Visual Communication

Enjoy drawing from a different model each week Tuesday, to an eclectic compilation of sounds, in a friendly welcoming community and local artist host, Anna @LAD. These sessions are held in-person and sometimes offering an online element too, in the home of this group, in the heart of Finsbury Park in a quirky and cosy cafe setting. Sip your favourite beverage whilst drawing. This session has a midway break and vibrant friendliest atmosphere, headed by Anna Niman. All welcome to drop by and join in and draw.

A fun and hands on introduction to LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, ideal for those who have not experienced the method before. After being welcomed by our experienced facilitator Sean Blair, you will explore building models as an individual and as a group. You will become practiced at several methods of communication and learn to hear and understand others, all using LEGO! Following the workshop we will send you a free pdf copy of the book "SeriousWork" - a hands on guide to using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® yourself (5\*\*\*\*\* reviewed book that sells for £25 on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Facilitate-Meetings-Workshops-Serious-Method/dp/0995664706) Ideal for those who are interested in participatory leadership, better communication and creativity. If you have attended a taster workshop before, you are welcome to attend but please note this introductory workshop will be a similar experience.

Join our weekly Walthamstow Meetups and play some games with us! **💜Everybody Welcome:** We meet up every week to play a bunch of modern board games, card games and party games in pubs. If you would like to get involved, RSVP to the event. You can bring games with you if you like, although not a requirement. 🌱**Something For Everyone:** Whether you're a seasoned board game veteran or just starting out, you're welcome. No previous experience necessary, we go through the rules before playing. We play a range of games, from lighter card and party games to epic strategies. **📌Where:** We meet at the **The Village Club** in Walthamstow, which is a 10 minute walk from Walthamstow Central underground station.. When you arrive please press the buzzer to gain entry. Just say you are joining the board game group. Come say hello and the event hosts will get you settled in. The Village Club is a member's club but you can attend our board game evening without becoming a member. As the space will stay open for the use of our group the expectation is that you will buy a drink or two to cover the cost of the bar staff. If you so wish you have the option of joining the club in future for £10 a year. ⌚**When**: * **18:30** \- Arrival & Game Sign Up * **19:00** \- Games Begin * **23:00** \- Venue Closes If you arrive after games begin, you may have to wait until the next game starts. If you are running late on the night, please do let us know. **👥Community** **Hosted:** We'll always get folks involved, but you can join the community and sign up for games in advance! Many games played on the night get organised ahead of time. Come join the fun at **https://discord.gg/mHZSKq2** 📸**Photos:** Help us satiate the algorithm-beast, upload photos of your favorite games and consenting participants! When taking photos please do make sure that people in the photos are comfortable to appear in them. **💫Food** 🍴 Drinks are available and crisps. You can order food to be delivered if you wish.

This coming Tuesday we'll be looking at the work of **Banksy**! Come and learn with us for a relaxed time of discussion and exploration. *If you come after 6.45 please ring the doorbell!*

**Can’t make it to San Francisco for the Data + AI Summit?** No problem. We’re bringing the best bits to London. **[Join the Databricks Watch Party](https://events.databricks.com/DAIS-watch-party-London-2026/registration)** *Please note, this is a Databricks-organised event and is subject to capacity, please await approval before making travel plans.* Join the Databricks London community for a live watch party where we’ll tune into key sessions from Data + AI Summit 2026, share reactions in real time, and catch up with others working in data, AI, and analytics. This isn’t just sitting in a room watching a stream. It’s a chance to: * Hear the latest from Databricks as it happens * Swap ideas and views with others in the London data community * Get a clearer take on what actually matters from the announcements * Meet new faces over good food, drinks, and proper conversation We’ll focus on the sessions that matter most, with space in between to chat through what we’ve just seen and what it means in practice. Whether you’re hands-on with the platform, leading a data team, or just keeping a close eye on where things are heading, you’ll come away with a useful perspective and a few new connections. **Register here:** **[Join the Databricks Watch Party](https://events.databricks.com/DAIS-watch-party-London-2026/registration)** *Please note, this is a Databricks-organised event and is subject to capacity, please await approval before making travel plans.* | | | --- | |

Description: Join us for an engaging and interactive lecture that explores the art of in-person communication and its profound impact on our personal and professional lives. In this dynamic session, we will delve into the essential skills, strategies, and insights necessary to navigate face-to-face interactions with confidence and effectiveness. In an increasingly digital age, the ability to connect with others in person remains a cornerstone of successful relationships, collaborations, and personal growth. This lecture aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the key elements that contribute to effective in-person communication. During this enlightening session, we will cover the following topics: 1. Active Listening: Listening is a fundamental aspect of communication, yet it is often overlooked. We will explore the art of active listening, which involves attentive focus, empathy, and understanding. Participants will learn practical techniques to enhance their listening skills and foster deeper connections. 2. Non-Verbal Communication: Body language, facial expressions, and gestures play a crucial role in conveying messages and establishing rapport. We will examine the nuances of non-verbal communication and offer insights into how to utilize it effectively to enhance understanding and build trust. 3. Verbal Communication: From articulating ideas clearly to adapting communication styles to suit different audiences, we will explore the components of effective verbal communication. Participants will gain practical tips on expressing themselves confidently, persuasively, and with clarity. 4. Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing emotions is paramount in establishing meaningful connections. We will delve into the concept of emotional intelligence, equipping participants with strategies to recognize and regulate their own emotions while empathizing with others. 5. Conflict Resolution: Conflicts are an inevitable part of human interactions. We will discuss techniques for navigating conflicts in a constructive and respectful manner, fostering cooperation, and finding mutually beneficial solutions. 6. Building Rapport and Connection: Creating a genuine connection is essential for fostering trust and collaboration. We will explore strategies for building rapport, including building common ground, demonstrating empathy, and creating a positive and supportive atmosphere. 7. Overcoming Communication Barriers: Language barriers, cultural differences, and diverse perspectives can pose challenges in communication. We will provide insights into overcoming these barriers, fostering inclusivity, and promoting effective cross-cultural communication. Through interactive exercises, role-playing, and real-life examples, participants will have the opportunity to practice and refine their in-person communication skills. They will leave the lecture with increased self-awareness, enhanced interpersonal skills, and the confidence to engage in meaningful, impactful conversations. Note: This lecture is open to individuals from all walks of life, including professionals, students, and anyone interested in improving their in-person communication skills. No prior experience or expertise is required. Join us for an engaging session that will transform your ability to connect, collaborate, and thrive in face-to-face interactions.

**Coworking Day** is a relaxed creative meetup for animators, artists, filmmakers, game developers, and visual storytellers. Bring your laptop, sketchbook, tablet, storyboard, or current project and spend the day creating, sharing ideas, networking, and collaborating with fellow creatives in a friendly coworking environment. Open to all skill levels, from students and hobbyists to industry professionals.

Join us for a composition workshop where we will introduce the work of a few renowned photographers — their style, themes, and visual approach. This could be the geometry of Henri Cartier‑Bresson, the intimacy of Diane Arbus, the colour mastery of Saul Leiter, or the minimalism of Fan Ho. Each workshop will have different photographers work to analyse, learn about and shoot in the style of. **Analyse one signature photograph** * We will will show a series of their images then break down a single image from each photographer: * composition and framing * use of light and shadow * subject placement * visual flow * emotional impact * storytelling choices * negative space * geometrical shapes * etc **Shoot in their style** You’ll receive an exercise inspired by the photographer’s approach. This will include the elements that photographer uses in their work. **What you will learn** * To **see with intention**, not just shoot * Connect theory with practice - analysis followed by action * Build confidence by using a clear creative direction EQUIPMENT * Any camera * Any lens * An open mind and fun attitude! TRANSPORT As usual check the TFL website for any disruptions that may delay your journey on the day. CONTACT Alex 07956 264049 **UPCOMING EVENTS** **TRAVEL WEEKEND - VENICE WEEKEND - Oct 2026** [https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/) **MONTHLY EVENTS** [https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar)

Join us for an afternoon to shoot a gathering of creative people who love colour and dressing up. There are no rules – they believe the more colours the better. Witness this concert of colours and meet some of the London’s most vibrant souls and creative minds & bodies! Today we can practice our portrait and posing skills. We have tips in plenty on-hand and willing subjects! Expect to have oddles and oddles of fun! WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Approaching people * Posing techniques * Capturing portraits * Camera settings for good exposure * Camera settings to help your subject stand out from the background EQUIPMENT * Any camera * A kit lens or similar * A 50mm will work well * A fun and experimental attitude! TRAVEL As usual check TFL website for any issues that may delay your journey. CONTACT Alex 07956 264049 **UPCOMING EVENTS** **VENICE PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND - Oct 2026** **[https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/313109100/)** **UPCOMING EVENTS** **[www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events)**

Join us this Friday for a *FREE Spanish–English Language Exchange* at Hito Coffee (inside Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club) ☕✨ Come meet new people, practice both languages, and enjoy relaxed, real conversations in a friendly and social atmosphere. Whether you’re a beginner, fluent, or just curious—everyone is welcome! Enjoy a great cup of specialty coffee while you chat, connect, and unwind—it’s the perfect setting to meet like-minded people and feel part of a community. 🎉 *Bonus* As part of our community, you’ll get **50% off comedy show tickets** at the venue—so you can keep the evening going with some laughs after the meetup! 🌍 *What to expect* • Easy, natural language practice (Spanish & English) • Friendly, social vibes • A great mix of locals & internationals • Great coffee + good energy 📍 Hito Coffee, South Bank Inside Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club Free event — just bring yourself and good vibes ✨ See you there! ### ☕ **Why Hito** We’re more than coffee—we’re about connection, community, and conversation. This is not a class, it’s a shared experience.

The discotheque gets disco-technical at **Rock The Docs**! This double headline bill sees **[Marco Spinello](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-spinello/)**, Technical Writer at [Booking.com](http://booking.com/) showing us how music theory can be applied to documentation, using examples from both his professional and creative life. Following this act, **[Jerry Bartlett](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-bartlett-content-pro-tech/)**, founder and principal at [Content Pro Tech](https://www.contentprotech.com/) will demonstrate how the fundamentals of technical writing can be applied to gathering and organising metadata for digital music libraries. These presentations will cover: *Why Git is like a metronome - Why managing stakeholders is not unlike managing band members *Why recording an album is not unlike delivering an MVP - How metadata underpins the algorithms of streaming services *How curating metadata is a key aspect of technical writing work - The difference between descriptive metadata and management metadata **Marco Spinello** tells the story of a disco band that shrank from eight members to a power trio, not unlike a company reorganisation with a built-in product pivot. Music and technical writing have more in common than meets the eye; music theory maps the territory like information architecture, a metronome enforces discipline like git, and song dynamics prevent the "wall of text" effect of very long, very dense docs. **Jerry Bartlett** discusses how uploading his music collection to a NAS drive found him drawing on skills honed during his day job as a technical communicator, and working on striking a balance between the right level of granularity, while making sure to not have ‘too much’ metadata. This event is kindly hosted by [Wise](https://wise.com/). **📅Agenda** **When:** Thursday, 18 June, from 6:30pm **Where:** Wise, 65 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4JE **What:** **18:30 - 19:00** Arrival **19:00 - 19:15** Welcome & Housekeeping **19:15 - 19:20** Short introduction to Wise **19:30 - 20:00** Rocks the Docs by Marco Spinello **20:00 - 20:30** Jerry's presentation **20:30 - 21:00** Networking **📍How to find us**: Please head to Wise, 65 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4JE, from 6:30pm onwards -- one of the friendly Write The Docs London team will be checking guests in. 🌎 **Google Maps**: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/r6zdmeDKhyAbLbaf7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/r6zdmeDKhyAbLbaf7) 📜 **What3Words**: [///lift.send.curiosity](https://what3words.com/lift.send.curiosity) 📷 **Photos:** Please note that the organisers may take some photos for the WTD group.

**Please register on [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1989306131189?aff=oddtdtcreator) to join this event:** **About the event:** The LJC is delighted to announce our 20th Unconference! Join us for a full day of discussions, knowledge sharing, learning, and networking with other developers in the industry. There will be an opening keynote session followed by breakout discussion groups on the topics which are important to you. Catering is of course included, with a steady stream of coffee as well as breakfast on arrival, lunch and even afternoon tea. **Keynote Speaker:** **Emily Jiang**, STSM, Cloud Native Architect & Advocate, IBM Unlock the performance and cost savings of modern Java without the massive manual effort. Many companies are hindered by the overwhelming complexity of modernization due to the variety of legacy enterprise Java applications they still need to maintain. Discover how modern approaches provide powerful automated solutions. In this talk, we'll deconstruct a real-life success story: modernizing a legacy monolith to a modern runtime and newer version of Java. Learn how to automatically transform your codebase, mitigate the risks of manual error, and accelerate your path to the cloud. See practical steps you can use to breathe new life into your applications and free your teams to build for the future with the help of IBM Bob. **What is an Unconference?** An unconference is a loosely structured, participant-driven meeting. You decide what you want to talk and hear about and which topics you want to discuss. It starts with an empty schedule - no topics are mandated and no separations are made between speakers and the audience. All participants work out a schedule by suggesting, planning, holding, and evaluating sessions, collaboratively. Above all else, it's great fun, whether you want to learn or share it's a supportive and safe space to do it in. This is an in-person event, kindly hosted by [IBM](https://www.ibm.com/uk-en "https://www.ibm.com/uk-en"). Thank you to our sponsors [Redis](https://redis.io/ "https://redis.io/"), [Capital One](https://www.capitalone.co.uk/),[ ](https://www.payara.fish/ "https://www.payara.fish/")and [Recworks](https://recworks.co.uk/ "https://recworks.co.uk/"). Book your place now at one of the biggest LJC Events of the year! What other events would you like to see at the LJC? Tell us here: [https://forms.office.com/r/ycv74wXBxR](https://forms.office.com/r/ycv74wXBxR "https://forms.office.com/r/ycv74wXBxR") This event is organised by [RecWorks](https://recworks.co.uk/ "https://recworks.co.uk/") on behalf of the [London Java Community](https://www.londonjavacommunity.co.uk/ "https://www.londonjavacommunity.co.uk/") You can see our latest jobs [here](https://recworks.co.uk/java-developer-jobs-london/ "https://recworks.co.uk/java-developer-jobs-london/") You can see our privacy policy [here](https://recworks.co.uk/privacy-policy/ "https://recworks.co.uk/privacy-policy/") Continue the conversation at our [Slack Group](https://londonjavacommunity.slack.com/ "https://londonjavacommunity.slack.com") If you're not a member, sign up [here](https://form.typeform.com/to/IIyQxd?typeform-source=bcrw.typeform.com "https://form.typeform.com/to/IIyQxd?typeform-source=bcrw.typeform.com")

**Messy Is Welcome** — *Picnic & Acrylic Flow (First Session)* This is the first relaxed creative picnic in the Leyton / Hackney area — a simple pilot gathering to see how it feels together. Bring a blanket, a drink, and whatever you like. I’ll bring all art materials, including acrylic paints and paper. This is a very informal, go-with-the-flow session. You can paint, draw, make marks, scribbles or shapes — or just sit, observe and relax. Even a single dot on the page counts. **No art skills needed at all.** £5 ticket for materials. (Cash only) If the weather is good, we’ll stay in the park. If not, we’ll move to a nearby pub or indoor space. Optional afterwards: a relaxed walk along the Hackney Wick canal. Come as you are, stay for as long as you like.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

Welcome to Casual Boardgames, where we enjoy classic tabletop games and social deduction games while bonding over good food, drinks, and great conversations. 
We started this group to meet new people and make new friends, and bonding over games in a relaxed atmosphere is a great way to do that. We currently meet near route 23 and Polaris Parkway, and this is close to areas like Powell, Lewis Center, Worthington, and parts of Westerville and Columbus. 
Feel free to bring your own games or play one of the many games our members bring. If you are inexperienced, we will help you learn. 
Here are just a few examples of the kind of games we play. 
Tabletop/board games: Splendor, Catan, Azul, Dominion, 7 Wonders… 
Social deduction games: Code Names, Chameleon, Werewords… 
IMPORTANT: 
1. While we love playing a variety of games and competing, we are not just about the games. We interact and talk while playing, and this leads to a lot of laughter and fun. If you just want to compete and focus solely on the game, then this is probably not the group you are looking for. 
2. Many people join groups like this and never (or rarely) show up after weeks or months. If you join and never really come, we will eventually remove you from the group as a courtesy to our members. Why? Because limiting group conversations (on the app) to regular members makes communication and planning much easier. Also, while it may be rare, it protects members from people who join because they are interested in following a person instead of having a real interest in our group. If you get removed, it is just because you haven’t come, and we follow this protocol as a courtesy to our regular game players.

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Customize the IDE: Building Extensions for Visual Studio Code* Visual Studio Code is one of the most widely used development environments today, and much of its flexibility comes from its extension ecosystem. Extensions allow developers to customize the editor with new features, integrations, and workflow improvements tailored to their needs. In this session, we’ll cover what extensions are and the different types available, including full extensions written in TypeScript or JavaScript, along with lighter-weight extensions such as color themes, language packs, language support, code snippets, and keymaps. We’ll also look at practical reasons a developer might create an extension, from automating repetitive tasks to adding custom tooling. The session includes a hands-on walkthrough of creating a new extension, testing it locally, and understanding the basic project structure. We’ll close with a brief overview of how extensions are packaged and published to the Visual Studio Marketplace and other distribution options. **YouTube Link** TBD

**🌷 Meet Port St. Lucie Singles Tonight — Zoom Speed Dating** No apps, no awkward bios. Just live one-on-one Zoom chats with Port St. Lucie singles picked for you. **What to expect:** - Register and take a short personality quiz - Jump on Zoom when the event starts - Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds - Get your mutual matches by email afterward **Find your bracket and grab a seat:** → **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0) > Heads up: an RSVP here does not hold your seat. Register through your age link and finish the quiz. Spots are capped. Register, relax, and let the night do the work. 😊

Get ready for a Picnic, this is our social and member appreciation event for the year! Feel free to bring family, but be sure to reach out with the number of attendees, so we can provide food for everyone. There will of course be food, music, games and fun! Event is held rain or shine, we have a covered shelter house reserved for the event. Agenda --- Moderators Kimberly Deal - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Kevin Stanley - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Greg Sprowls - Columbus Atlassian Community Leader Hosted By Kimberly Deal, Atlassian User Group Leader Kevin Stanley, Chief Everything Greg Sprowls, Agility Lead --- Global Partner Atlassian (http://atlassian.com) Millions of users globally rely on Atlassian products every day for improving software development, project management, collaboration, and code quality. For over a decade, Atlassian customers have come together to network, share ideas, solve problems, and find new ways to use Atlassian products. Today, more than 15,000 people take part in Atlassian community events in more than 30 countries. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://ace.atlassian.com/events/details/atlassian-columbus-presents-annual-columbus-ace-summer-picnic/.

Join the Columbus AI community for a special event. **Battle of the Personal Agents** is your chance to see what people are actually building with AI agents and personal automation systems. Whether you’re running OpenClaw, Hermes, or a completely custom solution, bring your agent and show the community how it works. We’re interested in real-world implementations: the problems your agent solves, how you use it day-to-day, how it’s hosted and managed, how you built it, and why you’ve chosen to keep using it. Live demonstrations are encouraged, so be prepared to show your code, architecture, workflows, and your agent performing real tasks. This is less about polished presentations and more about sharing practical experience, comparing approaches, and learning from one another. If you’d like to present, please contact Chris Slee (via meetup) before the event so we can allocate enough time for everyone’s demonstrations. Come ready to show what you’ve built, discover what others are doing, and maybe find a few ideas worth taking home. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformlabs/) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/transformlabshq)