ONLINE COURSE – NEW DATES FOR 2021
Secrets of Simple Graphics
Communicate with impact using the power of hand drawn visuals.
A six week online course for trainers, facilitators and presenters
Let’s take this online!
2020 saw many changes, not least the full embrace of online learning. Secrets of Simple Graphics, which ran successfully as an in person course in Edinburgh for five years, is now delivered as virtual live training.
I have thoroughly enjoyed delivering this course in its new format and I can’t wait to meet the class(es) of 2021!
Easy Access
Tune in from the comfort of your own home.
A greener way to travel 🙂
Brain Friendly
Learn in bite sized chunks.
Time to consider and practice between sessions.
Training for Life
All sessions are recorded so you can review what you’ve learned at any point
No problem if you can’t make a live session.
Hi, I'm Emer
Before I discovered the beauty of simple graphics and visual thinking I used to spend ages online sourcing images for my PowerPoint presentations only for a percentage of the audience to switch off and request the slides to read later.
I knew there had to a be a better, simpler, more impactful way to get my message across. I heard about terms such as graphic facilitation and visual thinking but assumed that these tools were for people who were ‘naturally’ artistic and creative.
I discovered the power of simple graphics when when I trained in Person Centred Planning and suddenly the penny dropped.
Here’s what skills in simple graphics can do for you…
(and the people you work with)
Communicate your ideas with clarity, saving time and avoiding confusion.
Tune in to your creativity – develop personally AND professionally
Bring fun, light and energy into your life.
STAND OUT as the go-to presenter, trainer, faciliator in your niche
Create long lasting impact
Enhance participation and engagement in your workshops and trainings
Connect and build rapport with your audience – hand drawn visuals communicate individuality and humanity
Make learning experiences more memorable and brain friendly for your learners
Make your workshops more lively, interesting and engaging.
Help people to reach a consensus and ‘get on the same page’.
‘I highly recommend Emer’s 6 week virtual simple graphics course. I’ve wanted to do this for a while but could never make the face-face days – this format enabled me to take part in a way that fitted around my other commitments. Emer is a superb facilitator, and takes you through a clearly structured process, whilst really building your confidence and courage to draw and to then share your drawings. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am now finding myself finding opportunities to use graphics whenever I can!‘
Emily Hutchinson
Occupational Pyschologist
DID YOU KNOW?
- Over 87% of people are visual thinkers
- Images are remembered 60,000 times faster than text
- Research by Stanford University shows that hand drawn presentations score higher than PowerPoint for engagement, enjoyment, credibility, recall and persuasive impact.
Here’s what’s included…
6 x 60 minute content rich LIVE virtual sessions.
Every Thursday 10am
Weekly tasks to keep you on track
Private online group to share ideas, ask questions and learn from one another.
*Bonus Module* Taking Things Digital
(pre-recorded)
How to create digital drawings using your phone, laptop or tablet.
A visual group progress map so we can record and celebrate our collective progress!
Session 1
Cohort 1 – 1000GMT 25th February
Cohort 2 – 1000BST 24th June
Cohort 3 – 1000BST 30th September
- Opening Circle – Setting the Scene
- Gathering round the fire – Graphic Storytelling demo and practice
- Starting Points – Belief Scale
Session 2
Cohort 1 – 1000GMT 4th March
Cohort 2 – 1000BST 1st July
Cohort 3 – 1000BST 7th October
- The Visual Thinking Landscape
- Graphic Faciliation, Visual Facilitation, Graphic Recording – differences and definitions
- Competitive Advantages of hand drawn graphics
- Your Custom Action Plan
Session 3
Cohort 1 – 1000GMT 11th March
Cohort 2 – 1000BST 8th July
Cohort 3 – 1000BST 14th October
- Your Graphics Kit: markers, materials and more – essentials to invest in and shiny objects to avoid!
- The Building Blocks of Graphics – Lettering, bullet points, text containers, icons and more.
Bonus Q&A session
60 mins to ask questions, get ideas and work through challenges.
Cohort 1 – 1600GMT 16th March
Cohort 2 – 1600BST 13th July
Cohort 3 – 1600BST 19th October
Cupcake Afterparty session on the last day
(with real cupcakes 
)
Session 4
Cohort 1 – 1000GMT 18th March
Cohort 2 – 1000BST 15th July
Cohort 3 – 1000BST 21st October
- Colour palettes and nailing your style
- Visual Formats and Layouts
- The One Pager – creating high level information, balancing text and visuals
Session 5
Cohort 1 – 1000GMT 25th March
Cohort 2 – 1000BST 22nd July
Cohort 3 – 1000BST 28th October
- Icons Revisited – delving further into icon creation – a session designed around the icons YOU want to learn how to draw.
- Learn step by step and follow along with me.
Session 6
Cohort 1 – 1000BST 1st April
Cohort 2 – 1000BST 29th July
Cohort 3 – 1000GMT 4th November
- Developing your training toolkit – icebreakers, session ideas and more
- Q &A and Closing Circle
What people say about Secrets of Simple Graphics…
Maggie Newton, Red Clematis Coaching Services Ltd
I’ve just completed Emer’s first online ‘Secrets of Simple Graphics’ course which I thoroughly enjoyed and learnt so much from. Emer is a very calm and engaging facilitator and made everyone feel at ease. I would thoroughly recommend working with her.
Laura Sly, Trainer Facilitator Coach
I loved taking part in Emer’s 6 week online Secrets of Simple Graphics course. I’ve always enjoyed the flipchart bit of my role – that things appear whilst you’re thinking together as a group and you create something different each time. However, what a pleasure it is to now think people might recognise what it is I’m drawing; and I can see the uses of the graphics way beyond a flipchart. Emer has a great, warm, relaxed style and is a calming presence whilst encouraging you to challenge yourself. She covered the essentials in creating visual info that others will be able to see and interpret easily and how some very simple things make a big difference. Good fun to share what we’d created with each other too and I think we all made real progress in a short time.
Rachel Weiss, Rowan Consultancy
I participated in Emer’s 6 week online Secrets of Simple Graphics course. It gave me skills and confidence to use hand-drawn graphics to enhance my training and coaching, both live in the room and as preprepared resources. Also, it was fun and I’ve gained a new hobby, drawing, and ditched my inner critic which told me I can’t draw. I can’t but it doesn’t matter so long as I get about 30% accuracy, people will recognise what I mean. Liberating!
Andonella Thomson, Director at Kingscavil Consulting
Just finished a 6 week visual graphics course online and it was fab! Thoroughly enjoyable, taking me way beyond my comfort zone and learnt loads. Great facilitator, talented lady and was encouraging every step of the way. I’ll look forward to using my new skills. Met some great people too – what a way to network. Thanks a million.
Heather Ballantine, Owner at Be the Bestest Ltd
I just wanted to say a HUGE thanks for the fabulous course you put together. The content, delivery style and learning experience were all just spot on and I have learned so much from the whole experience. Your wonderfully calm and relaxing pace, set a fabulous ‘tone’ to the sessions, and I feel I have learned a lesson there, for myself, that I will definitely be putting into practice once we are allowed to deliver sessions back in workplaces.’
Christine Morrison, CMA Training (UK) Ltd
I just completed my second course with Emer (this time the six-week online ‘Secrets of Simple Graphics) and it was equally fabulous. Emer is warm and friendly with a calm and engaging facilitation style. I met some great people too and it felt like a group of friends meeting up and learning something brilliant together. The structure and content were excellent. The online delivery (Zoom) worked so well and there was plenty of time to practise between sessions. I would love to take part in a follow-on course.
Beth Collier, Communications Creativity & Leadership Expert
If you are looking to improve your ability to draw simple graphics, I highly recommend you get in touch with Emer. She is a skilled illustrator and facilitator, has a lovely, helpful nature, and a true desire to help people learn. Over six weeks, I improved both my drawing skills and confidence. And best of all, I am having fun drawing again – which I haven’t felt for decades! Thank you, Emer!
Absolutely anybody can build the skills to learn simple graphics.
No experience is required.
Getting together with a diverse range of people, ideas, learning in a creative environment is so valuable. It creates an energy you can’t get from a book!
The training is inclusive, interactive and fun.
By the end of the course you will:
- Look forward to trying out your new skills at the earliest opportunity
- Feel confident about creating your own graphics
- Understand how to use graphics in a variety of contexts
- Have loads of ideas for your next presentation, meeting or workshop
- Be hooked on the joys of working visually
- Develop new ways to express your work and thoughts
- Impress your colleagues and associates with your new skills!
Words from the class of February 2021…
Book Your Place Today
Every Thursday at 10am GMT from
25th February 2021 to
1st April 2021
Every Thursday at 10am BST from
24th June 2021 to
29th July 2021
Every Thursday at 10am BST from
30th September 2021 to
4th November 2021
One place on Secrets of Simple Graphics starting February 25th 2021
One place on Secrets of Simple Graphics Online starting June 24th 2021
One place on Secrets of Simple Graphics Online starting September 30th 2021
*Early Bird price
ends Feb 15th*
£369 Standard Price
*Early Bird price
ends June 14th*
£369 Standard Price
*Early Bird price
ends Sept 20th*
£369 Standard Price
*New*
Upgrade to the SOSG Online Coaching package which includes three 1:1 coaching sessions. Use these to get support and coaching around your particular graphics goals, how graphics applies to your work and how to feel confident with graphics and achieve more, faster!
Attendance at SOSG Online plus 3 50 minute 1:1 coaching sessions
Attendance at SOSG Online plus 3 50 minute 1:1 coaching sessions
Attendance at SOSG Online plus 3 50 minute 1:1 coaching sessions
*Early Bird price
ends Feb 15th*
£549 Standard Price
*Early Bird price
ends June 14th*
£549 Standard Price
*Early Bird price
ends Sept 20th*
£549 Standard Price
FAQ
Q. Do I have to be able to draw to go on the course?
Absolutely not! Don’t worry if you haven’t drawn anything for years, or believe you can’t draw. You’re in exactly the right place to build your confidence and practice step-by-step in a safe environment.
‘You don’t need to draw to do the course – it is totally true. At the start of the day no-one wanted to do anything on a flipchart but by 4pm the pens were not for being put down! Really useful tips and tools for using in work‘
Audrey MacNeill, Administrator | Kinharvie Institute
‘I started the day convinced I couldn’t draw, but using the techniques, hint and tips Emer gave throughout the day I am now raring to go and run a session!’
Fiona Dee, Organisational Development Business Partner | Midlothian Council
Q. Is there any pre-course work?
No. If you have specific questions about how to apply graphics to your work do bring these on the day.
Q. Do I need to bring anything?
All materials are supplied on the day. All you need to bring is an open mind.
Q. Will I have to draw in front of other people?
Exercises are varied and include working alone, working in pairs and working in groups. If you don’t feel comfortable about engaging in any element of the course that’s no problem at all. As with anything new there is often an element of stepping out of your comfort zone. My intention is to support people to learn in a safe environment, not to coerce people into doing something that makes them feel uncomfortable!
‘A great course! Despite my initial trepidation, I now feel more confident about using graphics with my clients. Emer’s patience and pragmatism meant that all of us on the course learned a lot, were able to practice in a safe environment and now have the tools and techniques to apply our learning back in the “real world”.’
Rachel Letby | Crail Consulting
Q. Is it about graphic facilitation or something else?
The course is an introduction to the different ways simple graphics can be used and includes: the advantages of graphics, the four main ways of using graphics (graphic facilitation is one of these main ways), building blocks of graphics. You will get lots of tips on how to create simple images quickly and will get the opportunity to practice your skills as you learn them. The final exercise involves creating a one page piece which you may use for presentations, training or simply to explain an aspect of your work.
Q. Will you be judging our drawings?
You can be assured I won’t be judging anything! As a group we will look at what we have produced and discuss its effectiveness and application in a work setting. It may help you to know I don’t have a background in art. On the course you’ll also learn how graphics differs from art (phew!).
Q. Is it just for trainers and facilitators?
No. We have had people from areas as diverse as law, marketing, interior design and counselling as well as trainers, facilitators, coaches, presenters. If you are in the business of communicating you will benefit from this personal development course.
‘The course was fantastic – really inspiring and instilled confidence that you can use graphics in your own workplace – no matter what your intended audience.’
Alison Marron, Solicitor | Scottish Legal Complaints Commission
‘Undoubtedly the most fun CPD course I have ever attended!’
Dr Nicky Imrie, Training Officer | Scotland’s Urban Past
Q. What about post-course support?
Following the course you can book a 45 minute 1:1 coaching call with me to further embed your learning and work on your personalised action plan.
Q. Where is the training held?
The training is held virtually using the Zoom platform. Join in online from the comfort of your own home! There will also be a private Facebook group where you can network with your fellow participants, share ideas, and upload weekly tasks.
Q. What is the cancellation policy?
Places cancelled are not entitled to a refund, however may be transferred to another person from the same organisation.