The last few posts I shared some of the techniques I like to use with my clients to make the most of the limited space on the board or printed page. Another way to overcome this challenge is to use 3-D. Adding an extra dimension can help you:

• associate related concepts or elements to increase understanding and buyin
• pack more elements onto the board or page without overwhelming the audience
• give a more professional look
• add depth, motion, or movement; give your drawing legs

For example, perhaps you are faced with having to show or capture three related perspectives. With just two, a square works just fine (look at all the things you can do with a 2 x 2 matrix!) In this situation consider using a cube. Cubes are easy to draw with a little practice and give you three surfaces to work with.

I have also used a large, three-dimensional arrow that is drawn to look like it is pointing into the wall to capture the major steps to achieving a goal. This arrow tool is very effective when you are facilitating a group of any size. For an example see Grove's 5 Bold Steps diagram. It is effective for achieving the focus and shared vision mentioned in Jim Kraft's comments about using whiteboards and visualization for conducting productive meetings.

What are some of your favorite images or tools using 3-D? Please click on the comments link below to share. It will be interesting to see everyone else's picks.