The Wish
For over 10 years, I have been conducting seminars, illustrations, graphic recording, and explainer videos. I love my work and still feel the same enthusiasm for my clients as I did on the first day. To be honest, maybe even a little more. I know that my profession is not a given, and I can hardly believe every time how many inspiring, kind, smart, and friendly people I get to work with and what exciting projects we implement together. I am deeply grateful for each and every one of them.
And yet. For some time now, something has been burning under my nails. I have ants in my pants, and my thoughts are flirting with a new flame. I want to try something new. Something into which I can pour all my existing skills. Something that challenges me in all areas. Something for which I need to learn new things and try the unfamiliar. And I know what that something is: my own online video courses. Plural.
The Beginning
Last summer, I started to bring this dream a little closer to reality. I began watching tutorials on how to set up a professional video setup. And then I actually started building this video studio. Many incorrectly connected cables, a short circuit in the floor above that we won’t discuss further, and a little accident with a ladder (after two months, walking was going quite well again) later, the studio was ready. And I began. Not by recording videos, but by thinking about what I should do with it now.
The Plan
It was less the lack than the abundance of ideas that gave me a headache. There was so much I wanted to research and talk about. So much that seemed to have potential. In the end, I chose the topic that I am most familiar with and have been teaching for a decade: designing flipcharts. I thought starting with something I know well is a good idea, as this way I wouldn’t struggle so much with the content and could focus on all the topics that are new and consequently more than challenging enough. So, topic decided, start of the concept phase. How can I condense all the knowledge I have gathered over such a long time into a compact, entertaining, and engaging online course? Many colorful Post-its, a somewhat worn yellow notebook, and long conversations with friends, colleagues, clients, and the best partner helped me tie together my many thoughts, ideas, and islands of knowledge into a course concept.
With that, filming could begin. Easy. Totally. I can do this. Quick. It can’t be that hard. Just start. Loohooosss. Start.
The Implementation
I realized that there is not only the fear of the blank page but also the fear of the black camera. After such a long time dreaming of turning my dream into reality, the actual implementation suddenly seemed infinitely terrifying. Why? I believe it’s because I knew that with the attempt comes the final answer as to whether my dream learns to walk or bursts. Because it’s easy to toss ideas around in your head, but it’s something entirely different to implement them and present them to the world with wounded knees and trembling hands. Because there are many people out there who seem to be able to do everything perfectly and with total confidence. And because I know that everything is cooked with water and homemade…
For a while, the video studio stood there quite lonely and abandoned, looking at me reproachfully. Then I remembered how it was when I started drawing professionally. Back then, I was very dissatisfied with my drawing skills, and the critics in my head (“Real artists went to art school. You didn’t even apply there.”) were very loud. And I found that there is something that helps deal with them: just let them talk and do. So, I did the same with my video setup. The little inner fear monsters sat there grumbling in the corner, watching me as I recorded video after video and take after take. I told myself it was just for testing. So, no stress. Not serious. We’re just trying this out. And so I kept experimenting for hours and days. Until I suddenly realized: I have a course :)
At some point, the little monsters got bored watching me film and scurried off to the playground. Or under the bed of a child from the neighborhood - I’m not quite sure. But I hope it’s the former. And I, I could hardly believe that I was right in the middle of it. Right in the middle of implementing my online course.
The Final Touch
There were a few minor ups (overwhelmingly positive and super helpful feedback from the test users) and downs (the impossibility of coming to an agreement with myself on how the design of the handouts should look, leading to numerous variations until I found one I was satisfied with). But I felt: my course train is charging full steam ahead out of my head into the real world.
Building the online platform was a bit like putting together a Lego castle. Only instead of Lego bricks, it consisted of drop-down menus, video embedding codes, QR codes, .pdf downloads, and text blocks. All that was left was the landing page (a webpage that explains what’s inside and why it’s great) and voilà. There was a course. And the time had come to present it to the world.
The Starting Signal
There is a new online course. It’s called Designing Flipcharts, and I would be very, very happy if you could take a look at it.
So, dear world, pay attention: Here is the online course “Designing Flipcharts”. Let me know what you think. I appreciate any feedback. Any input (big or small - bring it on!). Every participant (and every recommendation) helps:
- Feedback on what I can still improve, add, or rearrange
- Recommendation of the course to people who might find the topic interesting
- Tips and tricks on how to best reach those who can benefit from such a course (as this is the last phase that is now beginning)
Because building online courses has only just begun…
