Working digitally as a graphic recorder

Deb sitting at her desk, happy to be graphic recording digitally!

I need to say this out loud. I’m in love with my iPad. Even though for many years I was purely analog, I cannot see myself ever leaving this monogamous relationship and two-timing with markers on a wall… and here’s my reasons why.

I’m no longer in the way

When I’m capturing a visual at workshops, conferences and events these days – I’m working on my iPad in an app called Procreate. Once upon a time, I worked on paper, live and large at the front of the room. This meant the work needed to be not too high off the ground, because I’m not particularly tall, and I was often standing in front of it as I worked. Now, with the iPad connected to my projector, I can beam the work higher up for more to see. Also – the size of my projected canvas can flex with the space – when it’s an intimate strategy session with 10 people, we can use a boardroom big screen TV, but if we’re at the Exhibition Centre, the projection can be super-sized to suit the space.

Next level visuals

Working digitally means I have the world at my feet visually. I can incorporate photography, textures, plenty of colour – there’s no limit! I can also work within your brand guidelines to precise colour palettes, brandmarks and graphic devices – so not only are the canvases beautiful, they’re on brand.

 

 

Instant finished product!

You want those graphic recordings now? Because it’s digital I can deliver the image and video outputs from workshops and events almost instantaneously. You heard right, VIDEO. Procreate outputs a timelapse of the graphic recording. It’s basically recording every lift of the pencil – and the result is an illustrated video, which helps to tell the story in sequence.

Timelapse video

The result for your audience is quite powerful. Looking back over a static illustration is always great to reflect and recall what happened in the room. But watching a story unfold in the timelapse can help people see the journey. This is powerful when participants are sharing the results of a session with a wider audience. The sequence in the video creates a narrative and demonstrates how ideas and solutions were arrived at, rather than simply looking at the end result.

The videos are also great for social media – if you have goals around engagement on social media platforms, video can help! Sharing videos of keynotes after a conference is a great way to reach a wider audience comes back next year.

So that’s enough reasons for everybody isn’t it? Graphic recording was ALREADY an amazing thing, making meaning and engaging audiences at workshops and conferences. And now, it’s even more so! Also – I think my markers have dried out.