ORB brings visual thinking to TEDxBrum

ORB was invited to help drive the creative juices at Birmingham’s first ever TEDx by facilitating its visual thinking approach to some of the city’s greatest thinkers, leaders and do-ers as they considered the theme of The Next Revolution.

The inspirational day of talks, performance and films focused on ideas for Birmingham’s next revolution. ORB MD Rob Bloxham spoke second on the day, introducing delegates to the concept of visual thinking, which Rob first stumbled upon as he struggled to learn at school through normal note taking.

He offered starters for ten, including the idea of moving the British Parliament to Birmingham and creating No 10 Broad Street.

Rob urged delegates to follow his lead and take visual notes throughout the day and share them on makeshift whiteboards stuck up around the mac where TEDxBrum took place. ORB facilitators and illustrators were on hand to provoke discussion, help groups who were struggling and encourage everyone to reveal their inner artist.

Birmingham’s inaugural TEDx event brought the TED spirit of ‘ideas worth spreading’ to the city for the first time. The aim was to spark deep conversations and connections, bringing together people from different backgrounds from across the city to inspire both thought and action.

TED created the TEDx programme, a series of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.