Capturing student ideas at Flinders University Law Open Days

Getting the drawing zone ready for the start of the Open Day

University Open Days are a great way for future students to learn more about potential courses and get a good feel for a university. I recently graphic recorded the insights and ideas of future students at a Flinders University Law Open Day. Based at the Law Faculty stand, my role was to work with a facilitator and capture what was going through the student minds in relation to studying Law as they circled past. Lots of students came up to proactively share their story and many more were curious about what I was doing which helped drive traffic to the stand. It was fast, furious and enjoyable work to draw out the many and varied conversations and reasons why students were interested in law. Over two super days, I created two large graphic recorded posters (each 5-6 m in length!) that will be used by the Law Faculty in future as engaging communication tools.

The final 5-6 metre poster full of student stories and ideas.

Detail of one section of my poster shows the student micro-stories, ideas and insights.

It’s quiet now… the view at the end of the day.

Graphic recording powerful stories at Future of Leadership 2018

This year I was invited to support Australia’s premier leadership conference, the Future of Leadership series, as the event’s official graphic recorder at Sydney’s International Convention Centre. This was a super event to graphic record at as the conference series attracts top speakers and more than 2000 delegates annually, bringing together members of corporate, education, government, NFP and small business sectors. The Future of Leadership series provides excellent opportunities to rub shoulders with the most motivated and influential thought leaders within key industries spanning the Australian and international business community. Each speaker had 25 minutes to share their story, ideas and insights with the audience.During the full day event, I worked furiously to graphic record straight onto large paper posters attached to a whiteboard. In parallel, I also captured visual notes in a sketch pad to transfer onto the posters when I finalised the posters the next day. Adding the finishing touches poster included building in illustration detail, colour and shading so each graphic recording poster became even more eye-catching.Graphic recording back-to-back speakers at a conference can be intense work as the information comes thick and fast and you need to listen intently. But it is also incredibly rewarding as I help personal, powerful and meaningful stories live on beyond the event as a creative memory tool for delegates.Whatever your work, whatever your position, this one-day conference series equip attendees with tools and insights to make them a better leader both personally and professionally. To check out the full line-up of top-notch business and leadership speakers that I graphic recorded, click here: futureofleadership.com.au/speakers And above all, by attending Future of Leadership, delegates were learning but also helping an event that supports at risk Thai children and communities through the charity partner Hands Across The Water.

The FOL2018 venue: the amazing ICC Sydney just before doors opened!

Drawing out key ideas and insights at #ItsuptoYOUth

In NSW, there are approximately 2.4 million children and young people. Engaging with, listening to and letting this important group in society have their voices heard was recently a key focus at “#ItsuptoYOUth Youth Health Policy Consultation” workshop for young people of Greater Western Sydney aged between 14-24 years old. As the graphic recorder at the event, held in the beautiful old Parramatta Town Hall, my role was to capture and draw out the content from a series of fast paced and wide ranging group conversations on key issues across the youth health and services spectrum. The energy in the room was great and it was a privilege to take the visual notes on some of the ideas, insights and issues that matter to children and young people today.

Graphic recording at the CSIRO SMiSposium 2016 conference

I was recently invited to graphic record the ‘CSIRO SMiSposium 2016: Partnering for the Future’ conference in Sydney at Doltone House. This CSIRO Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools program (SMiS) event was aimed at sparking important conversation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Australia. As the event’s graphic recorder, my role was to draw creative and relevant visual notes of the key presentations given by a range of experts from education, STEM, government, industry and academia backgrounds. The presentations, conversations, insights and ideas were fantastic content for graphic recording and live scribing. Here are some posters of my work as well as a great shot of the bustling conference room with my graphic recording boards in the background.

Listening and doodling can be powerful learning tools in business

Podcasts are a great way to be entertained and learn about new things, anywhere and anytime. I recently had a conversation with the crew at The Mojo Radio Show who were keen to get my view on how drawing and using visuals can enhance learning, recall and knowledge transfer in a business setting. Check it out by clicking here.

Straight after the interview, I used the audio file from The Mojo Radio Show crew to go through the same process I take when graphic recording to create visual notes of the show (see the image above). The visual notes capture the key ideas, themes and interesting parts of the conversation and taking this same approach (either ‘live’ in the room or retrospectively) can be a great way to create an engaging communication and memory tool in a business setting. I also created a unique cartoon about podcasts in business which you can see right here on my dedicated cartoon site www.officeguycartoons.com

The Mojo Radio Show is a regular podcast designed to bring listeners useable, practical and up to date insights, techniques and tools to get their ‘mojo working’ in and out of work. To listen to more of their interviews, go to: www.themojoradioshow.com
Thanks to Gary and Robbo for inviting me on the show.

Graphic recording at the C&K Annual Conference

Graphic recording at large scale conferences is always rewarding as the content I get to graphic record and capture visually can be varied and fascinating. I recently worked at the The Creche & Kindergarten Association (C&K) Early Education and Care Annual Conference at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. C&K is Queensland’s largest provider of early childhood education. The conference was filled with interesting internal and external speakers, including the MC and keynote, Alison Hill. You can see a detail of the graphic recording poster I created from Alison’s keynote presentation called ‘Leading the future’. Alison is a psychologist and expert in organisational motivation and strategy.

Capturing the Future of Leadership

Peter Baines, founder, Hands Across the Water, speaking on leadership and shared value

Mastering successful leadership is a massive ongoing focus and learning journey for many people and organisations. I recently graphic recorded some great leadership insights shared by a selection of senior business leaders and savvy thinkers at The Future of Leadership in Brisbane. This was an engaging full day with over 400 attendees designed to help the audience stay one step ahead and look at what’s next in leadership. I graphic recorded speeches by Darren Hill, Peter Baines, Will Dayble and Jen Jackson. There are a couple of my graphic recording posters here but you can also view and download the full set on Alison Hill’s website (who was the MC on the day). 100% of all funds raised from the day went to a great cause: Hands Across the Water.

Darren Hill, business strategist and behavioural scientist, discusses leadership trends

Before kick-off: my graphic recording area at the Brisbane Convention Centre

FOL2014 conference attendees look at my posters and take pictures

Graphic recording powerful stories at ‘A Day of Inspiration 2014’

Paul de Gelder – Navy Diver: graphic recording poster

I’ve been involved as the graphic recorder at the Tour De Cure’s Day of Inspiration “Secrets of Achievement” for three years now and the event and the speakers seem to get better and better. With inspirational speeches from some of Australia’s best speakers, the one day event helps raise much needed money, awareness and support in the fight against cancer. I graphic recorded absolutely ‘knock out’ speeches from the likes of Paul de Gelder (Navy diver/shark attack survivor), Dr Charlie Teo (world famous neurosurgeon) and Cosentino (the grand illusionist) among others.

Here are some of my graphic recording posters (which were all about 4ft x 3ft in size and covered speeches that lasted 20-30 minutes). To see more detail, they can also be downloaded in full at the Day of Inspiration website – just go to the Mind Map sections at the bottom left of the main page.

Dr Charlie Teo: graphic recording poster

Unpacking Place & Pedagogy…with pen and paper

Graphic recording using illustration, colour and words to capture key ideas.

Here’s some of my graphic recording work from an event at The Institute of Early Childhood at Macquarie University, titled: “Unpacking Place, Pedagogy and Documentation”. Led by Semann & Slatery and the institute, the event unpacked ideas around the educational experience of Reggio Emilia in Australian and international contexts and to build on known understandings and challenge assumptions. My graphic recording poster above captures five different presentations and the subtle colouring and shading per section (e.g. purple, green, blue, pink and orange) helps group the graphic recording content.

It was fantastic to graphic record presentations by thought leaders in this space such as Janet Robertson, Dr Stefania Giamminuti, Kirsty Liljegren, Anthony Semann, Associate Professor Karen Martin and Associate Professor Alma Fleet among others.

Delegates taking snaps of my work as it evolves on their smart phones and devices.

Australian Financial Review – BOSS Magazine

“The Secrets of Innovation”

Guys Downes, graphic recorder and illustrator, captured the essence of the roundtable discussion in pictures.

Australian Financial Review BOSS featured Guy’s graphic recording and follow-up illustration work from a roundtable discussion and subsequent article on “The Secrets of Innovation” in 2013. Speakers included thought-leaders from ARUP, Jumptank, Aegis, SBS, Cap Gemini, UTS, Australian Design Centre and GE. Guy captured the essence of the discussion in pictures on a large poster and then worked with the editor of AFR BOSS, Joanne Gray, to distil the best points from Guy’s graphic recording poster into an illustration for inclusion in the article.

Day of Inspiration 2014

Tour De Cure’s Day of Inspiration “Secrets of Achievement”

Guy has been involved as the graphic recorder at the Tour De Cure’s Day of Inspiration “Secrets of Achievement” for three years now and the event and the speakers seem to get better and better. With inspirational speeches from some of Australia’s best speakers, the one day event helps raise much needed money, awareness and support in the fight against cancer. Guy graphic recorded absolutely ‘knock out’ speeches from the likes of Paul de Gelder (Navy diver/shark attack survivor), Dr Charlie Teo (world famous neurosurgeon) and Cosentino (the grand illusionist) among others.

The graphic recording posters which were all about 4ft x 3ft in size and covered speeches that lasted 20-30 minutes. To see more detail, they can also be downloaded in full at the Day of Inspiration website – just go to the Mind Map sections at the bottom left of the main page.

Microsoft Joined Up Innovation Roundtable 2014

Graphic Recording a ‘live’ roundtable discussion

One of the most interesting conversations I graphic recorded last year was at Microsoft’s Joined Up Innovation Roundtable. The roundtable discussion between a group of innovation experts brought together by Microsoft in early 2014 frames a Microsoft discussion paper launched at the same time titled Joined-Up Innovation: Making the right connections across Australia’s innovation ecosystem to support our future growth and international competitiveness. My role was to graphic record the conversation and you can see some great discussion highlights in the video links below where I also feature in the background listening intently and drawing:

The CEO Institute Summit 2014

Drawing out CEO insights

Guy spent the day graphic recording key insights shared by some of Australia’s top CEOs and business leaders. The CEO Institute Summit 2014 was held with well over 300 CEOs to experience a day of leading and thought provoking topics centered around the theme of Disruptive Agility.

The graphic recording poster shown above shares some key insights from Kevin Panozza (Evangelist, LivePerson), Rebecca Martin (Owner Remy & Co and The Duck Inn), Karen Stocks (MD, Twitter Australia) and some thoughts from the Q&A.

To download the complete set of graphic recording posters from the event, please visit the ‘download’ section of the CEO summit website.

Graphic recording at HP Software Forum: Insight 2014

My graphic recording poster from the HP Software Canberra Forum plenary. Click on the image to increase its size.

I recently graphic recorded three HP Software Forums called “Insight 2014”. Held in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, the HP events provided the latest information for HP Software customers. As the graphic recorder, my role was to visually capture the key points and themes from the main presentation on “Connected Intelligence: the New Style of IT”. My posters were shared on the HP Software online forum so that attendees had a visual and engaging memory tool from the event that could trigger memories, help them remember key insights but also spark new thinking.  You can see a photo of the venue room below with my graphic recording work station in the left hand corner.

My graphic recording work station can be seen to the left of the main stage.

Graphic recording at StopKeepStart 2014

Datarati StopKeepStart 2014 – Visual Scribe Artist Timelapse video from TEN ALPHAS on Vimeo.

Graphic recording at the Museum of Contemporary Art overlooking Sydney Harbour is a great way to start the day. And graphic recording a marketing event with a unique twist and stand out format made it even more interesting.

Marketing automation company, Datarati, invited over 80 clients for a workshop breakfast to discuss what they were going to Stop, Keep and Start doing in 2014 around four pillars of marketing. The findings were then presented for an hour to the room and to a live webcast audience.

My role was to graphic record the findings presentation and panel discussion. It was fast paced, reflected in my ‘insight loaded’ graphic recording poster. Here’s a time lapse video of me graphic recording during the event. The video of the findings and my final graphic recording poster can be seen at stopkeepstart.com Thanks to production company Ten Alphas for inviting me to graphic record the session.

AFR BOSS Roundtable: The secrets of innovation

My illustration kicks off the AFR BOSS article

Today’s AFR BOSS features my graphic recording and follow-up illustration work from a recent fantastic roundtable discussion and subsequent article on “The Secrets of Innovation”. Speakers included thought leaders from ARUP, Jumptank, Aegis, SBS, Cap Gemini, UTS, Australian Design Centre and GE. My role included being the graphic recorder (or ‘visual note-taker’) on the day and you can see a photo of me within the article in action capturing the essence of the discussion in pictures on a large poster. I listened intently to the discussion and drew ‘live’ the big ideas, issues, opportunities and broad themes that were being covered in the discussion – the result being a 2.5m x 1m poster, which acts as a creative visual record and group memory tool to spark further thinking, ideas and conversation beyond the roundtable. I then worked with the editor of AFR BOSS, Joanne Gray, to distil the best points from my graphic recording poster into an illustration for inclusion in the article. The roundtable took place at the wonderful Object Gallery in Sydney.

A close up of my illustration in AFR BOSS today

My graphic recording poster (2.5m x 1m) capturing the essence of the discussion at the event.

The middle photo shows me graphic recording just to the side of the panel discussion

The venue beforehand with my graphic recording poster on the back wall

The AFR BOSS website with a small icon of my illustration to draw attention to the article

The Future of Leadership 2014

Mastering Successful Leadership

One of the graphic recording posters from the CEO Summit 2014

Mastering successful leadership is a massive ongoing focus and learning journey for many people and organisations. Guy recently graphic recorded some great leadership insights shared by a selection of senior business leaders and savvy thinkers at The Future of Leadership in Brisbane.

This was an engaging full day with over 400 attendees designed to help the audience stay one step ahead and look at what’s next in leadership. Guy graphic recorded speeches by Darren Hill, Peter Baines, Will Dayble and Jen Jackson.

You can view and download the full set on Alison Hill’s website (who was the MC on the day). 100% of all funds raised from the day went to a great cause: Hands Across the Water.

Datarati

Datarati StopKeepStart 2014 – Visual Scribe Artist Timelapse video from TEN ALPHAS on Vimeo.

Datarati StopKeepStart 2014 – Discussion, ideas and insights – Graphic recording poster

Graphic recording at the Museum of Contemporary Art overlooking Sydney Harbour is a great way to start the day. And graphic recording a marketing event with a unique twist and stand out format made it even more interesting.

Marketing automation company, Datarati, invited over 80 clients for a workshop breakfast to discuss what they were going to Stop, Keep and Start doing in 2014 around four pillars of marketing. The findings were then presented for an hour to the room and to a live webcast audience.

Guy’s role was to graphic record the findings presentation and panel discussion. It was fast paced, reflected in the ‘insight loaded’ graphic recording poster. The video of the findings and my final graphic recording poster can be seen at stopkeepstart.com Thanks to production company Ten Alphas for inviting me to graphic record the session.

HP Software Forum

Insight 2014

The graphic recording poster from the HP Software Canberra Forum plenary.

Guy graphic recorded three HP Software Forums called “Insight 2014”. Held in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, the HP events provided the latest information for HP Software customers. As the graphic recorder, Guy’s role was to visually capture the key points and themes from the main presentation on “Connected Intelligence: the New Style of IT”.

The posters were shared on the HP Software online forum so that attendees had a visual and engaging memory tool from the event that could trigger memories, help them remember key insights but also spark new thinking. The photo below is of the venue room with Guy’s graphic recording work station in the left hand corner.

Graphic recording A Day of Inspiration

My graphic recording poster of the Q&A with Paul Roos & Susie Maroney

I had the privilege last week of being the graphic recorder atA Day of Inspiration, which is billed as one of Australia’s most inspiring corporate events. All my graphic recording posters of each key note speaker can be downloaded here for free. There are nine graphic recording posters in total.

A Day of Inspiration brings together some great keynote speakers who take the stage for a full day to share amazing stories about life, business,  achievements, courage and determination. The day raises vital money, awareness and support in the fight against cancer (all proceeds go to the Tour de Cure – a cycling foundation committed to finding a cure for cancer).

It was great to use my graphic recording skills to support such a great cause and draw speeches ‘live’ by the likes of Peter Fitzsimons, Drew Ginn, Susie Maroney, Philip Hesketh, Petrea King, Gerry Ryan, Leo Sayer, Paul Roos and others.  Thanks to Gary Bertwistle and his team for a great day and for getting me involved.

My graphic recording poster of speeches by Leo Sayer and Drew Ginn

My graphic recording poster of Petrea King's speech

My graphic recording boards & work zone in the background

The Day of Inspiration venue: Doltone House

Drawing out ideas: graphic recording

Me, graphic recording during an organisation workshop

One of the important ingredients with graphic recording is listening intently to the meeting or workshop conversation and capturing the conversation using the words of the participants (as opposed to my own). I recently posted a story showing some of the icons I draw and scatter within my posters as I build on the key words, issues or ideas I hear. Here are some more.

Don't be afraid of selling

Look internally and externally

Setting boundaries

Look at the advantages/benefits

Time to reflect during a workshop coffee break

Pictures spark conversation and fresh thinking in business planning

One of the real advantages of graphic recording (or drawing meeting conversations as they happen on large posters) is that participants have the opportunity to stand back and see what they have been talking about. It allows businesses and organisations to see how their ideas have evolved and the direction their conversations are going in. It’s a colourful and creative record of their group discussion (which, if not captured, may have otherwise been lost forever) and shows them ‘the bigger picture’.

A photo of me capturing the conversation at a leadership workshop

From my experience, I have found no matter what industry sector the business is in people respond to pictures. I think drawings and pictures strike an innate chord within us – we learn to speak with images first and then move onto letters and words. As we get older, we may put less emphasis on pictures but deep down I believe the connection always exists.

The icons I draw and scatter within my posters build on the key words, issues or ideas I hear while listening intently to the conversation in the room. And when people reflect on the posters, the icons or images seem to reignite this connection to pictures – and in doing so, they help spark conversations, kick-start more thinking or allow people to understand or share a key point within the context of their business.

The start of one of my posters from a business strategy workshop

I like to think of the icons I draw as little ‘doorways’ that allow people to step into new areas or as little ‘bridges’ that enable participants to meet half way and find common ground without getting stuck on words or corporate language. Here are a few of examples from recent business and leadership workshops. I hope you enjoy them.

Leading change

Motivating our employees

Dream like you were a kid again

Entrepreneurs never sleep

Building trust

Business can be challenging and tough

Acknowledge achievement

Business congestion

The fish bowl effect at work

Somethings aren't an overnight process

What big themes jump out at you?

Sharpen your story

 And finally, here’s a good photo of participants at a business leadership planning workshop reviewing their ideas and ‘standing back to see the bigger picture’ of how their strategic discussion had evolved.

Partipicants review, reflect on and discuss the graphic recording posters

Anittel uses visual communication to share its company story

• Anittel uses graphic recording to draw out business ideas
• Shares its vision with key stakeholders using a company ‘Journey Map’

Introduction:

I’ve recently been working with Anittel, a national IT and Telecommunications company, using visual communication to help them create a common language and catalyst for both internal and external business communication.

Following a period of expansion and acquisitions, which brought together new team members, skills and cultures, Anittel’s CEO, Ilkka Tales, and senior management team were keen to visualise their collective thinking to help identify key opportunities, focus areas and ideas that could drive the business forward.

The work:

As a visual communication consultant, I was brought in to work on two specific phases.

• Phase one – graphic recording: firstly, to graphic record a senior leadership workshop where the new company leaders gathered to discuss ideas and thinking around the company priorities, opportunities and challenges.

My graphic recording posters in the background of the leadership team workshop

• Phase two – Journey Map creation: secondly, to use the most important ideas from the graphic recording content as the foundation for developing a Journey Map, which uses a themed picture (full of visual language, metaphors and images) to highlight the direction, priorities, values and vision of the company in a quick, engaging and compelling manner.

The Anittel Journey Map in full colour

An express train and journey theme was chosen as the creative concept for Anittel’s map. Key elements along the track and dotted throughout the landscape acted as visual metaphors for the most important elements that must be acted upon and remembered if the company is to achieve its objectives.

The Journey Map was coloured in phases, moving from B&W to full colour in stages, to help focus the map’s ‘story teller’ on key initiatives and in their order of importance.  The coloured phasing also helped to ‘build’ the company story as the Journey Map was explained and re-told.

The Anittel Journey Map in simple black & white: the point where the storytelling starts

The first phase of colour appears on the Journey Map and sparks the story and picture into life

The second phase of colour appears and shifts focus to the next key company initiative

The story continues as the picture begins to fill with more colour and the story moves to a new section

The Journey Map picture and story continues to unfold, helping the viewer/audience get a visual snapshot of the organisation's priorities

The Journey Map's visual language helps to build a common communication platform for engagement, understanding and sharing the company vision

The Journey Map act as a daily reminder of the company vision and how to get there in a creative, easy-to-understand and engaging manner

The results:

How Anittel used the graphic recording posters:

• The posters were on display at a Board Meeting to build a better understanding among Board members of the senior team’s views on the company, key initiatives, issues and opportunities.
• The posters were digitally photographed and included in a Powerpoint presentation so that the ideas and discussion captured at the senior leadership workshop could ‘live on’ in the business well after the event.

Graphic recording helps capture conversations as they happen so people can stand back and 'see what they mean' as well as the discussion 'bigger picture'

How Anittel has been using the company Journey Map:

• The senior leadership team presented the Journey Maps to their teams nationally and shared the ‘story within the picture’ to introduce a common platform on the business’s main objectives, challenges, priorities and how they would navigate its future journey.
• All employees have been given the Journey Map either as a screen saver or as a desk-side poster to act as a daily reminder of the company vision and how to travel towards success.
• The senior leadership team has regularly used the Journey Map in meetings with external stakeholders to share the ‘big picture’ of Anittel’s vision in a quick, engaging and creative way.

“Guy has really helped us develop a common communication platform that lets us share our company story with all types of people. The Journey Map has been fantastic for employees to picture our approach and journey ahead.  We also use the Map when talking to key external stakeholders, such as partners, investors, suppliers, to introduce them to the ‘who, what, how and why’ behind the company. The project has been invaluable for us as a communications tool for staff and customers.”
 Ilkka Tales, CEO, Anittel

Stepping into the ‘Innersphere’

Graphic recording for ING and experience dna Live Events

Start of Day 1: two graphic recording posters (3m x1m) are in position

Overview:

• Graphic recording at an intimate two-day closed door event, titled ‘Innersphere’ – an ongoing programme of CEO-level retreats created solely for ING’s executives and key distributors across Australia
• Event experience created by experience dna – designers and deliverers of effective and transforming communications in the live event space
• CEO-level, senior government and high profile business and media guest speakers attended the event
• Event held at Hotel Realm and Old Parliament House, Canberra
• As the graphic recorder, I produced 11 large creative posters (each 3m X 1m) of all presentations and panel sessions, drawing them ‘live’ as the speakers were presenting

The main room on Day 1: immacutely designed and created by experience dna at Hotel Realm

Two high-impact days.  Two impressive venues.  11 influential speakers.  High-level topics covering financial, political, business and life matters.  Over 20 senior financial services executives attending.

These are just a few of the key ingredients that created the setting for ING’s compelling and engaging ‘Innersphere’ – a top to bottom design delivery of an ongoing programme of CEO-level retreats seamlessly created by ING and experience dna.

Innersphere’s creates opportunities for ING senior management to build alignment and relationships with ING’s key client base and vice versa.

Drawing the conversation 'live': poster #1 is complete and filled with ideas, topics and questions from the first presentation

As the event’s ‘live’ graphic recorder, my role over the two days was to:

• visually capture all the presentations and panel sessions onto large posters using a mixture of hand-drawn pictures, words and images
• draw a creative record of the conversations and key themes that would capture imagination during the retreat and ‘live on’ after the event.

Why else was I there?

• to inject a level of creativity, colour and innovation during the proceedings;
• to reflect the event’s objective of doing things differently; and
• to work with experience dna and ING to create template posters on the day that could be used to capture critical information generated from discussions and team workshops.

Colour, images, words: a shot of one of my graphic recording posters from Day 2 at Old Parliament House

The presentations, Q&A’s and panel sessions involved ING executives, former politicians, financial executives, treasury officials, CEOs and media guest speakers.

Speakers included senior executives from ING, Bernard Salt (KPMG), Nigel Marsh (CEO, Y&R Brands and author of ‘Fat, Forty and Fired’), Bernie Ripoll (Ripoll Report), John Brogden and Terry Bell (Business Health Check) among others.

As the graphic recorder, I produced 11 large creative posters (each 3m X 1m) of all presentations and panel sessions, drawing them ‘live’ as the speakers were presenting.

Commenting on my work and involvement, Roger Dowling, Managing Director, and Ian MacIntosh, Creative Director, experience dna Live Events, said: “ING Innersphere is a CEO-level, intimate and bespoke event and one of the key objectives behind the two day gathering is to do things differently. Experience DNA brought Guy on board to help achieve exactly this. By using his graphic recording, art and communication skills, Guy ‘drew’ the conversation, ideas, challenges and opportunities as they were being discussed onto large scale and panoramic-style posters. Guy has the unique ability of being able to distil and humanise complex topics into creative and eye-catching posters (without losing any of the core messages). Guy’s work has also delivered ING a memorable creative record of the event that they can reference for future purposes”.

Coffee break at Old Parliament House: my posters create a backdrop to the conversation during coffee and throughout the presentations, Q&A and panel sessions

Here are some snap shots of the posters and one template I created for a workshop session:

The ING logo: quickly and colourfully sketched at the top of each poster

An icon example from one of my posters to symbolise 'alignment'

Examples of icons, images, words and colour

A template poster used by teams in a workshop to identify industry hot topics

The view on departure from ING Innersphere

Helping Ogilvy PR Central team to think visually

Ogilvy PR Central team: brainstorm output posters...before

The success of many communication businesses is also due to the critical people that work behind the scenes. External clients may never see them — but a successful business can’t do without them. For me, this encapsulates the Ogilvy PR Central team in Sydney, which looks after financial strategy, finance, accounts, HR and talent. (disclaimer: I worked at Ogilvy PR for 6 years).

I recently helped the Ogilvy PR Central team, led by Emma Cartwright, to convert key ideas captured from an internal brainstorm on being ‘a trusted advsior’ into a visual poster and framework that the team could see and use everyday in their office.

Ogilvy PR Central team: brainstorm poster template...after

The aim was to create a poster to help the team ‘live and breathe’ the outcomes from that brainstorm on a daily basis – as well as creating something more visually compelling than messy old sheets of butchers paper. The final poster was full of visual metaphors and acted as a framework so the team could populate it with ideas and thoughts on a daily basis using post-it notes.

Here’s what Emma said:

“One of the key goals in my department is for each of us to be a “trusted advisor” to our clients – Guy helped to bring this to life for us, turning a bunch of words on some messy documents into a colourful wall poster that captures the spirit of what it takes to be a trusted advisor, and is used every day to celebrate examples of success.  He listened so carefully to what it meant to me before translating this into an impactful visual that has pride of place on our wall, with the flexibility to evolve the content over time.  Thank you!”

Emma Cartwright, Director, Talent & Finance, Ogilvy PR Australia

Ogilvy PR Central team: poster detail

Ogilvy PR Central team: poster on the wall

Visual agenda for a graphic recording session

Graphic recording: agenda for client session

I developed this visual agenda as an example of a graphic recording tool that can be used during a strategy or facilitation session. The poster size is approximately 4m long x 2m wide. It’s main objective is to create an impactful, themed and eye-catching agenda that the facilitator and, more importantly, the participants can refer to during their session so they can stay focused, stay on track and ultimately ‘see the bigger picture’. This fresh approach injects life and energy into an agenda – an item that can easily become lifeless, dull or simply overlooked.

Airds OutLOUD!: graphic recording for community engagement

Airds OutLOUD!: Hip Hop workshop

Airds OutLOUD! was a large scale Housing NSW community renewal event held in Airds, near Campbelltown in July 2009. Straight Talk, a leading specialist consultancy in community engagement (and great team to work with), hired me to graphic record several sessions.

During the event, there were several ‘youth activity hubs’, offering a range of opportunities for kids and young people to get involved, such as Parcour (a physical activity where kids leap on walls and roofs) and Hip Hop.  As the young people took part they had conversations with the activity and leaders about what it is like to live in Airds.

Using my graphic recording skills, my brief was to capture the ideas and feelings graphically and visually. It was fast and furious work as things moved quickly. I produced a colourful, engaging record of what young people were thinking. Later, my posters were used for more formal planning exercises where it can be hard to capture and hear the voice of young people.

Airds OutLOUD!: recording the Parcour session

Airds OutLOUD!: completed Parcour poster

Airds OutLOUD!: Hip Hop Graphic Recording detail

BBCi Live Chat Studio launch: wall design

BBCi Live Chat Studio launch: main wall design

I worked on the launch of the BBCi Live Chat Studio (The Strand, London) in 2002 and was given the open brief to decorate the inside creative space (which was viewable by passers-by from the street) in a way that would attract attention and illustrate the way the BBC is using technology to inspire a two way connection with its audiences. The wall was approximately 10m long and 3 metres high — I completed the project to a tight deadline (I only had access to the room for 6 hours so really had to plan my design to the Nth degree before cracking open my paint pens and getting busy).

BBCi Live Chat Studio: wall design

BBCi Live Chat Studio: my mess and old coffee cups in view

 My challenge was to grasp and communicate some pretty complex ideas across a large space (e.g. interactivity, global communications, varied audiences etc) and in a simple, eye-catching manner. It’s definitely one of the best jobs I have done (and without knowing probably the start of my foray into large scale graphic recording 7 years later). Standing back to look at it after 6 hours of intense work, I got one massive buzz. Sadly, it was wiped off a few days after launch — but that’s life.

BBCi Live Chat Studio: impending deadline but still smiling