what are visual notes?
visual notes are a combination of text and illustration, made live at events.
I make these on the spot while attending many different kinds of gatherings, like conferences, workshops, and online meetings.
The result is a unique visual summary of what has taken place. A document that makes participants look back on the event fondly. Not another swath of text to read, but something engaging and fun, maybe including their own quote or even a drawn version of themselves.
Because the illustration is created during the event, I can share my progress at the close of the program, walking people through the drawings, and giving a short debrief of what I have seen and heard. I usually take some time after the meeting to finish up the visual, but there is always enough to show at the end of the day.
In over a decade of experience with live visual notes, I’ve found that this form of note-taking can add a deeper layer of meaning to an event. Not just the end result, but having someone engage with your subject matter live in the room with you.
In my experience, visual notes make your story more accessible, more memorable, and a lot more fun.
photos (except for the grainy one): francois de ribaucourt
use of visual notes during your event
I regularly work at events where my iPad is connected to a big screen. Drawings can be shared throughout the program, or as a separate segment at the end, giving the audience an immediate visual interpretation of what’s being discussed. My screen can be shared during breaks or intermezzos, for instance in the form of one cartoon about what has just been said. When my work is shown at the end of an event, I can say a few words about what about the meeting has stood out to me, offering a fresh perspective on what people are working on. This is often also a moment for people to take pictures of the drawings and share about the event online.
use of visual notes after your event
A visual summary of the event is something nice to share with participants afterwards. In a thank you email, for instance. Besides the summary, I also deliver drawings from the visual as separate files. These can be easily shared on social media, used for reports, or printed as thank you gifts. Below are a few examples of how my visual notes have been used for further communication.
the klosters forum
Report of an annual climate summit in the Swiss Alps. Click on an image below to see the full PDF.
grom productions
Cards, stickers and a poster of visual notes made on a film set during shooting, were gifted to the crew during the wrap party.
miscellaneous
curious?
If you’d like to have a chat about what visual notes could do for your event, feel free to contact me!
menahwellen@gmail.com
photo: magnus arrevad
