Luma

Visualize The Vote

Visualize the Vote makes group preferences visible, leading to democratic decision-making. It uses visual polling to harness collective intelligence and spark productive discussions. This exercise is part of the LUMA collection. Consider this method to curate design directions, identify strong concepts after ideation, prioritize options, or build consensus.

Duration
30 mins
Group Size
4-12
Category
Luma
Difficulty
Easy
Energy
Medium

Objectives

Participants will democratize decision-making, visualize group preferences, build consensus through transparency, reveal thematic patterns, speed up decision processes, and enable productive discussions.

Outcomes

Tangible outcomes include visualized voting results, democratic decisions, and a clear understanding of group preferences.

Step-by-Step Instructions


  1. Display options. Arrange items for voting where everyone can see them.

  2. Define voting criteria. Explain what you're optimizing for.

  3. Distribute voting tokens. For single-choice voting, give each person 1 token. For multi-voting, give 3-5 tokens. For detailed voting, use different colored tokens for different criteria (e.g., red for "no", green for "yes", yellow for "neutral").

  4. Present each option. Briefly describe each concept if needed.

  5. Vote simultaneously. Everyone places tokens at once to avoid influencing others.

  6. Use specific placement. For detailed feedback, place tokens on specific elements.

  7. Make results visible. Count and display vote tallies immediately.

  8. Discuss patterns. What got the most votes? Why?

  9. Allow vote changes. Offer a chance to revote after discussion.

  10. Document decisions. Capture both results and reasoning.

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Facilitator Tips

For early design definition, use images of cars and celebrities alongside interface elements to define the "feeling" of an app. Use color strategically: red/green for yes/no, different colors for different evaluation criteria. Multiple detail votes on one area indicate strong interest. Start with quiet voting before discussion to get unbiased initial preferences. Document everything; photograph results before moving items. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, strong personalities can still dominate the discussion. Be prepared to gently redirect and ensure everyone's voice is heard.

Pre-Work

For Facilitators

  • Review participant profiles and expectations
  • Prepare all materials and supplies
  • Test technology and room setup

For Participants

  • Complete pre-session survey
  • Review background materials
  • Prepare examples or case studies

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Materials Required


  • Sticky dots or notes in multiple colors (red, green, yellow, minimum)

  • Wall space or boards for display

  • Markers for labeling

  • Camera for documentation

  • Clear criteria cards

  • Tally sheets for recording

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Resources & Templates

Visualize the Vote template
A way to quickly reveal preferences and opinions

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