Let Live illustration take your event to the next level
John is a live illustrator/graphic recorder working at events all over the UK.
It's the process of capturing an event with engaging colourful visuals during a talk, conference or event. It has other names such as live scribing, graphic recording, visual minutes or sketch noting. Working both digitally and traditionally, live scribing is a great way to make an event memorable and promote learning.
Digital example above & Traditional (markers) below.
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 core values as spoken notes and turning them into highly polished illustrations
90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual
Live art is a great way to create takeaways and retain information once an event occurs. At an event, 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.
Large format paper and marker pens. Very flexible for most events.
Digital
Digital pen tablet connected to a stage screen or projector.
Remote
Connecting virtually to an online meeting.
Get Live Scribing for your event
Half Day
Short discovery call
Events up to 3 hours
Live scribing virtually or in person.
Digital scribing using screen sharing (or the best option for your tech set up)
An online image gallery to see images after the event.
One feedback revision
All traditional artwork is given to the client at the end of the event.
+travel expenses for in-person
£400
Full Day
The popular choice!
Short discovery call
Events up to 8 hours.
Digital scribing using screen sharing (or the best option for your tech set up)
Live illustrations created traditionally or digitally.
An online image gallery to see images after the event.
Two feedback revisions
All traditional artwork is given to the client at the end of the event.
+travel expenses for in-person
£600
Premium
All options covered!
Short discovery call
Events of 2 days or more.
Live illustrations created traditionally or digitally.
Images projected onto a wall or via monitor
An online image gallery to see images after the event.
Two feedback revisions
All traditional artwork is given to the client at the end of the event.
+travel expenses for in-person
£1000
Check my availability
A live event illustrator - using sensitivity and appropriate humour
Often live illustration is used even where sensitivity is required, I also use appropriate humour to get a message across, too. Seeing live artwork being created helps others get in a creative mood too, so your audience is engaged and energised.
Are you a visual learner? Live scribing is a great way to make your event have an impact on your audience. Opinions, stories and light bulb moments are captured and remembered for you and your attendees long after the event has passed.
Creating art at speed is a challenge and the goal is to find a balance of words and pictures to summarise the theme of the talk. As an artist, I have to be present and adapt quickly to the visuals I'm creating.
There's a graphic design shorthand at work. 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.
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