My Graphic Recordings engage your audience by documenting  - in real time -  the ideas and concepts being explored by the presenter or facilitator. The process can involve a small group tackling strategic planning or a large group session to a guest speaker.

How long have you been offering Graphic Recording services?
 I began offering Graphic Recording services in 2014. However, I’ve been creating visually engaging marketing material my entire professional career – since 1980.

What kind of companies and industries have you created marketing materials for?
I have worked in marketing, advertising and Web development for the following economic sectors:
 Manufacturing: office furniture • Manufacturing: point of purchase display • Manufacturing: large-scale paint coating systems • Education: College Development Department • Agriculture: Dairy Industry • Tourism: Demographically Targeted Destination Marketing • Manufacturing: Flexo Label Printing • Communication: Wisconsin Public Radio • Manufacturing: Product design for Paper Converting, Inclusion & Diversity: LGBT Door County and more!

What kind of industries/companies do you want to provide graphic recording services for?
I am happy to engage with anyone interested in my graphic recording services. My resume has provided me with a rich base of knowledge about both for-profit and non-profit entities. AND I enjoy variety!

When and why would I hire you?
Imagine, for example, you’re planning a 2 day meeting at which you need to have a difficult discussion about issues holding back your company or non-profit. I’ll be at the front or side of the room mapping out the conversation in real time on a sheet of paper roughly, four feet tall and eight feet long. The discussion and the drawing occur in real time meaning the group assembled to take on this issue, and actually SEE the discussion that took place! The messages are being reinforced audibly as the speaker delivers their presentation AND visually by following the drawing of the mural size graphic recording. (Approximately 4 ft. deep x 8 ft. wide.)

Depending on the agenda and the meeting’s objectives, I could be drawing several murals for a single presentation or meeting.

Every illustrated map becomes a record of the conversations that occur around the topic(s) being discussed. Participants hear the discussion, see the images created of the discussion and following the meeting they can receive a PDF copy of the graphic recording, thereby reinforcing the process and the takeaway messaging.

Can you show me what your finished Graphic Recording looks like? 
YES! Sample 1. Sample 2. Sample 3.

How I got here:

How long have you been offering Graphic Recording services?
 I began offering Graphic Recording services in 2014. However, I’ve been creating visually engaging marketing material my entire professional career – since 1980.

What kind of companies and industries have you worked for?
I have worked in marketing, advertising and Web development for the following economic sectors:
 Manufacturing: office furniture • Manufacturing: point of purchase display • Manufacturing: large-scale paint coating systems • Education: College Development Department • Agriculture: Dairy Industry • Tourism: Demographically Targeted Destination Marketing • Manufacturing: Flexo Label Printing • Communication: Wisconsin Public Radio • Manufacturing: Product design for Paper Converting, Inclusion & Diversity: LGBT Door County and more!

What kind of industries/companies do you want to provide graphic recording services for?
I am happy to engage with anyone interested in my graphic recording services. My resume has provided me with a rich base of knowledge about both for-profit and non-profit entities. AND I enjoy variety!

More details please.

Do you need to know about my industry to be able to draw it?
At the time of your inquiry into my services we can have a conversation (either on the phone or on Skype) to go over the details of your event, your expectations of deliverables and of the day or days involved including any special needs. We’ll also cover any specific jargon or imagery you’d like to include as part of your graphic recording.

I have worked in many for-profit and non-profit sectors of the economy and am confident that I can map appropriate images and text that will move your goals forward.

What makes you different from other Graphic Recorders I’ve worked with?
While the goal of all Graphic Recorders is to visually map an event or meeting, each graphic recorder has their own style just as all artists do. Check out my style here, here, and here.

What about Digital Illustration?

I don’t have an event, but I need your digital illustration and message mapping skills. What do I do?

I’m open to discuss non-event projects. Sometimes it’s done virtually. Clients can hire me for a day or a set number of hours to create targeted images, slide decks, PDF workbooks, and illustrations. My digital design and illustration is done on a 21” Wacom Intuos tablet which allows me to clean up hand drawn graphic recording projects as well as create original illustrations for other projects you may have.

Digital illustration is something I enjoy and am very good at. (Check out: Sample 1. Sample 2. Sample 3.)I can create work in any style that is appropriate for your project and am especially good at drawing people of diverse and inclusive gender and ethnic backgrounds. Contact me with your details.

What is your background in drawing?

What informs my drawings: My education and work experience

I have a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. My concentration was graphic design and also included 7 semester of ceramics. Working in clay gave me a solid foundation in creating 3 dimensional objects with structural integrity. While my study of graphic design taught me the art of 2 dimensional design for the purposes of representing and influencing via creation of  logos, advertising materials and magazines.

Today my body of work includes both realistic and whimsical styles of illustration and design. My graphic recording style includes diverse human illustrations, generous, colorful lettering and structurally playful 3 dimensional objects. You can see it here.

When I was employed in the advertising department of a laboratory and medical furniture manufacturer, part of my job was to do ‘exploded view’ parts lists of medical examination tables. Essentially realistic pen and ink drawings on Mylar showing each and every part of the tables ‘blown apart’ followed by the image of a table fully assembled. This process really tightened up my 3 dimensional drawing skills and emboldened my mastery of the visual language of objects. (An attribute I’ve utilized in product design as well.)

What does this bring to my Graphic Recording skill set?
I am able to seamlessly incorporate appropriate objects as well as people to deliver the essence of the visual conversation taking place at your event. The objects (people included) are as important as the words in imparting the message of your conference or meeting.

Event Logistics

Do you engage the audience in discussion?
No. My job is to capture the content of the meeting or event as it is being led by a facilitator or speaker. I may have a question I need answered, but other than that – I will be quietly and enthusiastically working on mapping the discussion as it happens.

What sized groups will you work with?
I can work with one person or a conference room full of people. It’s important to have the logistics of the conference room figured out ahead of time so it can be determined if a videographer and large screen is needed to project the graphic recording. The idea is to allow the audience to watch the drawing so they’re engaged in the event via the words of the facilitator and my pictures. People will also check out the drawings during breaks and after the event.

If I can hear clearly and am working with a facilitator comfortable with the group size, I’m good. We can discuss your specific needs and logistics.

Where do you want to set up in the conference room?

I suggest being in the front of the room and just over to the side a bit. That way my drawing will be visible and can engage the group. The audience gets to see the progress of the meeting by watching the progress of the mural. Most events involve a projected presentation or video, so I’m set up on the left or right of the screen. I can also draw on a side wall, if that’s what the facilitator requests. I’m flexible but do not recommend setting up at the back of the room, because the opportunity to engage the audience is lost.

...For you Facilitators:

If you’re worried about me being a distraction to your group, I think you’ll find that your group will engage in your message more effectively with both of us working together. My role is meant to be transparent. What I’m drawing is serving the group your content in another format. It actually focuses people rather than distracts them.

Can you help us with Ideation sessions?
Ideation sessions that are based around conversation and big picture issues are a perfect fit for me. If you are looking for a list-maker/note-taker, that’s not a great use of my time.

Let’s talk more and we can decide if I would bring value to your event.

Deliverables

Following your event, you will be given the finished mural(s) to take with you:

• My real-time visually engaging graphic recording skills
• All of the original drawings
• Digital images (JPEGs – one small for your website, one large for printing) of the drawings.

I have extensive experience with drawing and imaging software (including 25 years with both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator). I’ll use the proper software and filters for each unique situation to make sure the finished graphic recording retains and reflects the messaging and content of your meeting or event –  long after its over!

Digitally retouched JPEGs will be delivered to you 7 days from completion of your event or meeting.

And not only can I stand in front of a meeting and visually map out your meeting or event as it happens, I can keep your audience engaged long afterwards with:

• Follow-up PDFs – with notes on tasks accomplished or hand drawn additions
• PowerPoint or Keynote slide decks
• Poster-sized graphics for key players
• Give me your post meeting visual material wish list and it will be granted!
• Add on: Branded PDFs

Looking for a small group graphic recording exercise?
Whether you’re looking for a small team building exercise, or a personal session mapping out a career or personal change, I can provide individualized graphic recording services for small groups or individuals.

Interested?

Fill out our contact form or drop me an email letting me know the date and details of your event. I’ll check my availability, then we can talk cost and I can confirm that my skills would be a good fit for your event.

OTHER QUESTIONS
Do you travel?

Yes. When traveling, I arrive the day before the event. On the day of the event I like to get an early start to set up, so red-eye flights the day of are out of the question.

Can you work internationally?

Yes. Let’s discuss.

Do you charge for travel time?
Depends on the situation. Let’s discuss.

We need you IN TWO DAYS!
If your event is last-minute, I may be able to accommodate you. Contact me with your event date. I’ll let you know if I’m available.

If we are a go, it takes very little time for me to prep a contract and deposit invoice for you.
 Often clients pay the deposit by credit card through Paypal. Sometimes they overnight a check.

As long as I’ve got a signed contract and the deposit before your event, we are ready to roll!

What do you charge?
I charge a day rate plus expenses. Contact me to discuss your needs and my rates.

What are your usual expenses?

Travel, hotel, meals and materials. Materials run about $50 for a one or two day event for paper and tape.

What do you need in terms of wall space at the event?
I need wall space with NO sconces, thermostats, or wainscoting. The wall needs to be big enough to tape up a 4 foot x 8 foot piece of paper.

Do you have a non-profit rate?
No. I bring the same skills and experience to every project, so I charge one rate. And I welcome any opportunity.

Do you do pro bono work?
People tend to do pro bono work for a couple reasons: They’re committed to the cause and/or they’re trying to build their business. I donate my time to things I believe in, outside of my business. I am always marketing, but not by doing my work for free.

My meeting is two hours…can I get a discount?
If the event is not a full day, I do not charge for 1/2 days.
 My minimum charge is for a full day.

Interested?

Fill out our contact form or drop me an email letting me know the date and details of your event. I’ll check my availability, then we can talk cost and I can confirm that my skills would be a good fit for your event.

Terms

I’ll write a confirmation of engagement contract for your event. Upon receipt of (and agreement to) the contract, a 50% deposit and the signed contract is due back to me.

Once I receive your deposit and signed contract; I am committed to your event. (Please note: Until I receive the signed contract and payment I will not be be booked for your event.)

After the contract is squared away, we can discuss the details of the event. I’m adaptable but I like to talk to the facilitator and run through the agenda. Ideally, this is short (maybe half hour) context setting conversation, covering the meeting objectives. We can do this as 3 way (you, the facilitator and myself) or two way conversation (me and the facilitator).

I will want to know your objectives and the event’s agenda. I understand that agendas need to adapt too, so we’ll check in/stay in touch during the event.

At the end of the event, I hand you the original drawings. You will receive the touched up digital files via email or DropBox up to 7 days later.

Following your receipt of the digital files, I’ll bill you for the remaining 50% of my time and expenses. The terms of the second, final invoice are net 30 days.

If you order other materials (slide decks, PDF drawings, additional web graphics, etc) we’ll create another contract and proceed with the same terms as above.

Sorry, I can’t work with you if:

You can’t do a deposit.
You prefer not to sign a contract
.
You can’t pay in 30 days.

If you can meet my terms, I’ll happily work with you.

Want me to sign a non-disclosure agreement?
No problem. I do assume that all the graphic recordings I create for clients RE: internal, confidential and sensitive. I won’t reproduce or publish event images without the client’s permission.

At the end of the event, I’ll hand over the original drawings to you!
You will receive digital photos the quality of which is based on the onsite lighting. It’s a good idea to keep the originals if you’re looking to recreate them in print at a large scale at some point in the future.

I will also send you cleaned up digital images of the drawings. For each drawing, I’ll give you a large JPEG file (good for print) and a smaller JPEG (ready to be emailed or posted to a webpage).

I recommend getting my digital images to every participant as soon as possible. Most folks leave an event excited to keep going on the work they started during the event. Keep the momentum going and build on the personal relationships participants created by sending the visual artifact(s) directly to them!

Also…
If you like I can create PDFs, slide decks and more from the original drawings. Give me your post meeting visual material wish list and I will send you the price list for your wish list.

What do people do with the big drawings?
 It’s up to you!
The drawings are an artifact of an event, a meeting, a moment in time, a representation of a process. They are best used to continue that conversation after the event has passed.

You can hang them up. Mark them up. Frame them.

Please note, the water-based, non-toxic materials I use to create the drawings will fade after time.
If you do use the large scale drawings to further the conversation following the event, I can update the digital graphics to reflect the changes. AND  if you would like to share these updates with the original audience who attended the event I can create those materials too.

Got another idea? Let me know.

Do you do need a PDF Sytle Compilation of the Event?
We need a report made after the event. Can you do that?  
I have many years experience document creation and I’m really good at it. (What a combo platter of skills – right?). Let’s discuss the details.

Do you do caricatures?
Yes!

Do you do product concept illustrations?
Yes! Again, let’s discuss

How do you get your work?
This site, referrals, networking. I love doing this work, and love to talk about it. Graphic Recording/Visual Recording/Graphic Facilitation is still relatively new to people and I am constantly educating people about the process.

If you have any questions that were not addressed, please contact me and I will get back to you ASAP.

There are many reasons for your organization to utilize a Graphic Recorder.
Need some more ideas? Drop me a line.