I’m happy to have contributed once again, through live graphic recording, to supporting my colleagues at the European Commission working on the Large-scale Review (LSR) initiative.
“What we call the Large-scale Review is the first organisation-wide review in over 20 years […] where colleagues from across the Commission have examined the way we work, identifying where we can simplify processes, strengthen collaboration and make our organisation fit for today’s challenges.”
— Stephen Quest, Director-General for Human Resources
My contribution to this major collective effort to modernise the Institution has not been limited to graphic recording. I have also helped facilitate meetings using participatory and visual methods, conducted a large survey of managers, and taken part in many conversations along the way.
Capturing nine months of work in real time
In July 2026, the first results of nine months of work were presented to all staff at a large meeting.
My task was to capture a live visual summary of the discussion, covering dozens of recommendations across 15 workstreams, grouped into three clusters.
The task was not easy, given the volume, diversity and depth of the content. There were also some specific challenges and constraints.
- First, the recording had to remain strictly factual. I had to capture what was said without adding interpretation or missing key points. This is quite different from my usual practice. Normally, I tend to listen more deeply and create a visual meta-synthesis that reflects the underlying ideas, connections and patterns. In this case, however, the role was closer to documenting the discussion faithfully in real time.
- Then there was the pace. Speakers moved quickly, some read from prepared notes, and a series of important messages followed one another with very little transition.
In the end, the graphic recording was well received and shared with all European Commission staff as a supplement to the official communication.
More than a recording
Beyond the recommendations themselves, I’m delighted to see visual thinking gaining momentum.
As a tool for better thinking, collaboration and sense-making, it is increasingly being woven into our “New Ways of Working” and into our transformation journey.
After twenty-five years of practising this craft, it is rewarding to see it becoming more recognised in my organisation. I’m proud to be able to pass on this know-how and contribute to developing these skills among my colleagues. As I said in my other post about the first LSR all-staff meeting:
“The European Commission needs more creativity and innovative thinking to meet the complex challenges of today’s world. Visual thinking is a skill to be relearned, not just a tool, and it can help achieve this.”
And perhaps this is one of the most interesting aspects of the LSR journey for me: not only what we are changing, but also how we think, collaborate and make sense of complex issues together.
What do you think?
If you are a staff member of one of the EU institutions, you might want to spend a day with me and Célia Pessaud on the StartSketch course, where we explore the basics of sketchnoting. It can open up new perspectives on how you work with information, communicate and think visually.
If you are interested, search for “StartSketch” on EU Learn, or simply get in touch with me.
What do you think about the role of visual thinking in large-scale organisational change?
