ve written a post as a guide to the type of feedback I’d like https://mikehaber.co/2022/09/06/feedback-for-mike/
Really Finally
I’ve been playing around with the design of my visuals, and I’ve trying some new ideas.
Check theses out and let me know what works for you.
See you next time!
Mike