Graphic Recording FAQ

Do you travel?

I am based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but in pre-COVID times, I travelled quite a lot to attend in-person events. These days, I am happy to collaborate remotely with anyone, anywhere! And I look forward to a time when we can meet again in person.

Are you a graphic facilitator?

"Graphic facilitator" and "graphic recorder" are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences. There are some amazing people out there who incorporate visuals into their facilitation practice, and to find them, you might want to check out the International Forum of Visual Practitioners.

I'm not a facilititor, but a graphic recorder. My background is in art and writing, not in facilitation. This means I am very happy to come to your event and listen like a "fly on the wall" in order to create an illustrated record of your event story. I am also happy to collaborate at events which are led by facilitators, and join in the conversation as needed. Consider me as the note-taker for your conversation.

This doesn't mean that I don't want to talk with you, though! I really want to talk with you, BEFORE the event - so I can find out what will be happening and what you are expecting from me. The more information I have before I start listening, the more I will know what to listen for.

Did you go to school for this?

I received a BA in English from the University of Toronto. (For me, graphic recording is all about the stories!)

I also completed the "Foundation Year" at the Ontario College of Art & Design in Toronto. After that, I'd had enough school, so I got a "real" job that allowed me to spend my free time growing my career as an artist. I quit that job in 2012 and now graphic recording is my real job! I've always drawn comics and sketchnotes, as far back as I can remember. So somehow all of these things must have contributed to the way I operate now.

Are you available to work at my event?

Please contact me to check if I am available. The more advance notice, the better!

What kinds of events do you work at?

These days, all events are remote. But, I still work at all sorts of events: conferences, workshops, strategic planning sessions, team meetings, visioning sessions... and pretty much any events at which people are speaking. My favourite kind of event is an event where there is one speaker speaking at a time (i.e. a conference featuring presentations and/or a keynote speaker).

However, I also often work at events where participants are divided into breakout groups, and I can circulate among the people to record highlights from multiple conversations. Finally, I also work at public engagement events, in which many participants may come up to my board, to have their contributions put on the visual record.

What skills do you use as a graphic recorder?

Here are a few:

1. Deep listening: bringing an understanding of what I need to be listening for.
2. Writing really, really fast (and - good spelling)
3. Organizing space
4. Oh... drawing a bit, too (that's actually the least important part...)

How much does it cost?

Please get in touch with me to let me know your event details and I can send you my project rates. Every event is different and I'm happy to discuss budget options that will allow us to collaborate!

What happens if we work together?

The best way to start is for you to send me some information about your event. If it's a good fit for my skills, let's plan for a phone call so we can both ask and answer questions about what my contribution should entail. The event agenda is the tool that helps me to plan what to listen for and how to structure my notes.

After the event is over, it might take a couple of weeks to a month for me to complete the work and send it you. The timing depends on a few factors, such as how many other events I am working on during that time, but also how much work I am handing in for you. (If it's a talk by one keynote speaker, it shouldn't take long. If it's fifteen different academic panel presentations, it will take a bit longer!) If deadlines are important, please let me know so that I can accommodate your needs as much as possible.

What kind of finished product will I receive?

That depends on what you would like. I usually work with markers on big sheets of paper. After the work is done, I take my giant posters to be digitally scanned, and I send you the high-resolution image files. These files are good for printing the whole image, or parts of the image, in online or print documents. You can see some examples of that here. I am also more than happy to send you the original posters. Depending on the event, I might work on smaller sketchbook pages. Either way, I will send you whatever I create.

Can you give me some advice about how to work as a graphic recorder?

It's exciting for me to learn that so many people are interested in getting involved in this fast-growing field! Send me a note and I'll do my best to answer!