The Power of Canvases: When Boxes Free the Mind

Following the publication of our co-written article with Viva GTM, we wanted to take a step back and look behind the scenes.

Not at the content of the article itself, but at the tool we designed to support it: a canvas.

Why this choice? Because beyond its one-time use, the canvas format reflects a distinctive way of thinking and collaborating.

A Framework That Sets You Free

At first glance, a canvas might seem restrictive. In reality, it’s liberating.It provides just enough structure to guide the discussion — without confining it. It offers a shared frame of reference, yet leaves the spaces open: each participant can project their own ideas, intuitions, and perspectives.

Above all, it’s a simple format to use. Print it large, grab a stack of post-its and a few colored markers — and you’re ready to go.No complex tools, no heavy preparation. The group can almost self-facilitate, as long as it maintains a bit of discipline on timing and focus.

A Collective Experience, Not a Static Exercise

Around a canvas, everyone stands on equal ground.You gather around the table, you write, you stick, you move things.No more participants hiding behind laptops or notebooks — everyone is active, visible, and engaged.

And because ideas take shape directly on the board, they become tangible.They move, overlap, evolve. You can literally see the collective thinking unfold before your eyes.The canvas becomes a space of motion — a form of collective intelligence in action.

Progressing Step by Step

One of the greatest strengths of this format is its ability to turn a complex, abstract question into a series of smaller, manageable topics.You start with one box, then another, without trying to “solve” everything at once.And almost without noticing, you’ve made progress — frame after frame.By the end, the thinking has deepened: the foundations are laid, and coherence naturally emerges.

A Tool That’s Useful, Beautiful, and Unifying

A good canvas is satisfying to fill.Each post-it you place gives a sense of progress — you can see the work advancing.And the end result is often as useful as it is beautiful: a collective mural you can display, share, or present.It becomes a symbol of the group’s reflection — a visual anchor for what comes next.

So Why Not Create Your Own?

There’s a canvas for almost everything: the Business Model Canvas, the Value Proposition Canvas, the Team Canvas…But nothing stops you from creating one that fits your own needs — as we did with the Ecosystem Storyboard. A format that reflects your challenges, your culture, your way of thinking together.

Because ultimately, that’s the true power of a canvas:giving shape to dialogue, without ever limiting its depth.