The ability to create high-quality and attractive flip charts is one of the basic skills of any facilitator. If you are the Scrum Master, Agile Coach, business coach or just a person who used to capturing thoughts using paper and markers and prefers the old timeless classics - these simple rules will help you.
Idea № 1. Use no more than 3-4 colors on your flip-chart.
Otherwise, you can turn the flip-chart into a colorful rainbow, from which it will be quite difficult to pull the information. Eyes can quickly get tired of such a rippling effect.
Idea № 2. 5-9 lines of text 5-7 сm height.
Number 5-9 is a natural cognitive size of our “short-term” memory. The rest of the lines may be lost and gone forever.
Idea № 3. Use borders.
Borders clearly limit the flip-chart workspace and thus margins from the edges of the paper are created. To make it more attractive, you can add some shadow cast by the contours (gray).
Idea № 4. Use a separate block for your header with large text and 10-15 cm height.
The header can be seen from afar and is not lost in the background of the text on a flip chart. Use a separate block with borders for it.
Idea № 5. Use visual language and metaphors to express ideas.
This approach greatly simplifies the perception of information and actively fires the right hemisphere of the human brain responsible for creativity and innovation. Flip-charts are remembered much better then. They are «brain-friendly». Even if you want to put a few ideas from your team on paper - think about a metaphor that could be used.
Idea № 6. Use quality tools.
Professional tools can bring your flip charts to the new level. Beveled lugs, fresh and bright colors - that's why I choose the products of Neuland. I use large markers for headlines, small for ordinary text. Markers can be refilled, so do not forget to buy tubes of inks for them.
Idea № 7. Practice and experiment a lot.
A self-evident truth.. In order to create effective flip-charts you do not need lots of artistic talent. Try new approaches and make mistakes as often as possible. Find interesting solutions in books, blogs. And soon drawing flip-charts would bring you a real and lasting pleasure.
And finally. If you attentively looked at the photos of my flip-charts, you might have noticed one error. Can you tell me where it is?
Scrum ON!
