Why I Started Training in Visual Contracts
Three years ago, I began working with AI and virtual realities, and it quickly became clear how these technologies could profoundly affect personal privacy. Imagine a VR headset that captures your brainwaves to monitor your emotional state while you shop online. Futuristic? Not at all—the technology to make this a reality was already available back then. As AI adoption accelerated, it became increasingly clear that many people were willing to exchange their personal data for faster, more convenient services.
This realization underscored the need for change. I could no longer remain passive while so many people were unaware of how their data is being used, often because privacy notices go unread. But why is that? The answer is simple: it's not apathy—it's that privacy notices and legal documents are often long, complicated, and misaligned with how people process information in today's fast-paced digital world.
I understood that true innovation in the legal field, especially in the age of AI, isn't just about adopting new technologies. It's about rethinking how we communicate with individuals—making privacy and legal information clearer, more accessible, and, most importantly, compelling. My mission became clear: I wanted to empower individuals to value their privacy and foster trust with the companies that hold their data.
Discovering Visual Contracts
To achieve this, I realized I needed to rethink my approach. As our world increasingly shifts toward visual content on smaller screens like smartphones and tablets, long blocks of text become harder to navigate. Given that visuals are processed by our brains in as little as 13 milliseconds, while reading takes 200-300 milliseconds per word, I realized the challenge wasn't in what I was communicating, but in how I was presenting the information.
I began exploring studies and resources from LINC CNIL, where I discovered the concept of legal design. It wasn't enough to simply understand the theory of visual contracts—I wanted to develop the skills to transform complex legal concepts into clear, engaging visuals. This led me to Lieke's training program.
A Transformative Experience
Working with Lieke, a non-legal professional, was a game-changer. Through this training, I learned that effective communication through design accelerates understanding—not just for individuals, but for stakeholders as well. It's about making privacy discussions more productive and aligned with business goals.
Not only did I learn how to design and create visual content, but I also embraced a process-driven mindset. Creativity is accessible to anyone willing to challenge their mental blocks! By adopting the principles of empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iteration, design thinking has become a powerful framework for enhancing problem-solving, fostering innovation, and improving client relationships in my legal work.
One of the most rewarding parts of this journey was applying my new skills to a real-world business case. Designing and presenting a visual privacy initiative allowed me to directly influence how privacy information is communicated, sparking much-needed change in this space.
A Call to Action for Privacy Professionals
To my fellow privacy professionals and lawyers who are truly committed to making an impact: the key is not only in what we communicate, but in how we communicate. Visual contracts are a game-changer. It's time to make legal content more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for individuals. Thank you, Lieke, for your patience, creativity, and unwavering dedication. Your training and personalized coaching have empowered me to help shape a future where privacy is not just a legal obligation, but a shared understanding between individuals and companies!
Sarah Levassor,
Privacy Legal Counsel Philips
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Do you also want to get started with your own legal design thinking and contract design journey?
You can find the online training (with or without coaching) here.