GraffitiWall: To Play Is The Thing!

GraffitiWall has designed graphics and immersive platforms for healthcare, cultural organizations, education, and television.

take a peek at a few examples below....

GraffitiWall: Presents the FEL!X Technique

The FEL!X Technique Towards Greater Empathy

The FEL!X technique uses dramatic historical improvisation to allow participants to travel in time and imagine themselves as figures from diverse generations and cultures. These figures include historic rulers, artists, writers, unsung heroes — and sometimes important mythological and literary characters. Participants become familiar with FEL!X materials, which include historical background and character biographies. In order to improvise or ad lib a meaningful dialogue without a script, participants are first encouraged to deeply understand their character’s personal circumstances and historical context.

Walking in the shoes of others who have navigated noteworthy historical events gives participants an experiential understanding of the feelings and motivations of a diverse group of individuals. As participants explore their own responses to the topics presented in FEL!X, they realize that the choices faced by others may be similar to theirs. This process of discovery can lead to greater empathy and understanding.

FEL!X also helps build empathy by connecting the study of the past to the future. By better understanding the past, we can see how we are shaped by it — and that gives us tools to be more hopeful and resilient going forward. At GraffitiWall & FEL!X, we believe in the power of experiential design to transform spaces and perceptions. Our mission is to create immersive experiences that engage and inspire individuals across various sectors including healthcare and education.

"FEL!X Pathways to Greater Empathy!" A Fun-filled Activity Book

Pathways, an activity book, is based on the FEL!X Technique, a research-based, pilot-tested program

Pathways To Greater Empathy! is an activity book based on the FEL!X Technique, a research-based, pilot-tested program, developed by Linda Gottfried and her brother Joseph Gottfried, MD. The technique uses dramatic historical improvisation to help participants develop greater empathy and it incorporates trusted therapeutic and educational techniques based on commonly accepted theories about social-emotional intelligence and social cognition.

More info on the methodology and example modules below

Walking in the shoes of others who have navigated noteworthy historical events gives participants an experiential understanding of the feelings and motivations of a diverse group of individuals. As participants explore their own responses to the topics presented in FEL!X, they realize that the choices faced by others maybe similar to theirs. This process of discovery can lead to greater empathy and understanding.

Let's watch Ashley in action.

Research shows that acting can help foster empathy. And dramatic historical improvisation creates a safe space—and a safe distance—for participants to learn from humanity by seeing connections and similarities across time. By playfully stretching their imaginations and exploring sensitive topics through the lens of historical improvisation, participants come away with a stronger understanding of empathy-the ability to listen deeply, find common ground, resolve conflict and personal differences.

Participants become familiar with FEL!X materials, which include historical background and character biographies. In order to improvise or ad lib a meaningful dialogue without a script, participants are first encouraged to deeply understand their character’s personal circumstances and historical context.

One Module during the Pandemic: Building Resilience

With guidance from the National Humanities Center, we designed a virtual one for students to emotionally deal with the pandemic. By using historical events of past epidemics students could explore how others navigated extreme situations-some heroically and others not so much - so that they could see examples of resilience and hopefulness for their future. They could see they are part of the long thread of humanity and they too can continue this weaving positively if they were so motivated.

Walking in the shoes of individuals from historic events, gives participants an experiential understanding of the feelings and motivations of diverse individuals. This leads to the realization that the choices of others may be similar to theirs, and results in greater empathy.

In the culminating step, the study of the past connects to the future. Individuals imagine themselves in future years and see how they are shaped by the past, and how knowledge of the past makes them hopeful / resilient.