Michelle Geerlings
Michelle is a visual strategist with 5+ years of experience leading design and strategy projects. She holds a Msc degree in Strategic Product Design from TU Delft (The Netherlands). During her studies, she also founded her own studio. Since then, she has worked across the globe, from studying in Sweden, advising companies in Japan, and helping build a startup in Kenya.
She now serves as Director DACH at Flatland Agency, where she is establishing the Zurich branch and works with executive teams on strategy, vision, and leadership development. Michelle has facilitated countless conversations, workshops, and transformation processes, capturing complex ideas in clear visualisations and translating vision into actionable steps. A dedicated Mural/Miro enthusiast, who strongly believes in co-creation and the power of visual thinking to navigate complexity.
About the sessions
Co-creating Meaning Through Visualisation: Leading Insights Gained in 13 Years of Visual Thinking Projects
How can we turn overwhelming information into experiences that truly make sense? In this keynote, the Visual Strategists from Flatland share a client story where visual thinking became the key to designing for meaning. Through a blend of strategy, visualization, and collaboration, you’ll see how visual methods help teams uncover purpose, structure complexity, and let information really resonate. Learn the key insights how drawing can become a thinking tool, bridging purpose and experience through design.
Learn Visual Thinking Techniques to Make Sense of Complexity (Workshop)
In a world of increasing complexity, leaders need new ways to make sense of information, align teams, and drive strategic clarity. This interactive workshop explores how visual design thinking is transforming the way professionals think, collaborate, and lead – through simple drawings and structured visual tools.
Join visual strategists Michelle Geerlings and Bob van Putten for a dynamic workshop filled with real-world examples from innovation, strategy, and change-making contexts. Discover how visualization enhances problem-solving, unlocks creativity in decision-making, and supports alignment in high-stakes environments – even if you don’t consider yourself a visual artist. Expect not just inspiration, but practical insights and hands-on exercises that demonstrate how even non-designers can integrate visual thinking into their daily work – and lead with clarity in complexity.
In this workshop, you will learn how to:
- Facilitate co-creation and decision-making with visual frameworks and canvases.
- Use visual tools to clarify complex challenges and support strategic conversations.
- Apply simple drawing techniques to improve communication and collaboration.
- Integrate visual thinking into your own workflows—regardless of your role or design experience.