№ 86 | Assess and Manage Risk, URL Parts, TLDraw Computer, Dark Patterns Detective Game, and Joy Cards (+ Assorted New Years stuff!)

№ 86 | Assess and Manage Risk, URL Parts, TLDraw Computer, Dark Patterns Detective Game, and Joy Cards (+ Assorted New Years stuff!)

Happy New Year! 🎉

I am back with plenty more ‘playful things to think with’ and the occasional stray commentary.

Assess and Manage Risk

Here are two visuals related to risk, both from Olina Glindev (aka “The Visual Agile Coach”).

The first, is a simple illustration explaining how to assess risk based on probability and impact.

4 Illustrations represent different ways to assess risk, each involving a length of water to cross (probability) and the presence of a shark or no shark (impact).

The second is a framework to manage identified risks, entitled ROAM as it’s an acronym for Resolve, Own, Accept, and Mitigate.

Sketchnote illustration of a 2x2 grid, with four boxes for Resolved, Owned, Accepted, and Mitigated risks.

Now, for a fun visual collaboration challenge: You lead a small team. What visual modifications would you make to integrate both of these models into one?

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Too easy? Let’s make this more challenging! Read this short post by John Cutler describing 6 Team Contexts; now, also integrate the specific types of risks associated with each team type. 🤪

Contact sheet from John Cutlers short document that identifies 6 Team Contexts, and characteristics of each.
6 Team Contexts, as identified by John Cutler

[Sidenote: These are the kinds of things we explore in my Visual Collaboration workshops—how to use visual encodings and spatial arrangement to support lots of information]

URL Parts

What are the parts of a URL? I think I’ll print this out and put it on my wall. Even better: You can paste any URL to quickly learn what’s going on. Feedback loops and personalization FTW!

Screenshot of a URL, with all the various parts color-coded and labeled.

TLDraw Computer

If you haven’t yet played with tldraw computer, you should do so. ASAP. I gave a talk last year on The Future of Visual Collaboration, and it’s this type of stuff that I was exploring. Pitched as “an infinite canvas for natural language computing,” I believe tldraw computer (along with similar explorations from Orion Reed and Lu Wilson) hints at some of the untapped potential of the infinite canvas. And, the value of making your thoughts visible.

Screenshot from the TLDraw Computer web site.

Here’s a brief teaser video:

Dark Patterns Detective Game

Dark Patterns Detective Game is fun way “to help you spot sneaky design tricks online,” and in the process learn about the psychology behind these deceptive patterns. I love the reframing here, from what could have been a simple page with examples (<yawn> boring), to that of an interactive challenge—‘can YOU identify every pattern?’

Screenshot from the Dark Patterns Detective Game.

Joy Cards

In a sea of card design sameness, these bright and cheerful Joy Cards from Eugene Korsunskiy are refreshing. And I of course love what these are about: Tiny ways to infuse joy and delight into your work, in the classroom and beyond!

Animated gif cycling through various cards from the Joy Cards card deck.

This year…

It wouldn’t be a new year’s issue without SOME mention of resolutions, goals, etc. With that disclaimer, here are some things I picked up over the break:

1️⃣ First, this simple 3/3/3 method for structuring the day from Oliver Burkeman
(author of the book Four Thousand Weeks) is definitely something I am keen to try:

Every normal working day, my intention is:to spend three hours on my most important current project, having defined some kind of specific goal for the progress I aim to make on it that day;to complete three shorter tasks, usually urgent to-dos or "sticky" tasks I've been avoiding, usually just a few minutes each (I count calls and meetings here, too); andto dedicate time to three 'maintenance activities', things that need my daily attention in order to keep life running smoothly.

2️⃣ There’s this bingo sheet alternative to new year’s resolutions:

A gentle soul on Twitter ages ago got me to change from making new years resolutions to making a bingo card of different things I wanted to try and do in the new year.

This massively improved my life. Instead of a big-stakes failbomb, I have a mix of big to small goals that let me incrementally work towards larger goals

It's also great to see your progress throughout the year!

Also I give myself a little treat whenever I complete a new bingo, which rules.

3️⃣ …which happens to pair well with this plan to create a treasure trove of rewards

4️⃣ If you’re feeling a bit reflective, the YearCompass 2024|2025 from Michelle Lu is a booklet that helps you reflect on the past year and plan the next one.

5️⃣ For even more reflection and goal setting tools, my friend Emilia Åström offers a roundup of her annual reflection tools. And, she's offering a free collaborative vision workshop this Wednesday! 🎉

Screenshot of a Team History Map 2023, loaded with photos from throughout the year, arranged on an outdoor landscape illustration background.

6️⃣ Finally, you should definitely check out this little workbook from Jason Mesut!

Animated gif cycling through assorted visual reflection activities.

Oh, what the heck. Here’s a couple more resources:

7️⃣ For personal reflection with a team focus, Greg Storey shares Replay and Reset for 2025, a “simple yet powerful activity to help you turn your reflection into actionable steps.” Bonus: Here’s a Loom overview. And, there’s a free webinar on January 23rd!

Screenshot of the "Replay and Rest' Figma board.

[Sidenote: I also like for another reason, as it’s another example of a card deck AND a gameboard/canvas]

8️⃣ Finally (for real this time), don’t forget that a ‘Do Not’ list is as important (if not more?) as a ‘To Do’ list. As in, ‘In the evening, after crawling into bed to go to sleep, I will not look at a screen device!’

🤪

Read more

№ 84 | The StoryTelling Leader, Content Patterns, Defining Transdisciplinary Research, the Serious Games Idea Deck, the Map of Board Games, and Andrew Garfield and Elmo on Grief

№ 84 | The StoryTelling Leader, Content Patterns, Defining Transdisciplinary Research, the Serious Games Idea Deck, the Map of Board Games, and Andrew Garfield and Elmo on Grief

The StoryTelling Leader I recently started following David Hutchens on LinkedIn. As it turns out… I already I own two of his books (Circle of the 9 Muses and Outlearning the Wolves) and his card deck (below) 🤪. Anyway, when it comes to narratives—specifically leadership stories—he knows his stuff!

By Stephen P. Anderson