What IS Creating the Future? In a post 2 weeks ago, we shared our first effort to explain what this effort is about via infographic.
And in the comments at that post – as well as at LinkedIn and Facebook – we got lots of great help in making the infographic more clear, so that not only our mission and vision shined through, but what we are doing to accomplish that mission.
The result is a New and Improved Draft #2 of our Infographic.
Our intent is that each of those areas will then lead to another infographic (or series of infographics) providing detail about each section – details about our assumptions, details about our mission, details about our strategies. But none of that can happen until we have this overview done first.
The Question of “Audience”
One of the most important questions people have asked is about the intended audience for the infographic. That leads to the intended audience for our work overall – so thank you all for asking that question!
We’ve included the answer in the infographic itself, but it’s important in your helping us clarify that we note it separately here.
The many many individual activists and organizations and groups doing on-the-ground work are NOT our primary focus – they are a secondary audience. The primary focus of our work are the leverage points in the social change arena – people / groups who influence others. If funders and consultants and educators and other influencers infuse more effective assumptions into how they do their work, they will in turn influence the rest of everyone doing the on-the-ground work in communities.
Which leads to our asking again…
- From looking at the new graphic, in your own words, what do YOU think we’re about?
- Does the new graphic make clear to you what Creating the Future is? What we’re trying to accomplish, how we’re seeking to accomplish that, and what we are doing right now? Would you look at that graphic and think, “Yes that makes sense. I totally get it.”?
- And if not, what parts are NOT clear? What questions remain / occur to you as you look at the graphic?
- Does the new graphic help you see where YOU might plug in to this work? The parts you might be interested in knowing more about / being part of? If not, what might help you to want to connect?
We hope you see that your thoughts have been incorporated into this 2nd Draft. And we hope that encourages you to answer the questions above: Can you now tell, in your own words, what Creating the Future is?
Note: In the comments below, Jane Garthson brought up a point worth clarifying here: The little characters of the kids are all placeholders. One thing we have learned in this process is that the vast majority of cute little characters are white, and that those that are not are mostly in ethnic garb – rather than simply being kids with different characteristics just being normal kids. Our intent, once we have nailed down a “final” version is to commission someone to create characters of various races and ethnicities, to take the place of those little guys.
And while we mention that below in the comments, both the facts for our purposes and the facts overall (the lack of graphics) felt important to clarify up here in the post.
From the graphic, I see CTF as seeking to be a highly effective influencer – both communicating and demonstrating. My other thoughts, not specific to your questions:
– I think it’s important for the audience to understand CTF as an NGO, not an academic or for-profit. I’m using NGO in its international sense. And none of that comes through
– love putting strategy in the middle. I’m not sure “programs” is a broad enough term to encompass education, resources, etc.
– the people are all white (not certain about the bricklayer); not good
– the Buddha has to go – don’t link to a religion or use religious language or you come across as a zealot. Even “mindfullness” may be a problem for some
– Our Actions makes it sound as only CTF can do this or is doing this; make it clear that CTF expects others to also experiment and share. And that would also help more of the audience see how to get involved
– under Thought, I’d change network building to community & peer engagement
– the reach should include umbrella groups, which offer a lot of education and resources directly to their sub-sector rather than through a formal education entity
– I still wish you’d reword the Vision into a statement of the desired future “all social missions have been accomplished and all beings live…”
Jane:
Love it all. Quick note (in a hurry) – the people are all placeholders (should have mentioned that up front!). One object lesson in this process has been how difficult it is to find similar cure figures who are NOT white!
Our plan, once we have finalized this, is to commission an artist to create figures who are of varying shades and ethnicities. And to then make those available to others, because it shouldn’t be this hard to find a mixed group of great adorable kids doing cool things!
Holy smokes, Batman! That’s like drinking the whole bottle of medicine in one gulp. Overall impression: too busy. Made me smile though! Great possibilities.
Here are my answers to your questions.
•From looking at the new graphic, in your own words, what do YOU think we’re about?
a new type or interpretation of strategic planning.
•Does the new graphic make clear to you what Creating the Future is?….Would you look at that graphic and think, “Yes that makes sense. I totally get it.”?
Yes, I would think that. However, from what I know about Creating the Future, I would be missing a piece of the message. The message is about stepping mindfully towards the future without the drifting that happens in so many human endeavours. It’s also about working together as a team. It’s also about building tomorrow by our actions today.
•And if not, what parts are NOT clear? What questions remain / occur to you as you look at the graphic?
unspoken pieces rather than “not clear” (see my comments on the first Q). Another example of confusion: I’m uncertain why you put thought leaders last in your target list, when by your email, you say they are your first audience. Be careful about puttiing funders first. People can be tired of funders telling them what to do.
•Does the new graphic help you see where YOU might plug in to this work? The parts you might be interested in knowing more about / being part of? If not, what might help you to want to connect?
Get rid of the icon of the teacher with the pointer!
Your assumptions are a key piece of your message. Some of the other stuff could be reduced in words perhaps (easier to say than do)
Want other suggestions? Here they are anyhow:
-delete the CTF Mission and Vision at the top. You basically repeat these in the philosophy.
-check your fonts and spacing. The various differences make the diagram seem too busy (e.g. thought process and action have the intro centred while little else is centred. One has a sub-title and the others don’t)
Can you fit your web site onto the page? There’s no way to contact you or to “find out more”.
It’s confusing about who “our” is–the client? the thought-leader? CTF?
There’s too much on “global” and “around the world”. The North American ways can be off-putting to other cultures.
Why is the thought process a mission? Whose mission?
I like the layout on the first box (Our assumptions–clear and crisp)
What is the pivot point for change? By the diagram, the eye focuses in on “plans and strategies). Is that where you want my eye to concentrate?
That was fun!
From looking at the new graphic, in your own words, what do YOU think we’re about?
From this graphic, I think CTF is about making sure that people who effect change understand the assumptions they are making and have the tools to change those assumption if needed.
… let me ponder the other questions!
Seems like a lot is riding on the word “mindful.” I am not sure I can define it. It may be one of those words that everyone defines for themselves…. What happens when you remove it or try to replace it?
It’s so NEAT seeing all of this work in one infographic! That is deserving of one big high five there. Amazing!
I few things jump out at me:
-I do like how the mission and vision are there. Using this infographic as a ‘Onesheet’, I like how it’s easily referable.
-Effective Assumptions is a big theme that is carried throughout the Theory of Change, but I feel like I’m missing the mention of how we are working towards them as a tactic in Our Strategy and in Our Actions sections.
-A small formatting suggestion: there are a bunch of fonts going on in this PDF, even in the 5 descriptions of the Theory of Change. It’s a bit chaotic to read – could we unify them?
This is going to develop into a must-have tool for CTF!