Posted by Guy Downes on January 19, 2012 under Cartoons | 
Most days I go to my local coffee shop and pick up a medium size flat white. There’s always a hello, a friendly smile and they know my order. And every time I take that first taste, it tastes the same regardless of the barista. It makes me realise that sometimes there’s real magic in the work people do. Like making a coffee and getting it right everytime. Whatever line of work you’re in and no matter how big or small the task, consistency can be magic.
Posted by Guy Downes on December 23, 2011 under Cartoons |
All year long my keyboard has been subtly trying to remind me of what’s important. Today, I’m taking its advice. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone who has supported me this year and who follows my work – hope you have a great and relaxing holiday. Until 2012!
Posted by Guy Downes on November 8, 2011 under Graphic Recording |
The left hand section of one of my graphic recording posters
I recently spent a great day graphic recording key note speeches and workshops at The Australasian Conference for Public Participation 2011. Held in Sydney from 20-21 October, the conference was presented by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasia, the region’s peak professional body for practitioners in the public participation and engagement industry. Themed ‘Excite, Engage, Evolve – Active Participation in a Changing World’, the conference attracted over 550 delegates and focussed on challenging current concepts, showcasing leading experts and demonstrating best practice from across the world.
The right hand section of one of my graphic recording posters
The graphic recording poster framework: rapidly capturing ideas, issues and opportunities while listening intently
A photo showing the length of one of my graphic recording posters in progress
My graphic recording area along one side of the conference main ball room
Posted by Guy Downes on October 10, 2011 under Illustration |
I’ve mentioned Matthew Johnstone before and it was great to have him back speaking at Tamworth City Library last week about his book: The Alphabet of the Human Heart. This page shows the visual notes I sketched while he was talking. You can tell when a speaker makes a connection with the audience – while talking, I looked around to see people (unaware to themselves) nodding, ‘hmmming’ in agreement or simply zoned in on what was being said. Matthew was definitely working his storytelling magic, helped by his pictures.
This book is beautifully illustrated by Matthew and was co-written with his long time friend, James Kerr. The book is described as: ‘A handbook for the happy, and a bible for the broken hearted, The Alphabet of the Human Heart is an enchanting and enriching journey through the upside and the downside of what it means to be human – our hopes and fears, our strengths and our weaknesses, our highs and our lows. It is an A to Zen of how we feel’.
Posted by Guy Downes on October 7, 2011 under Illustration |
Creativity
Canon Business Imaging Australia recently released a research report titled: ‘Change or be left behind’. According to Canon, ‘change is something that the majority of Australian businesses strive for yet find difficult to achieve’. The research examined Australian businesses’ approach and attitude towards change in the workplace. I contributed seven cartoons to the report which depicted light-hearted scenarios highlighting the qualities that were needed to help drive change (as identified in the research). If you’re interested in downloading the report and viewing all my cartoons, please visit: http://www.canon.com.au/Business/Change
Knowledge
Vision
Change or be left behind: the report front cover
Posted by Guy Downes on October 6, 2011 under Graphic Recording |
Graham Manvell shares his business insights with the Junior Chamber
There’s nothing better than graphic recording an authentic speaker who speaks from the heart and from experience. I had this opportunity recently at a Tamworth Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting where Graham Manvell, a leading chef, culinary judge and entrepreneur, shared his success stories, major challenges and key insights on how to get the best out of business – and life. Graphic recording Graham’s speech was great fun and I filled a 2.5 metre long graphic recording poster with insights, ideas and images. You can view the full graphic recording poster here. Thanks to Daniel Myers from the Junior Chamber executive committee and NAB Business Banking for getting me involved.
Graham’s speech drew on his experience in hospitality – he founded and runs the sSs BBQ Steakhouses and his business interests extend to nine restaurants, a buffalo farm, a brewery and the latest addition, the Kitty Crawford Estate vineyard. Here are some photos that show my graphic recording poster and a flavour of the evening:
My completed graphic recording poster
My blank graphic recording poster at the start
Listening intently and graphic recording at speed
The venue with my graphic recording poster on the back wall
A section of my graphic recording poster in detail
Posted by Guy Downes on September 7, 2011 under Cartoons |
GFC II, war, drought, famine, job cuts, disease… switch on the news or open the paper and the list goes on. In times of adversity, I believe several things keep us going. But the most powerful of them all is hope. In difficult times, we need to stock up on it more than ever.
Posted by Guy Downes on July 23, 2011 under Illustration |
Welcome to Mosworth – this is one of my favourite illustrations that I created last year for a Microsoft Online Services booklet. The picture is full of colour, activity and things to look at. The story booklet (called: “Mr Fix I.T. – the everyday hero for small business”) highlighted how computing can be simple for small to medium sized businesses with Microsoft Online Services. You can read the full case study here.
Posted by Guy Downes on June 2, 2011 under Illustration |
As reported in mUmBRELLA, “Kellogg is looking for an agency to handle its public relations, and is using Twitter to aid its search in what the brand believes is the first time the medium has been used for this purpose”. A great idea that sparked my latest cartoon.
Posted by Guy Downes on May 31, 2011 under Illustration |
Back in March, I contributed three cartoons to a PR thought leadership report co-ordinated by Craig Pearce and titled: Public relations 2011: issues, insights and ideas. My cartoons supported three of the articles that discussed PR education, PR and CSR and Facebook/social media:
My cartoon for: PR education – getting the theory-practice balance right, by Professor Jim Macnamara, Professor of Public Communication at the University of Technology Sydney
My cartoon for: PR is second rate CSR, by Craig Pearce, an award winning strategic public relations professional (and noted PR blogger)
My cartoon for: Messiah or just socially inept, by Dwight Whitney, Founder, Trinity Communications
The report is a very good read for PR and communication professionals as it features articles by eleven industry leaders from all over the globe and is available free for email subscribers from Craig Pearce’s blog, Public relations and managing reputation. Content in the report will help enhance PR professionals’ practical ability and strategic knowledge, expand their knowledge of the discipline’s power and provide them with ideas and assertions. Thanks to Craig for getting me involved.
