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How to Visualize Your Creativity With Storyboards

Think about how you’ll organize your storyboard in terms of how you expect your project to flow from start to finish. I usually work left to right, keeping the general category cards to the left of the board (or table, cubical wall, floor or random flat surface that I have available). This sets up the initial order for how you imagine the flow of the event. Many events are predictable: host – worship – story – prayer – host. This order won’t necessarily change from service to service or event to event. But visualizing them off to the side allows you to see if you really want to keep that order or switch it up. Once that order is in place, plan sideways across the creative board. Fill in the details as the ideas come to you.

When I’m writing a talk or a conference breakout, my organization looks more random at first. I don’t start with a preconceived plan of attack for the order of what I’ll say. Rather, I start figuring out the main points I want to cover. Once those are solid, I order them in a way that leads the audience on the journey I want them to take. I always have the bottom line in mind when I’m building a talk. I start filling in the supporting information, examples, visuals, etc. that I want to include.

Ideas for Card Categories.

Service Programming:
People (speakers/worship leaders/etc.)
Worship Songs
Special Songs
Videos
Transitions
Visual CG
Walk-In/Exit Music
Communication Titles
Time Stamps

Event Planning:
All of the service programming cards above that pertain to your event
Locations
Point People/Personnel
Signage needs

Talks/Sermons/Communications:
Main Points
Supporting Points
Expounding Data
Examples
Application Points
Key Phrases you want to make sure you say
Images
Videos

Books/Blogs/Essays:
Big Ideas
Main Points
Chapter Titles
Examples
External Links
Application Points
Action Steps
References/Bibliography

There are many other ways to use storyboarding to visualize your creativity. And if you are a visual learner at any level, this should be part of your process. It’s a simple and effective way to create your next event or talk. Taking the time to storyboard on the front end will give you a clear plan going into getting the project to the finish line, allowing the rest of the process to flow with purpose.

Your Turn: How do you plan your events and communications? I’d love to hear your design thinking ideas! Comment below.

This article originally appeared here.