How Visual Activities Can Make Your Meetings More Engaging

As a product marketer with over a decade of experience, I’ve had my fair share of meetings—some great, others... well, let’s just say they could’ve been more exciting. Early in my career, I discovered that meetings don’t have to be boring. One of my game-changing moments came during my time at Stanford, where I was part of design thinking workshops at the d.school. This experience completely reshaped how I think about meetings and collaboration.

Back then, I was working on transforming how Stanford Healthcare handled risk cases. We needed to engage multiple stakeholders, make critical decisions, and—most importantly—keep the room invested in the process. That's where design thinking came into play. Through The Risk Authority, we reimagined risk management and built strategies that brought the team together in more creative, interactive ways. Visual activities were at the heart of it all.

Now, as a product marketer leading go-to-market (GTM) launches, I’ve carried these lessons into my day-to-day work, using visual techniques to keep teams engaged and aligned. If you’ve ever sat through a meeting that felt more like a black hole of time, you know the importance of this!

Why Visual Activities Matter

Whether you’re launching a new product or aligning teams across multiple functions, meetings can be one of the trickiest aspects of driving progress. You need everyone on board, focused, and contributing meaningfully. That’s where visual activities come in. Here’s why they work:

• They drive creativity: When people see ideas in front of them, new connections are made.

• They hold attention: Visuals give people something to focus on, reducing the mental drift we’ve all experienced.

• They simplify complex ideas: If you’ve got a tough concept to explain, visuals help break it down.

The Stanford Design Thinking Influence

At Stanford, we were transforming the way our risk management department worked. It was a process-heavy environment, but with the right visual tools, we turned what could’ve been dry, drawn-out meetings into creative problem-solving sessions. We used visual timelines, role-playing, and mind mapping to make sure every meeting had purpose and energy. And believe me, these aren’t just buzzwords—they work.

Tips for More Engaging Meetings Using Visuals

Now, let’s get into some actionable tips. These are methods I’ve used from Stanford to leading product launches, and they can make a big difference in keeping your team engaged:

1. Mind Mapping

This is my go-to for brainstorming. Whether it’s in-person or digital, mind maps are a great way to capture and organize ideas. They allow people to see connections in real time, which sparks new thoughts and directions that you might miss with linear note-taking.

2. Sketching

I’m not talking about fine art. Sketching is just another way of visualizing ideas. Have your team sketch their concepts, no matter how basic. When people draw out their thoughts, they engage with the ideas differently, often leading to deeper insights.

3. Role-Playing

It might sound uncomfortable at first, but having your team play out different scenarios—like customer interactions or potential problems—helps everyone see the bigger picture. I’ve found this to be especially useful when I’m prepping for a product launch and want to anticipate challenges.

4. Collaborative Whiteboarding

Digital whiteboards like Miro or Google Jamboard have become invaluable. They allow the whole team to contribute and visually see the progress of ideas, which fosters more dynamic and productive discussions. Everyone gets to play a part, and that’s key for engagement.

5. Journey Mapping

When you’re dealing with customer experiences or product lifecycles, mapping out the entire journey helps teams understand where the pain points are and where opportunities lie. It's not just about seeing the big picture—it's about visually tracking every step along the way.

The Takeaway

Meetings should never feel like a waste of time. By incorporating these visual activities, you can keep your team engaged, creative, and moving toward the end goal. These methods are tried and tested, from my time at Stanford’s d.school to launching products with teams today. So next time you’re planning a meeting, think about how you can bring some visual flair to keep everyone involved.

What visual techniques have you used to drive better meetings? Let’s connect and chat about what works for your team!