What is bikablo® Anyway?

It's one of the most common questions I hear.

When I tell people that I'm now the bikablo® Global Trainer for Canada, the response is often:

"That's exciting... but what exactly is bikablo?"

It's a fair question.

The name itself comes from the German words Bilder Karten Block (Picture Card Block), which was the original visual dictionary created by the founders of bikablo more than 20 years ago. What started as a collection of visual symbols and icons has grown into a global movement focused on visual thinking, learning, communication, and collaboration.

But that's the history lesson.

What most people really want to know is this:

Is bikablo about drawing?

Yes.

And no.

At first glance, bikablo looks like drawing. You'll see people creating visual notes, sketching ideas, building process maps, capturing conversations, and creating large-scale graphic recordings at conferences and workshops.

But the drawing isn't the point.

The point is understanding.

The point is communication.

The point is helping people think together.

At its core, bikablo is built on a simple belief:

People understand, remember, and engage with information more effectively when they can see it.

Visualization Isn't Art

One of the biggest misconceptions about visual thinking is that you need to be artistic.

You don't.

In fact, many of the people who attend bikablo trainings begin by telling me:

"I can't draw."

The good news is that this type of visualization has very little to do with artistic talent.

Instead, it's a learnable skill—much like writing, presenting, or facilitation.

Using a combination of:

• Keywords
• Simple pictograms
• Graphic elements
• Arrows and connections
• Containers and structures
• Colour and emphasis

you can communicate ideas more clearly and make complex information easier to understand.

A simple drawing of a lightbulb can communicate an idea.

A stick figure can represent a customer.

An arrow can show a process.

Combined together, these simple visual elements become a powerful language.

Thinking With the Pen

One of my favourite concepts from the bikablo world is the idea that we don't just use visuals to document our thinking.

We use visuals to create better thinking.

When people begin sketching ideas, mapping processes, or visualizing conversations, something interesting happens.

They start seeing patterns.

Connections become clearer.

Gaps become visible.

New ideas emerge.

We often say:

"We think with the pen."

And once you've experienced it, it's hard to go back.

Where Is bikablo Used?

The answer might surprise you.

Visual thinking isn't limited to artists or designers.

Today, you'll find bikablo methods being used by:

• Facilitators
• Trainers
• Coaches
• Consultants
• Educators
• Project Managers
• HR Professionals
• IT Teams
• Leadership Teams
• Business Owners

I've personally used visual thinking in marketing strategy sessions, customer journey mapping workshops, HubSpot implementations, board meetings, training programs, and process improvement projects.

The applications are almost endless.

Beyond Sketchnotes

You may have heard terms such as:

• Sketchnoting
• Graphic Recording
• Visual Facilitation
• Visual Process Mapping

These are all part of the broader visual thinking movement.

Sketchnoting helps individuals learn and remember.

Graphic recording captures conversations and events.

Visual facilitation helps groups think together.

Visual process mapping helps organizations understand and improve how work gets done.

The bikablo method provides a common visual language that can be applied across all of these disciplines.

Why I Fell in Love With It

I first discovered visual facilitation several years ago and was immediately fascinated.

As someone with a background in marketing, strategy, facilitation, and training, I found that visual thinking brought all of those worlds together.

It helped me communicate more clearly.

It helped me facilitate better conversations.

And perhaps most importantly, it helped people engage more deeply with the ideas we were exploring.

Over the years I continued learning—taking courses, filling notebooks, attending workshops, and practicing whenever I could.

What began as curiosity eventually became a passion.

And today, it is an honour to serve as the bikablo® Global Trainer for Canada.

So... What Is bikablo?

If I had to explain it in a single sentence, I'd say:

bikablo is a visual language that helps people think, learn, communicate, and collaborate more effectively.

It isn't about creating beautiful drawings.

It's about making ideas visible.

And when ideas become visible, remarkable things can happen

Interested in learning more?

This summer I'll be bringing official bikablo® trainings to Canada, including courses in Kentville, Halifax, and Toronto.

Whether you think of yourself as creative or not, you may be surprised by what happens when you pick up a marker and start thinking visually. Learn more about bikablo here and browse our training dates here