This blog post is a professional fan letter, a heartfelt hat tip to Bryan Mathers of Visual Thinkery fame. Over the past ten years his creative genius has provided me with so much inspiration that when I started looking for projects I could refer back to by searching my blog and my archive for work we have done together, there were too many examples to count.
From playful remixes and conference campaigns to organisational strategies and international frameworks, I have been lucky to work with Bryan. We first met around a ministerial meeting table in Westminster when I was a brand new CEO, a rookie at influencing policy and finding my voice.
As you can see from the photo that headlines this blog post, I still have my rookie sticker and badge. Reminding me regularly that being new at something, learning something new, is a powerful position to be in. It’s a privilege and the same can be said for many of the initiatives I have worked on with Bryan over the years and fortunately I continue to do so across Open Education and beyond.
Over the years Bryan and I have become friends and I was grateful to meet up with him recently and swap ideas for new ventures that we are each working on. It reminded me how often over we’ve met up for conversations like this over the years, at conferences and in parks, after a busy session of Visual Thinkery or a quiet pint celebrating the end of an event. Bryan never gives me advice, but he so often says the right thing, and helps me see things differently. He’s been a source of encouragement and support as well as someone who has excellent judgement.
Bryan describes listening as his superpower, and I would add kindness and patience to the list of these. Creative genius and artistic skill may be what makes everything he creates pop and sparkle, but it’s the deep humanity that creates the connections that have us send his conference stickers across oceans via post, and treasure zines and t-shirts for years afterwards.
I have a Bryan drawer in my desk, where I keep all the treasures I have collected over the years, and every time I open it there is a little spark of connection, inspiration and joy.
So here’s to you, Bryan!
I’ll be a fan #4life.
Thank you Maren – I really appreciate your kind words. I was saying to someone not half an hour ago, that my work is made a lot easier when the stuff I’m trying to absorb is interesting – and I’ve always found that when working alongside you! Long may it continue.
More power to your elbow.
🙂
Bryan