In this unique, hands-on, two-day workshop, Adriana Contreras Correal and Michelle Buchholz provide an in-depth introduction to Visual Thinking, Graphic Facilitation, and Graphic Recording.
This workshop offers a rare and powerful opportunity to learn from two highly knowledgeable, skilled and talented consultants who bring their lived experiences and identities into each aspect of their practice and in spaces of learning. Michelle Buchholz, a proud Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan woman, utilizes her visual practice as a form of witnessing, drawing on Wet’suwe’en governance practices and focusing on uplifting and amplifying Indigenous wisdom. Adriana Contreras Correal, a first-generation immigrant from Colombia, uses her artistry as a medium for intercultural communication, translating complex stories and collective wisdom into accessible visual narratives. Together, they provide an enriching, decolonizing approach to graphic recording.
Participants will explore how these methodologies can serve as decolonizing approaches to knowledge exchange, moving beyond Western-centric, text-heavy communication. Through individual and group exercises, they will learn the building blocks of visual language, fostering more inclusive and accessible ways to convey ideas and connect with others. Whether you’re aiming to enhance presentations, create more engaging reports, or bring creativity into your work, this workshop will equip you with the tools and approaches to get started.
Participants are encouraged to bring a project to apply their newfound skills during the workshop. For example, you might bring a written piece of work like a report, a story, an agenda or meeting notes, that you would like to turn into a more engaging, visual piece.
Dates: February 20th & 21st
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: C.K. Choi Building, Room 120, 1855 West Mall, Vancouver
Cost: $1,500 + GST. This workshop is eligible for UBC staff and faculty professional development funds. To learn more about these funds, go here.
SUBSIDIES: We have applied for funding from UBC to partially subsidize costs for UBC students and employees facing financial barriers, prioritizing people who identify as IBPOC. Please contact the organizers if you wish to be added to the subsidy waitlist (see contact info below).
Follow-up Support: After the workshop, participants have the option to join two one-hour, virtual group sessions for follow-up support, addressing questions as they begin to apply their learning in practice.
You Might Be Interested in This Workshop If You:
- Are exploring how visual tools can contribute to decolonization in your work;
- Work in fields where engaging diverse audiences and knowledge exchange is essential;
- Want to spark creativity and bring fresh perspectives into meetings, presentations, or written reports by incorporating visual thinking techniques;
- Have a project in mind where you can apply visual thinking skills;
- Are curious about using graphic recording and facilitation methods in your work and want to know how to work best with graphic recorders.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this two-day workshop participants will:
- Appreciate the role of graphic facilitation as a decolonizing approach to knowledge exchange and communication, and the value of more inclusive and accessible methods over Western-centric, text-heavy forms
- Recognize the importance of visual language in facilitating connections with others and making information more accessible
- Understand how to use visual thinking to organize, simplify, synthesize, and communicate ideas effectively
- Gain hands-on practice in using techniques such as graphic recording, graphic facilitation, sketchnoting, and strategic illustrations
- Develop practical skills in lettering, layouts, and creating a visual vocabulary to structure their ideas creatively
- Build a comprehensive toolbox of both analog and virtual resources to support visual thinking in various environments
- Know how to collaborate effectively with graphic recorders in future projects
FAQs
Do I need to be a good drawer to take this workshop?
No. This workshop is open to all levels. We believe everyone has this skill and it is just a matter of practicing.
Do I need to bring art supplies? Can I bring my own markers?
Professional markers are included in the workshop and we prefer everyone uses the same materials. Adriana and Michelle have selected a high quality, refillable brand that is sure to last a very long time. You are welcome to bring your own supplies as well. We will also provide paper.
Can I sign up for just one of the two days?
This is intentionally designed as a two-day immersive experience.
Is this workshop just for people who work or study at UBC?
This workshop is being promoted by UBC staff to the UBC community. There is limited space in the workshop for people unaffiliated with UBC. Please get in touch with the artists if you are not affiliated with UBC. Send an email to community.engagement@ubc.ca and we’ll connect you.
What is the refund and cancellation policy?
Cancelation policy: A full refund, minus a $150 admin fee, up to 30 days before the workshop date. After that, we will issue a 50% refund, up until two weeks before the workshop date. No refund will be issued within two weeks of the training date
Force Majeure: An exception will be made for an emergency or unexpected illness. A refund of 50% or a credit to attend an up-coming workshop will be issued. In lieu of a refund, you can also transfer your spot to someone else. We can transfer tickets up until the day before the event.
Workshop Cancellation: In the unlikely event that the organizers have to cancel the event, the participants will be notified as soon as possible and a full refund will be issued within two weeks.
Is there an agenda for the workshop? What does the day look like?
An agenda will be shared with participants prior to the session. There will be a combination of teaching moments and hands-on practice.
Will food and drinks be provided?
We will provide details to all participants in advance. Most likely, we will offer coffee, tea and light refreshments each morning and ask participants to bring their own lunch and afternoon snacks.
When will the virtual follow up session be?
We will send a poll around to figure out timing that works best for the group.
Workshop Facilitators
Michelle Buchholz, MPP | Cassyex Consulting Inc.
Michelle Buchholz (she/her) is a proud Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan woman. She holds a Master’s of Public Policy from Simon Fraser University and wrote her capstone research on developing policies to address anti-Indigenous racism in health care. Michelle is the owner of Cassyex Consulting Inc. and much of her work is focused on graphic recording and graphic facilitation. Michelle is also an evaluator, policy analyst, and qualitative researcher and focuses on visual and narrative approaches to assist her clients in communicating their research findings in a good way.
Michelle refers to graphic recording as witnessing. Wet’suwet’en people call on witnesses in our feast hall to have an oral record of what has happened in our place of governance. Drawing on witnessing as a governance tool, Michelle utilizes a decolonial process to graphic recording. This process was also informed by utilizing teachings that she has learned in working in various fields of work including Indigenous emergency services and community safety, Indigenous justice and education. Michelle has been working as a consultant since 2016 and has worked with Indigenous people and groups across Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand and in Europe.
Adriana Contreras Correal | Consultant | MareVerso Creative
Adriana Contreras Correal is an Interdisciplinary Artist, bilingual Graphic Recorder and Illustrator (English and Spanish), and dedicated auntie, born in Bogotá, Colombia, living respect and gratitude on the traditional unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Artistic expression has always been a central part of Adriana’s life but became an essential tool for navigating the world as a first-generation immigrant. Her migration journey profoundly informs her work and commitment to social justice at a local and global level. Adriana completed her BFA at SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts in 2006 and has worked and volunteered at numerous Arts and community-based organizations for over 20 years.
Adriana’s role as a Visual Practitioner is to witness, listen deeply, gather information, connect ideas and tell stories. Graphic Recording serves as a living memory of the time we share in dialogue; it is a form of harvesting and mapping of collective wisdom, stories, reflections, questions, and commitments to future action.
Event Organizers
This event is organized by Shayla Walker and Kat Cureton from the UBC Community Engagement office. Contact: shayla.walker@ubc.ca, kat.cureton@ubc.ca