Visual Ambassador’s Observation
People say I’m a discover, a generator of ideas, and an observer. Maybe I just see world differently.
As leaders who are “orbiting the giant hairball”, we all look for a guide to bring more clarity, focus and effectiveness to our world. First, it’s because we love life. Second, because our children deserve a decent world. Third, because we have everything in our power to do it.
Observation is a valuable resource when it comes to innovation and creation. As Jane Fulton Suri of IDEO’s states, “Observation is the idea of not just listening to what people tell you about their experience, but looking at how they behave in relation to things.” It’s noticing what people do and how they do it. Seeing the patterns or themes around the experience. Looking at the idea within a culture of a community. After all, designers and artists have the ability to change a direction of a trend/market/idea if we can just understand the emotional or behavioral responses behind it.
Our entire job at Scott Hull Associates is collaboration. We help corporations see their business with a new perspective. To do this, it is necessary to be more engaged in the process than other “run of the mill” professionals who are only aware of sensory experience or the bottom line.
Think of observation as exercise, maybe yoga or the act of being in the moment– expand your awareness of the culture around you. The idea of an observer is not just noticing what people are doing, but to really try to understand what’s driving the behavior. Some of us find ourselves doing this automatically. We have a capability to understand and connect with other people.
We as visual communicators learn the earlier you can show a rough idea and express it in a tangible way, the earlier you can get feedback either from client, yourself, and others. In the observation process you’re looking for themes, patterns or categorizations. The earlier we start observing, the easier it is to change and adapt.
