Visual working and the story behind it
Working with epics, our unique storytelling tools
Our epics are powerful visual storytelling tools that, together with our virtual coach, Lisa, transform how teams collaborate in meetings and workshops. Based on extensive research in human behavior, we have designed metaphoric and symbolic objects we call epics to help participants express themselves and often difficult-to-articulate ideas.
Visual communication is much faster and more effective than text-based methods. With epics, teams can quickly align, share inner thoughts, and bring abstract concepts to life. Whether tackling complex problems or discussing abstract ideas, these tools simplify communication, ensuring that everyone understands each other clearly and fosters deep engagement.
The real strength of epics lies in their ability to activate the visual brain, encouraging creativity and innovation while enhancing team members' joint understanding.
Moreover, learning to use epics is incredibly easy; guided by Lisa, it takes just a few minutes to get started. With over 300 users testing this tool, epics have made collaboration more engaging, interactive, and, most importantly, fun.
epics are a game-changer in any setting that requires creativity or innovation, especially when working with complex issues or abstract topics. They simplify communication, fuel creative problem-solving, and ensure every participant fully engages in the discussion. By enhancing the overall meeting experience, Epics turns what could be tedious meetings into inspiring sessions filled with creativity, clarity, and productivity. Read more here about why humans are so good at Visual Storytelling.
I enjoyed the whole team talking together, learning what others think, then working together to finalize with one idea.
The objects make the environment easier to communicate. Although they feel silly initially, once one starts using them, the objects help a lot, and nothing feels silly anymore.
The haptics. I think it's good for the mind to interact with something physically. It helped me develop ideas by seeing some visual ”prompts”.
Why are humans so good at Visual Storytelling?
We are visual beings
With over half of its cortex dedicated to visual processing, the human brain is naturally equipped to handle images much more efficiently than text. It processes visuals at an extreme pace since most of the information we absorb is visual. These facts underscore the power of visual information from a human perspective. Most people are visual thinkers, and even those who prefer text can feel empowered by using visual aids.
Metaphors
The power of metaphors and storytelling further highlights the impact of cognitive preferences on communication. Metaphors, a significant psychological tool, simplify complex ideas by relating them to familiar ones, enhancing understanding. Think of metaphors as our natural translation tools. Using metaphors in stories helps us understand each other and complex concepts better.
Storytellers by nature.
Storytelling, more than just entertainment, activates comprehensive brain areas, aligning the listener's experience with the speaker's message and significantly improving memory retention. Stories, enriched with distinctive details and contexts, tend to have a more prolonged existence in our memory compared to mere facts. Notably, humans have successfully transferred information for tens of thousands of years before learning to read and write.
Psychological safety
Psychological safety, is not just a buzzword. It's a fundamental requirement for individuals to achieve their full potential.
Safety empowers individuals to take risks and express ideas freely without fearing negative consequences. It creates an environment that nurtures creativity and innovation and makes individuals feel secure, where ideas can flourish and grow. For people to feel psychologically safe, we must be able to work in a manner that supports that by giving each individual the space, opportunity and time to express themselves.
Memory capacity
Our memory systems face challenges in keeping pace with the demands of the modern workplace. The transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory—a process crucial for retaining knowledge—requires consolidation through sleep, correcting pacing, practice, and meaningful engagement. Using short videos as notes engages multiple senses and taps into our brain’s natural preference for visual and auditory cues, making it easier to store and retrieve information.
70 unique pieces
You'll find everything you need in our toolbox to foster creativity and interaction. The visually appealing epics keep participants focused and inspired throughout any session. Explore various visual metaphors across 11 categories, including nature, emotions, architecture, industrial, office, ecosystems, dynamics, and abstract artifacts. Each category helps teams express their thoughts clearly, whether solving complex problems or brainstorming abstract ideas.
We can significantly boost productivity and creativity in workplace interactions by harnessing our innate capacity for visual thinking, fostering psychological safety, utilizing memory to maximum effect, and leveraging the power of metaphors and storytelling.
Understanding those factors is precisely why epicMeets was developed - as a solution to these challenges.
