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Visual Strategy Intensive
facilitated by Look Loud, hosting support by Training for Change
Visual Strategy Intensive
for movements defending civic life
Are you working to build movements that bash back fascists and demand affordability, safety and dignity for all people? Are you looking for more tools to help our movements look and feel as powerful as we know they are?
The Visual Strategy intensive is a deep dive into the practical mechanics and theory of how visuals help our movements build power. Robust visual strategy provides connective tissue between the organizing on the ground and the story we need to communicate to the public. It helps us garner media attention, grow our numbers, raise more money, and deepen the participation of many kinds of people in our movements. Using visuals strategically requires us to master lots of kinds of skills: messaging development, fabrication, action staging, and documentation, and thoughtful facilitation of the process of each step. Despite its vast utility in movements, there are very few spaces available to hone the craft of developing comprehensive, rigorous visual strategy–and this training aims to help fill that gap.
This weeklong intensive is aimed at building the rapport and shared vocabulary required to deepen our movement’s visual strategy community of practice. The workshop will be facilitated by Look Loud ( Josh Yoder and Rachel Schragis) drawing from lessons and stories from a combined 30+ years of visual strategy work. The training will include a wide mix of slide talks and storytelling, group discussions, and hands-on practice of every stage of development of visuals.
2026 edition: getting ready to meet the moment as midterms loom
This year’s intensive arrives as our current national government regime vies to control midterm elections and seize more power. By August, we expect our movements to be pivoting our attention towards substantive efforts we must take during and after midterm elections.
This year where possible, we will be prioritizing applicants who are preparing to integrate visual strategies into organizing plans to keep authoritarian hands off the vote or other major planning for the fall.
The intensive will pull examples from Look Loud’s past and emerging work for election protection, bringing participants into development of their and their partner’s visual strategies for the moments about to commence. Participants will level up their visual strategy skills with an eye to the specific narrative + tactical challenges this moment brings, and open space to cross-pollinate and plan to build our movement’s visual power together in the months to come.
Want to know more about Look Loud? The best way is to check out their instagram.
Workshop facilitators Rachel Schragis and Josh Yoder from Look Loud
As a participant, you will
- Practice facilitating messaging brainstorms, using examples around ICE, affordability crisis, authoritarian overreach and others
- Learn assembly-line fabrication techniques for signs and banners
- Testing out designs that prefigure the storytelling our movements will need to share during and after the midterms
- Level up your digital design skills to produce design experiments for your organizing back home
- Practice staging rallies, marches and sit-ins to maximize impactful storytelling and press
- Discuss best practices for integrating visual strategy into campaign planning, and cultivating visual strategy leaders and teams
Who should apply?
- This worship is designed for applicants who are actively involved with movement organizations or community groups, as a volunteer or staff with a focus in organizing, communications, or design work. We also welcome designers and artists that serve multiple movement groups!
- The workshop is appropriate for people of all skill levels at visual production and art-curious organizers and comms people equally welcome. It is ideal for people who are looking to broaden their skillsets and build a community of peers.
- Do you work closely with a small team? You’re definitely welcome to apply with a buddy from your organization or coalition
- Priority will be given to applicants engaged in election defense planning or other movement efforts that defend and rebuild civic life in the face of authoritarian overreach.
If you’re not sure if this workshop is right for you, feel free to be in touch before you submit an application!
Workshop format
Required virtual preparation session
August 5th 8-10pm ET, 5-7pm PT: Pre- session on zoom (required):
In-person dates and schedule
August 17th: Arrival by 4pm, Training and practice sessions 5:30pm-9pm, (dinner provided)
August 18th: Training and practice sessions 9am-9pm (breakfast offered before session, lunch and dinner provided)
August 19th: Training and practice sessions 9am-9pm (breakfast offered before session, lunch and dinner provided)
August 20th: Training and practice sessions 9am-9pm (breakfast offered before session, lunch and dinner provided)
August 21st: Training 9am-3pm(breakfast offered before session, lunch provided)
This is a participatory, practice-based workshop that will include slideshows, storytelling, technical demonstrations, group discussions, and self-directed practice sessions. Most days will follow a format of study together during the day, and cranking up the music while we make art together at night. This is a fun and rigorous workshop, as participants stretch themselves and try on a variety of new technical skills in the context of more abstract questions and ideas.
The workshop is designed as an experiential package with each session building on the previous one. To create the best learning environment possible, we do not allow partial attendance – you must commit to take the entire workshop, including the including pre-session on Zoom on August 5th. We will provide short and extended breaks within our agenda, including breaks during meal times, and encourage participants to take care of themselves so that they can stay fully present. Please contact us in advance if you have questions about the hours or format of this workshop.
How much does it cost?
This workshop has a sliding scale fee of $150-$3,000 based on ability to pay. This fee covers lodging, meals, trainer time, and materials. Full scholarships, as well as childcare stipends, are also available on a needs-basis.
Childcare and Workshop Accessibility
The workshop can include days as long as 12 hours, with short and long breaks throughout.
The format is highly participatory, including movement-based activities which may involve jumping, walking, stretching, or lifting your arms over your head. We aim to adjust activities as needed to meet the needs of the participants, and encourage you to note in your application if you have mobility-related access needs.
This workshop will take place at a retreat center where buildings can be a 5-10 minute walk apart, and participants should anticipate having to walk across campus for meals. Seating is typically standard conference-center style chairs, and lighting is typically bright overhead lighting. Housing includes private and shared rooms. Please let us know in your application or be in touch directly accessibility requests.
The venue is wheelchair accessible for smaller wheelchairs. If you have a larger wheelchair and have access questions, please contact us directly.
We don’t share full agendas before the workshop but if you have questions about the workshop format that will help you maximize your learning please let us know.
We have limited cash stipends available for parents and caregivers arranging care back home, to make the workshop more accessible. Stipends are offered on an as-needed basis.
What are the COVID protocols?
This is an in-person training. Our COVID protocols are as follows. If you have questions about these protocols, please contact us.
Vaccination: Although strongly encouraged, COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend this workshop. Some participants may not have received vaccination prior to the workshop.
Masks: Mask-wearing is not mandated during this workshop. We encourage and support voluntary mask-wearing, but it is not required, unless there is a known exposure during the workshop. We ask that everyone wear a mask during their travel to the workshop.
Testing: All participants and trainers will be asked to rapid test each day before the training begins. Rapid tests will be provided.
Other Protocol: If someone learns during the workshop that they’ve had exposure (i.e. family member back home tests positive), we will disclose this to the group. They will be asked to show proof of a negative rapid test each day, before attending this workshop. If a workshop participant tests positive or experiences symptoms during the workshop, they will not be permitted back into the workshop. We will disclose to the group, offer a fee refund and offer reasonable support around travel back home or quarantine. If someone tests positive for covid or experiences symptoms within 14 days after the workshop, we will share this information with all participants so they can determine if they need to get tested or take other measures. If the workshop is canceled for all participants due to COVID-19 exposure or risk, we will offer a refund for participant fees.
