On 15 July 2026, Tash, Maiki and Christine from the Firefly team joined the Maximising the Middle team for a day of learning, creativity, and hands-on practice led by the talented and inspiring Simon Banks.
Graphic facilitation is the art of using visual elements, such as drawings, symbols, colour, and simple illustrations, to capture conversations, ideas, and key messages in real time. Whether it’s documenting a meeting, facilitating a workshop, or helping a group explore complex topics, graphic facilitation can make information more engaging, accessible, and memorable.
From the moment the workshop began, Simon created an encouraging environment that showed us that effective visual communication isn’t about being a professional artist, it’s about being willing to pick up a marker, think creatively, and share ideas in a way that connects with others.
Throughout the day, we explored a range of techniques for turning words into visuals, creating visual frameworks, and using graphic recording methods to support conversations and group learning. It was inspiring to see how a few simple shapes and symbols could transform information into something that people can quickly understand and connect with.
One of the biggest takeaways for our team was learning how graphic facilitation can support the work we do every day with young people and community members. Visual tools have the potential to make workshops more interactive, help participants feel heard, and create a lasting record of conversations and ideas. These skills will be valuable across many of our projects, from community consultations and youth engagement activities to planning sessions and collaborative events.
We are incredibly grateful to the Maximising the Middle team for extending the invitation and giving us the opportunity to learn alongside such a passionate group of people. Professional development like this not only helps us grow our skills but also strengthens the partnerships and relationships that make our work possible.
A special thank you goes to Simon Banks for sharing his knowledge, enthusiasm, and creativity. We left the workshop feeling inspired, energised, and excited to start putting our new skills into practice.
We look forward to incorporating graphic facilitation into future Firefly projects and finding new ways to visually capture the voices, ideas, and aspirations of our communities.