About the course

This course explores different approaches to communicating ideas with a focus on making and visualization in a virtual work environment and deciding on where to go next. Visualization is one of the most important, but most difficult aspects of the creative process. Together, we will break down commonly held assumptions about visualization and build your creative confidence using a step-by-step process.

Modules

Visual Communication

This module focuses on de-socializing our misconceptions about drawing and visualization. You will learn easy and effective ways to quickly visualize your ideas using the ‘draw to learn’ process when thinking through a complex problem. You will start with the basics of visual communication and gradually build to higher levels of visual complexity

Building your ideas and compelling presentations

We will be introduced to some very simple tools about where to go next when deciding which ideas you want to move forward with. You will explore the principles and various forms of prototyping, along with some real-life examples.

After you have a prototype, you will learn ways to effectively communicate what has been produced. Here, you will be introduced to simple tips and tricks to create presentations that help you to share the best parts of your projects in a way that is compelling to the audience.

Learning Outcomes

An idea is only useful if we can get it out of our heads and into a tangible form that people can react to by giving us feedback and opportunities for improvement. You’ll learn accessible, practicable techniques for quickly visualizing your ideas to enhance collaboration and maximize impact.

What you will learn:

  • Develop your visual vocabulary: learn the basics of drawing to develop your personal style and enhance communication

  • Simple tools for making a decision: tools to help you make quick decisions when you need to decide which idea to move forward with

  • Various ways of prototyping: different ways of creating tangible representations of your idea to get feedback and improve upon your ideas

  • Empathy: deeply understanding your audience and creating a presentation structure and format that meaningfully lands

  • Community Child and Youth Well-being Survey Toolkit

    “Overlap’s approach help take the fear outta learning while you insert fun. I have had this sick feeling every time I had to engage with technology–but your attitude and approach take away the scariness.”

    Intro to HCD Participant

  • Community Child and Youth Well-being Survey Toolkit

    “Overlap was able to explain concepts and engage people effectively and emotionally in the learning process. From concept thinking to design, they brought an element of a new Human feelings approach that gave me a new perspective of incorporating an end-user approach to a problem versus a global approach.”

    H. B. Com, CPA, CGA, Director of Finance and Administration, KW Habilitation

  • Community Child and Youth Well-being Survey Toolkit

    “Taking (Intro to HCD) rejuvenated my enthusiasm for work at a time when I was starting to feel disconnected. Not only was it refreshing to work through Launch activities with an interdisciplinary group, it gave me ideas for engaging my own team differently. I immediately applied what I learned with noted success!”

    Educational Developer | Curriculum Development and Program Improvement Centre for Teaching & Learning | Queen’s University

  • Community Child and Youth Well-being Survey Toolkit

    “...Overlap training introduced me to a process and a wealth of tools that will take our planning to the next level. Moving to virtual training did not dampen Ryan and Nicole's enthusiasm, and their insights helped me understand how to apply these tools in my own organization. I cannot wait for my next planning session!”

    Head of Public Services Law Library, Dalhousie University

  • Community Child and Youth Well-being Survey Toolkit

    “The training at Overlap encouraged me to fall in love with the problem and understand it deeply. The iterative design process teaches that failure is valued as a necessary step to designing the best solutions. This relieves the pressure of trying to 'get it right the first time.' Using this approach in our organization has promoted a new sense of engagement in our staff team, as people feel their voices are valued in the process.”

    Extend-a-Family Waterloo Region

Upcoming Courses

Making & Communicating Ideas

Creative Problem Solving: 306

(Live Online Cohort)

*2023 dates coming soon*


Better Communication Training Bundle

Are you interested in becoming a better communicator?  You can save over 15% by registering for our Better Communication Bundle, which includes: 301) Community & Staff Engagement Foundations, 302) Facilitation & Better Meetings, and 306) Making & Communicating Ideas.  Sign up for all three courses today and save!

Better Communication Bundle: Sign Up