The art of abstraction

“The work of our corporate lawyer: abstract, well-thought out and sometimes ….. slightly unaccessible”

Sketch of legal news – 2

This chart is based on a newspaper article that I read, while visiting the ABA Tech Conference in Chicago last spring. Though I didn’t make it for any debating purposes, it has caught the attention of visitors in my studio many times. It was an interesting conversation starter. ‘So, what is this about?’ And then I was able to quickly explain the different legal concepts, which lead to the next questions and often to some sort of opinionmaking.

To me, this clearly demonstrates how easily hand-drawn flip charts focus the attention and energize conversations on legal topics, that normally would not draw people in.

For the latest news on the policy of the Obama Administration on the legal procedures for these detainees
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/13/world/main5307100.shtml

Sketch of legal news – 1

This chart is based on a newspaper article. The topic was funny and it seemed an easy entrance to discuss some of the legal issues involved, for example for legal educators.

People who have seen this chart grasped the conflicting legal perspectives quickly and were engaged to find out more, ask questions and form their opinion. The interaction seems to be facilitated by the kinestetic experience. People walk up to the wall, study the image, and start a lively conversation while standing in front of the chart. Very different from the setting of a conference table, auditorium or desk.

Apparently, the flipchart triggers a different response in information processing.

News on the displayed topic:
Amazon apologized to its customers and offered to restore the digital copies or receive a $30 gift certificate or a check instead. Consumer advocates are still concerned with the potential censoring power of similar digital content providers.