Also known as graphic recording, sketch noting or visual minutes.
What is it?
'Sketch noting' is a term for having artwork created live during an event. It has other names like visual minutes, sketch noting, graphic recording and graphic facilitation. It's the process of capturing a live event as engaging colourful visuals. It's a great way to engage and support individuals and teams.
It can take various forms;
Capturing a speaker's words as visuals as they deliver their talk at a conference
Working with a team at a company away day, turning feedback into posters
Capturing company's core values as spoken notes and turning them into highly polished illustrations
(90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.)
Sketch noting is a great way to enhance the impact and takeaways from an event. With the live art I create for clients, all artwork is owned by the clients once it has been created, and can be reused however they like. Often on office walls or social media.
Sketch noting (Graphic recording) is thinking fast with visuals. Creating engaging illustrations during a talk, conference or event. It has other names like visual minutes, live scribing and graphic facilitation.
Connecting what speakers are saying with what images are commonly represented by the subject being spoken about. There's also humour, as I like to add appropriate humour to visuals. Just my opinion, though I think with more serious topics, using a little light humour can help with how people engage with difficult subjects, and some of my clients agree.
It’s a great way to make an event memorable and informally promote learning.
90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, so more information is retained.
Artwork created can be shared in social media.
It’s human-made content.
Conferences, seminars and plenaries.
Community engagement sessions (Eg. local council and residents, board and stakeholders)
Education and training events
Capturing talks and keynote speakers.
Team feedback, discussion and ideation sessions.
Company retreats and away days.
I've covered a broad range of subjects, often briefed by clients with specific needs. Here are some examples:
Greater Manchester Live Well Strategy (GMCA).
Developing programmes for young people in care & supported accommodation (GMYN).
National BCorp Conference.
Addressing the cost of living crisis (NECA).
Housing association and tenants plenary.
Further education seminars (NIHR).
Health and Safety (NFCC).
Arts Festivals
Traditional live scribing is done using board or large sheets of paper and marker pens. It’s very flexible for most events.
Digital scribing is created on a pen tablet (a Movink, Galaxy Tab or Ipad) which is displayed on a monitor or projector screen.
Virtual scribing is done over a meeting app like zoom or teams.
Both are great, considerations are a mixture of the available technology in the event space, and personal choice.
Traditional live scribing is created using many sheets/boards and can slow fill a wall over the course of an event so everything is on show, the whole day can be seen. It’s a very tactile experience for an audience to observe.
Digital scribing can look more slick, with art appearing on a screen. A main consideration for talks if the speaker has a slide deck is having a second screen for live scribing. A projector can be supplied too, to project art at scale on a wall.
With John Cooper, all artwork is owned by the clients once it has been created and can be reused however they like (with the exception of feeding AI models!)
Check with the live scribe you’re using if they have any specific licencing conditions.
Over the last few years, more of my work has included social engagement. Not only creating final design and illustration pieces, but also going into communities to deliver workshops, empowering others to be more creative and have a voice on what's being designed.
Whether it's the branding for Salford's Child Friendly City incentive, Q and A's with attendees at a live scribe event or running a session at the opening of Stockport's Stockroom, social engagement has now become a part of my overall offering. Since joining GRIT studios in late 2023 I've been able to combine these skills much more often, and I thank them for spotting new opportunities for me to do so too.
You see - full disclosure - when I'm not designing and illustrating, I'm performing and teaching. I've performed and taught comedy and improv on and off for almost twenty years. I'm also involved in TEDx Warrington. I consider myself a 'creative generalist' and have for a long time. It's a slow burn to skill up in a few different areas, but the career rewards, I think, are much greater.
Having an eclectic skill set offers a few different ways into a project. My involvement can involve helping to spark curiosity, build trust, and create a space where people feel safe to express themselves. It's not just the 'what' of a projects outcome, but finding the best 'how' to get there, where everyone feels invested.
Art can be a catalyst for change, and I see my role as helping others tap into that potential. Whether it’s sparking joy, raising awareness, or building community, I’m there to make creativity a shared experience—one that lingers long after the workshop ends.
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