International Advertising Association: drawing the boardroom brainstorm

Posted by Guy Downes on August 12, 2010 under Graphic Recording | Be the First to Comment

Working as a graphic recorder recently took me to the Clemenger Group building* in St. Leonard’s where I had been invited to capture a planning brainstorm for the Australian Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA).

The aim of this session was for the IAA board to discuss and brainstorm their vision and strategy for the next few years and explore opportunities for the association.

As a graphic recorder, my role was to distill the key ideas, conversation flow and the main themes during a three hour meeting onto large posters that filled one side of the boardroom wall. Using my technique of combining images, sketches, words and colour, my objective was to listen intently to the brainstorm and draw an engaging visual record of the discussion so that the IAA board could stand back and creatively see the “big picture” of what they had been talking about.

My graphic recording posters provided a visual overview and creative record that the IAA board will now use as a reference point in future workshops and to help plan the association’s future direction and priorities.

The IAA is the only international organisation that brings together advertisers, agencies, the media and practitioners in all aspects of marketing communications into one professional body to promote matters of common interest. One of the association’s goals is to promote the critical role and benefits of advertising as the vital force behind all healthy economies and the foundation of diverse, independent media.

*The Clemenger Group boardroom probably has one of the best views of Sydney from the lower north shore. Sadly, I didn’t take a picture…