Posted by Guy Downes on February 20, 2012 under Graphic Recording | 
My graphic recording poster of the Q&A with Paul Roos & Susie Maroney
I had the privilege last week of being the graphic recorder at A Day of Inspiration, which is billed as one of Australia’s most inspiring corporate events. All my graphic recording posters of each key note speaker can be downloaded here for free. There are nine graphic recording posters in total.
A Day of Inspiration brings together some great keynote speakers who take the stage for a full day to share amazing stories about life, business, achievements, courage and determination. The day raises vital money, awareness and support in the fight against cancer (all proceeds go to the Tour de Cure – a cycling foundation committed to finding a cure for cancer).
It was great to use my graphic recording skills to support such a great cause and draw speeches ’live’ by the likes of Peter Fitzsimons, Drew Ginn, Susie Maroney, Philip Hesketh, Petrea King, Gerry Ryan, Leo Sayer, Paul Roos and others. Thanks to Gary Bertwistle and his team for a great day and for getting me involved.
My graphic recording poster of speeches by Leo Sayer and Drew Ginn
My graphic recording poster of Petrea King's speech
Tags: A Day of Inspiration, Communication, Doodles, Graphic Recording, Happiness, health, Ideas, Key notespeakers, Life, Mind mapping, Tour de Cure, Visual notes
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 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 March 6, 2011 under Graphic Recording |
Me, graphic recording during an organisation workshop
One of the important ingredients with graphic recording is listening intently to the meeting or workshop conversation and capturing the conversation using the words of the participants (as opposed to my own). I recently posted a story showing some of the icons I draw and scatter within my posters as I build on the key words, issues or ideas I hear. Here are some more.
Don't be afraid of selling
Look internally and externally
Setting boundaries
Look at the advantages/benefits
Time to reflect during a workshop coffee break
Posted by Guy Downes on February 15, 2011 under Graphic Recording |
One of the real advantages of graphic recording (or drawing meeting conversations as they happen on large posters) is that participants have the opportunity to stand back and see what they have been talking about. It allows businesses and organisations to see how their ideas have evolved and the direction their conversations are going in. It’s a colourful and creative record of their group discussion (which, if not captured, may have otherwise been lost forever) and shows them ‘the bigger picture’.
A photo of me capturing the conversation at a leadership workshop
From my experience, I have found no matter what industry sector the business is in people respond to pictures. I think drawings and pictures strike an innate chord within us – we learn to speak with images first and then move onto letters and words. As we get older, we may put less emphasis on pictures but deep down I believe the connection always exists.
The icons I draw and scatter within my posters build on the key words, issues or ideas I hear while listening intently to the conversation in the room. And when people reflect on the posters, the icons or images seem to reignite this connection to pictures – and in doing so, they help spark conversations, kick-start more thinking or allow people to understand or share a key point within the context of their business.
The start of one of my posters from a business strategy workshop
I like to think of the icons I draw as little ‘doorways’ that allow people to step into new areas or as little ‘bridges’ that enable participants to meet half way and find common ground without getting stuck on words or corporate language. Here are a few of examples from recent business and leadership workshops. I hope you enjoy them.
Leading change
Motivating our employees
Dream like you were a kid again
Entrepreneurs never sleep
Building trust
Business can be challenging and tough
Acknowledge achievement
Business congestion
The fish bowl effect at work
Somethings aren't an overnight process
What big themes jump out at you?
Sharpen your story
And finally, here’s a good photo of participants at a business leadership planning workshop reviewing their ideas and ‘standing back to see the bigger picture’ of how their strategic discussion had evolved.
Partipicants review, reflect on and discuss the graphic recording posters
Posted by Guy Downes on September 10, 2010 under Graphic Recording, Infographics |
- Anittel uses graphic recording to draw out business ideas
- Shares its vision with key stakeholders using a company ‘Journey Map’
Introduction:
I’ve recently been working with Anittel, a national IT and Telecommunications company, using visual communication to help them create a common language and catalyst for both internal and external business communication.
Following a period of expansion and acquisitions, which brought together new team members, skills and cultures, Anittel’s CEO, Ilkka Tales, and senior management team were keen to visualise their collective thinking to help identify key opportunities, focus areas and ideas that could drive the business forward.
The work:
As a visual communication consultant, I was brought in to work on two specific phases.
- Phase one – graphic recording: firstly, to graphic record a senior leadership workshop where the new company leaders gathered to discuss ideas and thinking around the company priorities, opportunities and challenges.
My graphic recording posters in the background of the leadership team workshop
- Phase two – Journey Map creation: secondly, to use the most important ideas from the graphic recording content as the foundation for developing a Journey Map, which uses a themed picture (full of visual language, metaphors and images) to highlight the direction, priorities, values and vision of the company in a quick, engaging and compelling manner.
The Anittel Journey Map in full colour
An express train and journey theme was chosen as the creative concept for Anittel’s map. Key elements along the track and dotted throughout the landscape acted as visual metaphors for the most important elements that must be acted upon and remembered if the company is to achieve its objectives.
The Journey Map was coloured in phases, moving from B&W to full colour in stages, to help focus the map’s ‘story teller’ on key initiatives and in their order of importance. The coloured phasing also helped to ‘build’ the company story as the Journey Map was explained and re-told.
The Anittel Journey Map in simple black & white: the point where the storytelling starts
The first phase of colour appears on the Journey Map and sparks the story and picture into life
The second phase of colour appears and shifts focus to the next key company initiative
The story continues as the picture begins to fill with more colour and the story moves to a new section
The Journey Map picture and story continues to unfold, helping the viewer/audience get a visual snapshot of the organisation's priorities
The Journey Map's visual language helps to build a common communication platform for engagement, understanding and sharing the company vision
The Journey Map act as a daily reminder of the company vision and how to get there in a creative, easy-to-understand and engaging manner
The results:
How Anittel used the graphic recording posters:
- The posters were on display at a Board Meeting to build a better understanding among Board members of the senior team’s views on the company, key initiatives, issues and opportunities.
- The posters were digitally photographed and included in a Powerpoint presentation so that the ideas and discussion captured at the senior leadership workshop could ‘live on’ in the business well after the event.
Graphic recording helps capture conversations as they happen so people can stand back and 'see what they mean' as well as the discussion 'bigger picture'
How Anittel has been using the company Journey Map:
- The senior leadership team presented the Journey Maps to their teams nationally and shared the ‘story within the picture’ to introduce a common platform on the business’s main objectives, challenges, priorities and how they would navigate its future journey.
- All employees have been given the Journey Map either as a screen saver or as a desk-side poster to act as a daily reminder of the company vision and how to travel towards success.
- The senior leadership team has regularly used the Journey Map in meetings with external stakeholders to share the ‘big picture’ of Anittel’s vision in a quick, engaging and creative way.
“Guy has really helped us develop a common communication platform that lets us share our company story with all types of people. The Journey Map has been fantastic for employees to picture our approach and journey ahead. We also use the Map when talking to key external stakeholders, such as partners, investors, suppliers, to introduce them to the ‘who, what, how and why’ behind the company. The project has been invaluable for us as a communications tool for staff and customers.”
Ilkka Tales, CEO, Anittel
Posted by Guy Downes on August 12, 2010 under Graphic Recording |
Before the brainstorm, blank graphic recording posters are ready to go
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.
6 metres of conversation and ideas: the posters are near completion
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 IAA board in discussion and brainstorming ideas
*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…
Posted by Guy Downes on August 3, 2010 under Graphic Recording |
Graphic recording at community events with school students is one of the most rewarding environments I get to work in. Being able to ‘draw their ideas’ is fantastic as students always have something to say and they say it with energy, passion and enthusiasm.
Graphic recording in action: me, listening intently and drawing furiously
I recently put my graphic recording skills to paper at the Bankstown Youth Summit where more than than 100 local young people met at the Town Hall to discuss ideas for the city’s future.
Illustrating ideas: the World Cafe poster
With almost 20 per cent of the local community aged between 12 and 24 years old, getting their views and voices heard is very important. By capturing all the ideas and key themes in colourful, large scale posters with a mixture of pictures, icons and words, my graphic recording was used to make sure ‘voices were heard’ and allowed the ideas to live on well after the event. In terms of return-on-investment, the Council has since been using my graphic recording posters to support their planning process for the Bankstown Community Plan.
My skills were also used to create poster templates that the students could populate with ideas and thoughts during breakout sessions and workshops during the day.
What will make the biggest difference?: a template for the students to fill with ideas on post-it notes
What is a quick or early win? Blank template poster. Notice the fork in the bottom right hand corner to show its actual size.
The ‘Youth Summit’ was organised by Bankstown City Council in collaboration with Straight Talk (a leading community engagement and strategic communications consultancy) as part of community consultation on the new Bankstown Community Plan. Bankstown City Council will be using the Plan as a long-term strategy document to guide the growth and development of the city.
Window of hope: blank template poster ready for the students coloured pictures
Window of hope poster: full with student names, pictures and brimming with colour
A full house: students brainstorm ideas in working groups
My graphic recording area: right next to the action
Posted by Guy Downes on June 29, 2010 under Graphic Recording |
Start of Day 1: two graphic recording posters (3m x1m) are in position
Overview:
- Graphic recording at an intimate two-day closed door event, titled ‘Innersphere’ – an ongoing programme of CEO-level retreats created solely for ING’s executives and key distributors across Australia
- Event experience created by experience dna – designers and deliverers of effective and transforming communications in the live event space
- CEO-level, senior government and high profile business and media guest speakers attended the event
- Event held at Hotel Realm and Old Parliament House, Canberra
- As the graphic recorder, I produced 11 large creative posters (each 3m X 1m) of all presentations and panel sessions, drawing them ‘live’ as the speakers were presenting
The main room on Day 1: immacutely designed and created by experience dna at Hotel Realm
Two high-impact days. Two impressive venues. 11 influential speakers. High-level topics covering financial, political, business and life matters. Over 20 senior financial services executives attending.
These are just a few of the key ingredients that created the setting for ING’s compelling and engaging ‘Innersphere’ – a top to bottom design delivery of an ongoing programme of CEO-level retreats seamlessly created by ING and experience dna.
Innersphere’s creates opportunities for ING senior management to build alignment and relationships with ING’s key client base and vice versa.
Drawing the conversation 'live': poster #1 is complete and filled with ideas, topics and questions from the first presentation
As the event’s ‘live’ graphic recorder, my role over the two days was to:
- visually capture all the presentations and panel sessions onto large posters using a mixture of hand-drawn pictures, words and images
- draw a creative record of the conversations and key themes that would capture imagination during the retreat and ‘live on’ after the event.
Why else was I there?
- to inject a level of creativity, colour and innovation during the proceedings;
- to reflect the event’s objective of doing things differently; and
- to work with experience dna and ING to create template posters on the day that could be used to capture critical information generated from discussions and team workshops.
Colour, images, words: a shot of one of my graphic recording posters from Day 2 at Old Parliament House
The presentations, Q&A’s and panel sessions involved ING executives, former politicians, financial executives, treasury officials, CEOs and media guest speakers.
Speakers included senior executives from ING, Bernard Salt (KPMG), Nigel Marsh (CEO, Y&R Brands and author of ‘Fat, Forty and Fired’), Bernie Ripoll (Ripoll Report), John Brogden and Terry Bell (Business Health Check) among others.
As the graphic recorder, I produced 11 large creative posters (each 3m X 1m) of all presentations and panel sessions, drawing them ‘live’ as the speakers were presenting.
Commenting on my work and involvement, Roger Dowling, Managing Director, and Ian MacIntosh, Creative Director, experience dna Live Events, said: “ING Innersphere is a CEO-level, intimate and bespoke event and one of the key objectives behind the two day gathering is to do things differently. Experience DNA brought Guy on board to help achieve exactly this. By using his graphic recording, art and communication skills, Guy ‘drew’ the conversation, ideas, challenges and opportunities as they were being discussed onto large scale and panoramic-style posters. Guy has the unique ability of being able to distil and humanise complex topics into creative and eye-catching posters (without losing any of the core messages). Guy’s work has also delivered ING a memorable creative record of the event that they can reference for future purposes”.
Coffee break at Old Parliament House: my posters create a backdrop to the conversation during coffee and throughout the presentations, Q&A and panel sessions
Here are some snap shots of the posters and one template I created for a workshop session:
The ING logo: quickly and colourfully sketched at the top of each poster
An icon example from one of my posters to symbolise 'alignment'
Examples of icons, images, words and colour
A template poster used by teams in a workshop to identify industry hot topics
The view on departure from ING Innersphere
Posted by Guy Downes on March 19, 2010 under Graphic Recording |
Providing people with the opportunity to stand back and see their collective ideas during a conference workshop is important. One way to achieve this is by using creative posters that are drawn beforehand as templates. They are then used as a recording tool during the session allowing participants to capture their critical thinking.
Mirella Di Genua (a facilitator, stakeholder engagement and change management specialist), with whom I work regularly and highly recommend, recently facilitated a preconference workshop to explore how to better integrate community/stakeholder engagement in policy development. The conference was called ‘Community Engagement in Policy Development’ held in Melbourne in late February. Mirella tasked me with preparing some posters that she could use during her workshop.
The aim of the facilitation process was to identify with the participants:
- the edgy and top of mind questions that brought them to the conference;
- their views around community engagement in Policy Development;
- ways to explore the barriers and opportunities for engagement; and
- a vision and preliminary framework for greater community engagement.
As the workshop was highly participatory it provided the participants with a heightened focus for conference learning and facilitated the creation of relationships through the sharing experiences in the workshop.
Here are some of my posters beforehand and in use during the workshop (with some close ups to show some creative detail).
The Outcomes/Agenda/Roles (OAR) poster - beforehand
The OAR poster: full with workshop thoughts and ideas
A large poster to capture workshop questions
Afterwards: the poster full with questions using coloured post-it notes
Blank poster to capture ideas on vision integration
Completed vision integration poster full of ideas and colour
Poster detail: outcomes
Poster detail: outcomes, roles, working together
Visioning poster detail: image to represent 'setting the course'
Visioning poster detail: image for leadership/direction
Questioning poster: image to show people in a Q&A process
