I got a note from Helena Haapio in Finland today — there is a group of legal professionals & others active with the organization Lexpert who are working to innovate on preventative and visual law. They are design-oriented & creative, trying to make law communicated more accessibly.
Annika Varjonen provides the text below, and lively images to illustrate how visuals could help with contract formation and other legal interactions. I agree with all of these points — and hope to collaborate with this awesome team! I see good things in the future of well-designed, beautifully communicated law.
Four Channels of Visualization
1) Illustrations
Pictures capture the viewer’s mind. They deliver the message quickly and with less effort than reading pure text would require. No one would ever dream of wanting to read a mere synopsis of a Donald Duck comic! We are overloaded with texts that we should, ought and need to read. It is possible to deliver information in a more appealing and still effective way.
2) Emotions
Memory is connected to emotion. The more emotional a moment is, the stronger the memory. A good speaker and trainer creates that emotion but visual notes will truly carry on and even reinforce that emotion. Visualizations can take you back to the session where they were made and enhance the retention.
3) StoriesOne picture can tell a whole story. And stories are what people remember and will share with others. Don’t be fooled here into thinking that such boring stuff as international trade laws cannot be turned into lively stories that help you remember. More than lively, they can even be humorous!
4) Interaction
Relevant questions, comments from the audience, question and answer sessions – when the notes are made on the spot, they can all be included. That will make the viewer feel even more a part of the experience.
