Hybrid Doesn’t Mean a Meeting and a Zoom Cameo

How to make remote attendees feel like they're in the room during your strategic planning session

If your remote teammates look like postage stamps on a screen while the in-person crew runs the show, congratulations — you're hosting a strategy session from 1998.

 Hybrid doesn’t mean “the real meeting plus a Zoom cameo.” It means designing a meeting where everyone gets to participate like their presence actually matters.

Here’s how one company pulled it off beautifully during a recent 2-day strategic planning session I attended.

“It’s time we all get together face-to-face.”

That’s what the CEO said when he brought his team together for their first in-person strategy meeting in years.

There’s a certain magic you only get in the room: the thoughtful pause before someone speaks, the sideways glance that says “I agree,” the energy you simply cannot bottle on Zoom.

But life, calendars, and travel budgets don’t always cooperate. So the company held a hybrid meeting — and to their credit, they nailed it in ways that made remote teammates feel fully included, not like pixelated afterthoughts.

Here’s what worked (and why it works so well):

1. Assign a Remote Advocate (Your Meeting MVP)

Our facilitator didn’t just check the chat.
They actively championed the remote voices.

After every major point, they paused the in-room conversation to ask:
👉 “Anything from our remote folks?”
👉 “Jose, what’s your take on that?”

This one shift does wonders:

• Remote people feel seen the moment their names are spoken.

• They don’t have to interrupt or fight for airtime.

• Insights surface that would’ve otherwise been missed.
  
  

A remote advocate turns silent squares into real contributors, and that changes the whole dynamic.

2. Use Digital Graphic Recording to Unite the Room

Virtual graphic recording is a hybrid meeting superpower.

At this session, LiquidSketch provided digital graphic recording onsite while simultaneously streaming the visuals into Zoom.

Benefits of this move:

• Everyone sees the same unfolding story — no matter where they sit.

• Ideas become visible, which helps people follow the conversation.

• Remote teammates feel a sense of ownership because their words literally appear on the screen.

Visuals don’t just bridge the geographic gap — they create a shared experience.

3. Give Remote Attendees a Real Presence in the Room

This team projected remote participants onto a dominant, easy-to-see screen, not a laptop shoved in the corner.

Why this matters:

• When remote faces are as large and visible as in-room faces, the brain treats them as “present.”

• Speaking up becomes easier when everyone can make eye contact.

• Remote teammates stop feeling like background noise.

Bonus tip: assign an in-room buddy to echo side comments or bring attention to visual notes so nothing gets lost in translation.

4. Use a Shared Digital Canvas (Miro, FigJam, Jamboard)

During a brainstorming session, the group used a Miro board and it was a game changer.

A shared digital canvas means:

• Everyone (remote + onsite) contributes in real time.

• Sticky notes, votes, and comments show up instantly.

• Remote participants become co-creators, not spectators.

This is collaboration at its best: inclusive, visual, and fast.

5. And yes… send lunch.

When the room broke for lunch, Uber Eats delivered meals to remote participants so they could join in without scrambling.

It’s simple, but it matters:
Shared meals create connection — even through a screen.
No one feels left out. No one misses the bonding.

Hybrid meetings don’t have to feel disconnected.

With a few intentional choices, you can design strategic sessions where everyone feels seen, heard, and genuinely part of the movement.

💡 This is Part 2 of The Strategic Spark Series — your guide to hosting strategic planning sessions that light a fire, spark creativity, and move the mission forward.

The Room Where It Happens (Strategic Edition)

Before you start mapping goals or crafting lofty vision statements, start with this deceptively simple question: Who’s in the room?

The number of people in the room matters. But the mix of people matters more.

Invite those who can think strategically and act decisively. And make sure the plan that comes out of the room actually belongs to the people who can bring it to life.

For Core Strategic Planning

If you’re doing the roll-up-your-sleeves kind of work—the decisions that set direction and priorities—you want 8 to 15 people. Small enough for real dialogue. Big enough for diversity of thought.

Your core team should include:

• The CEO or department lead—the keeper of the vision.

• The people who can actually make things happen in their areas.

I once sat in a “strategic” session that included every director and their deputies. With that many voices, it stopped being strategy and turned into status updates. The conversation got stuck in the weeds before it ever reached the mountain.

The insights and concerns of those doing the work are essential—but they can be gathered as research ahead of time and reviewed before the session begins.

For Larger Input Sessions

When you’re gathering ideas from across departments—think brainstorming, listening sessions, or early-stage planning—20 to 40 people works well.

This is where de-siloing starts. At one strategy session, they brought together all the department heads for the first time in years. One by one, big initiatives hit the table—and one by one, many were stopped.

No one had paused in years to ask the simplest questions: Why do we do it this way? Why did that process start? Why are we still doing this?

When people finally see the bigger picture, they gain permission to rethink what’s working—and what’s not. These sessions spark the kind of honest conversations that lead to real decisions about what to stop, start, and keep doing.

With visual tools, breakout groups, and strong facilitation, those insights don’t just stay as talk—they turn into traction.

For Company-Wide Alignment

If you’re hosting a big all-hands or alignment session—50 to 200+—the focus shifts from decision-making to energy and engagement.

This is where visual facilitation becomes essential. When conversations are visualized in real time, everyone can see how their work connects to the larger story—and feel part of the movement.

And Don’t Forget the Support Roles

A facilitator to keep the discussion balanced. A timekeeper to hold the line. And (my favorite) a graphic facilitator to draw the ideas out—literally—so everyone can see where the conversation is going. (We’ll dive deeper into these roles in another post.)

Because when you get the right people around the table, that’s when strategy stops being a meeting… and starts being a movement.

💡 This post is Part 1 of The Strategic Spark Sessions — your field guide to hosting strategic planning sessions that light a fire under your team to ignite action. Follow along to catch the next post in the series.

#StrategicSparkSeries #StrategicPlanning #Facilitation #Leadership #VisualThinking #GraphicFacilitation

Why You Can't Stop Watching Graphic Recording: The Science of Graphic Recording

Welcome to the first post in our brand new series: The Science of Graphic Recording.
Because let’s be real—graphic recording isn’t just pretty doodles at conferences. It’s brain science, baby. And today we’re diving into one of the biggest reasons graphic recording works: Dual Coding Theory.

First things first: What the heck is Dual Coding?

In the 1970s, a clever psychologist named Allan Paivio had a lightbulb moment:
Turns out your brain doesn’t just process words in one dusty corner and pictures in another.
It processes both—at the same time, in parallel, on two different but connected tracks.

One track handles verbal info (like what the speaker is saying).
The other track handles visual info (like the images, diagrams, and charts you’re seeing).
And when both tracks are firing together?
⚡ You remember it better.
⚡ You understand it faster.
⚡ You actually care enough to pay attention.

Last week when I had an attendee at a San Diego graphic recording event come up to me and whisper, “I feel guitly that I am watching you instead of looking at the speaker.” I said, “That’s okay, you’re listening and watching so your brain is working harder..”

So how does this tie into graphic recording?

When you’re sitting in a meeting, presentation, or strategic session, graphic recording is like giving your brain two different handholds to grab onto the big ideas:

• The words are captured in real time (so your verbal brain’s happy).

• The visuals make the ideas tangible and memorable (so your visual brain’s doing cartwheels).

Instead of trying to catch a slippery stream of talk with your tired little attention span, you’ve got a dynamic visual map that anchors the conversation—and pulls your brain deeper into understanding.

Why it matters for your next meeting or event:

👉 When people hear an idea and see it at the same time, their retention rates skyrocket.
👉 Complex conversations don’t feel so overwhelming when they're mapped out in real time.
👉 Attendees stay engaged longer—and you walk away with a visual record that keeps delivering insights long after the last mic drop.

Bottom line:
Graphic recording doesn’t just make meetings prettier.
It makes your ideas stickier, stronger, and way more likely to spark action.

Stay tuned for the next post in our Science of Graphic Recording series, where we’ll dive into cognitive load theory (spoiler: your brain can only handle so many PowerPoint slides before it checks out).

Graphic Recording for World Design Capital San Diego-Tijuana: Where Big Ideas Meet Big Sketches

Here’s a fun fact: San Diego-Tijuana made history this year as the first-ever binational region to be named World Design Capital—because why settle for just one country when you can bring two together for a design-fueled think tank? The World Design Capital designation is a global nod to cities that are using design to create positive social, cultural, and economic impact—and let’s just say, San Diego and Tijuana came ready to bring it.

And me? I got to capture some of these groundbreaking conversations live with LiquidSketch graphic recording, turning big ideas into something you can actually see. Because let’s be real—no one wants to scroll through a 100-page policy doc when they can get the key takeaways in a beautifully sketched visual.

From DDX to the World Design Policy Conference: Capturing the Design Conversation

DDX (Design + Innovation Events) packed a punch, bringing together designers, creatives, and big thinkers across industries. Conversations ranged from sustainable cities to the future of creative economies, and my markers were flying trying to capture the energy in the room. Nothing like real-time visual storytelling to make complex discussions feel engaging, right?

Then there was the World Design Policy Conference, hosted by UCSD Design Lab and the City of San Diego—where policymakers, urban planners, and design leaders tackled the meaty questions about how design shapes policy and policy shapes lives. It wasn’t just about making things look good—it was about making them work better for everyone.

Design That Sparks Action

What I love about graphic recording at events like these is that it’s not just about documenting what was said—it’s about making sure the ideas stick. When people can see their conversations taking shape in real time, there’s this incredible moment of clarity—the ohhh, now I get it realization that turns ideas into actual action.

San Diego-Tijuana just set a new standard for what it means to use design as a force for good, and I’m honored to have played a small part in capturing it. Here’s to more conversations, more collaboration, and more sketching the future—literally.

#WorldDesignCapital #SanDiegoTijuana #GraphicRecording #DesignThinking #LiveIllustration #LiquidSketch

Extend the buzz: How graphic recording can extend the impact of your event.

Alright, your event wrapped up, the coffee’s gone, and your brilliant conversations are immortalized in big, beautiful graphic recordings. (They looked killer on that wall, didn’t they?)

But now that the event’s over, here’s how to take those graphic recordings and give them a whole second life. Because your ideas deserve to be seen.

1. Digitize and Dazzle on Social Media

We’re talking Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook—wherever your audience hangs out. Snap high-quality images of those boards or, even better, get them professionally scanned. Then get them out there. These visuals are way too good to hide. Plus, when people scroll by and see a vibrant, visual summary of that epic conversation, they’ll be intrigued. The bonus? You’ve just turned that one-hour panel discussion into snackable content that can be shared over and over again.

2. Follow Up with Attendees Like a Pro

Every event organizer worth their weight in name badges knows follow-ups are key. And let’s be real—attendees love visual recaps. So instead of the usual boring bullet points in a “thanks for coming” email, hit ‘em with a colorful graphic recording. “Here’s what we created together” is a whole different vibe than “here’s a summary.” You’ll have attendees replying, saving, and maybe even hanging it on their wall.

3. Give Your Website a Shot of Creativity

Your website deserves some love, too. Throw those graphic recordings up there—maybe in a gallery, maybe as part of a blog post recap. Not only does it show visitors the kind of value they’ll get from your events, but it also makes your site look like you’ve got your stuff together. Graphic recordings aren’t just visuals; they’re a story of what your brand brings to the table.

4. Hype Up Next Year’s Event with a Visual Tease

it’s time to start the drumroll for next year’s event, those graphic recordings are your not-so-secret weapon. Share them as “Highlights from Last Year” or “Here’s What You Missed.” Remind people that real, tangible ideas came to life and that they don’t want to miss out next time.

People want to be where the action (and the color!) is—so give them a taste and get them counting down the days till your next event.

So here’s the deal: those graphic recordings? They’re not a one-time decoration. They’re assets. Tools. Leverage them to keep the energy alive long after the mic drops and the conference hall

If you’re interested in using graphic recording to elevate your next event, contact LiquidSketchStudio and we can help you design your next gathering.

Graphic recording unites Los Angeles theater industry.

LiquidSketch Studio had the absolute pleasure of graphic recording at the Los Angeles Theatre Summit. Picture this: industry folks from all corners coming together, spilling the tea on their experiences and priorities. And let me tell you, there was some real talk happening.

One of the hottest topics? Funding—or, more specifically, the lack thereof. Did you know California’s only spending 66 cents per person on the performing arts? Yeah, that’s peanuts compared to other states. And here’s the kicker: for every 100 theater jobs, there are 150 more that pop up downstream.

But here’s the big aha moment: the theater industry needs a makeover. It’s time to flip the script from “we’re broke” to “we’re a powerhouse for the economy, fueling spending and bringing in those tourists!”

Oh, and by the way, our graphic recording visuals even got a shoutout on Spectrum News. Pretty cool, right?

Graphic Recording in Las Vegas: Creator Live Economy

LiquidSketch Studio was thrilled to graphic record the first Creator Economy Live event in Las Vegas! This gathering brought together content creators, brands, influencers, and marketing pros for an epic exchange of ideas.

Las Vegas is one of our favorite spots to graphic record—there's just something about the energy of those conferences. People come ready to learn and share new ideas, and it's infectious.

Creator Economy Live was a blast, blending influencers (yes, LiquidSketch made it into more videos than usual!) and brands. Much of the chatter was brands advising other brands on how to pitch the benefits of marketer influencers to the bigwigs.

And in true Vegas style, the boards we created were backlit with purple lights! Talk about putting on a show. We also had a blast engaging with influencers and getting their take on marketing.

Energize your next Las Vegas event with graphic recording!

Reach out and we’ll answer all your questions!

Artistic Vibes at UCLA: Fueling Creative Education.

Using art to promote arts education.

 When the  CSU/UC California Initiative: Arts & Music for All: A New Era in Creative Workforce Preparation was looking for a Los Angles graphic recorder, who did they call? LiquidSketch Studio!

In a bold move in November 2022, Proposition 28 shook up the scene, amplifying support for arts and music education in California's K-12 public schools. Often the first on the chopping block during financial squeezes, this initiative redirects a slice of current state tax revenues to the Creative Education Fund, giving creativity the spotlight it deserves. California's on a quest for 15,000 more arts educators spanning everything from brush strokes to bass notes.

Held at the iconic University of California Los Angeles Luskin Conference Center, attendees were treated to an inspiring keynote by the visionary director from Minions/Illumination.

Post-event, our vibrant graphic recordings were bundled into “Wisdom from the Field,” shared as a keepsake. It's a sparkling example of how art can immortalize the essence of a live event.

Do graphic recorders need to be subject matter experts?

Recently I was scribing a panel discussion at UCLA Medical School and afterwards an attendee came up to me and said, "Wow, did you go to medical school?" And I said, "No, I'm actually a liberal arts major." The only science I had in college was physics for the non-science major and earth science for the non-science major. But as a graphic recorder, I've developed the skill to be able to listen to complex subjects and pull out the most important information and create a visual hierarchy on the fly.

Now, if I know I'm attending a content-heavy event, I'll peruse their website learn a little bit more before I walk in the room. But often I don't receive what the speakers are really going to be talking about until the event. This is where 20 years as a copywriter has been beneficial, helping me develop the skill of being able to dive into a lot of information and pull out the most important and draw out the relationships between concepts.

While some graphic recorders are specialists in tech, education, or environment, I am a generalist. One week I might be helping urban planners create their 10-year plan, and then the next week help creators of video games storyboard their upcoming release.

I end up learning a little about a lot.  And I’m pretty good at Trivial Pursuit.

Script template for animated videos and white board videos.

Animated videos are a great way to showcase new products or services. With animation, you’re not constrained by budget when it comes to showing extraordinary visuals. It doesn’t cost anymore to draw a superhero flying than it cost to draw someone walking! We’re only limited by our imaginations! 

But no matter how good the artistry, if your video doesn’t have a well-thought out script, your video will not be effective. Luckily, in addition to be a top graphic recorder, I have been an award-winning copywriter and script writer for 25 years. The following is an excellent template to write a scipt. If you need more help, be sure to hit me up!

 The setting.

 Describe the world today or the setting or context. Or describe who you are helping. Give a little background. You can tell a story or give a few statistics to illustrate your point.

 More and more of us are working for ourselves. In a study, Freshbooks, an online accounting software for independent workers, says the number will triple to 42 million people by 2020.

 The problem.

 Describe the problem that the audience or who you’re trying to help is having. It's really easy to get bogged down in the problem. You don't have to tell all the problems, just one. The problem shouldn't be the longest part of this post.

 But the problem is many of these newly independent copywriters, graphic designers, web developers, and analysts have all mastered their professional skills, but they may not have mastered what it takes to grow their business. They enjoy working at home but also report that they feel like they’re thrashing about, losing jobs because they don’t know how to get new clients, close a deal, and retain clients.

What could be.

 Describe a world where this problem doesn’t exist. Paint a visual picture (below, waking up in the middle of the night.)

 Imagine if you enjoyed all the benefits of self-employment without waking up in the middle of the night wondering where your next client will come from.

 The solution

 Share your product or idea and how it will solve the problem. Be sure to offer each feature as a benefit. For example

The Freelancers Union will take you from survive mode to thrive mode. It’s a place where other freelancers share what they’ve learned so you don't have to make the same mistakes. It offers discounts on health insurance to relieve that stress. And workshops on how to grow your business in a strategic way.

Reward

How will the audiences‘ s life improve after your solution becomes reality. This is the place to give a result or a testimony.

 Julie reports that she was able to transform 50% more inquiries into a contract as a result of a Freelancer Union class. “The small investment has paid for itself many times over!

 Enjoy your job. Take control of your destiny. And have a thriving business.

 The call to action.

Be specific in your ask.

Sign up for a membership today.

So just follow this template for an engaging white board video.

If you’re interested in a white board video or a video script, or both, please contact us at LiquidSketchStudio.com!

What's your one thing?

It’s the new year and for many people, this is a time for resolutions and resets. YES/LESS is an exercise I went through a few months ago during a visual facilitation workshop that helped me focus on what I needed for a little more balance. Have I moved the needle on any of the things I listed? No!

So I’m going to focus on one thing that can make it happen: less doomscrolling. I figure if I decrease random social media usage I will decrease procrastination.

And I’m going to take three steps to jumpstart progress:

1.   Taking Facebook and Twitter off my phone and iPad = more Kindle book reading.

2.   Don’t begin the day with Twitter = beginning it with prayer

3.   Visiting Twitter and Facebook once a day on my desktop and then physically signing out so it is not just a simple click away = less procrastination.

Simplicity can be powerful. And using a visual template gives you something that you can post up on your office wall or in the back of your closet.

Let me know what your one thing is!

If you want to download plain versions of these templates:

One Thing

YES/LESS Plain

YES/LESS Surf

The triumph of the fuzzy purple bunny slippers.

How do you want to show up?

I was graphic recording a tradeshow and I was flabbergasted that a woman working the booth across the aisle wore towering heels all day long. I was wearing my comfort sport runners with orthotics and was still had super sore feed at the end of the day.

Then a funning thing happened, at the end of the day the woman pulled out a pair of fuzzy purple bunny slippers. Now that looked comfortable.

I was amused by her footwear but thought this also seems to be a metaphor for how people show up.

They show up wearing the towering stilettos because that is “professional”—meanwhile they think that is what is expected. And buried inside is the longing for fluffy purple bunny slippers.

You don’t to choose one or the other: painfully professional or glittery-unicorn-smiley-face-dotting-your-i. There’s a professional, personable in-between. Think maybe purple ballet flats or furry leopard slingbacks.

Hosting a Gallery Walk Increases the Impact of Graphic Recording

Let’s say you’re at the midpoint of a multiday strategic planning session with your team and the walls are filled with graphic recording maps of workshops and conversations. Initiating a gallery walk is a good way to take the pulse of the group and review the progress you have made toward the event’s goals.

 Gallery walks are a social way for people to reengage with the content of the event. The facilitator initiates the gallery walk by asking some questions for people to keep in mind as they walk through the gallery. Afterward, the group may have a conversation about their takeaways.

 Questions to ask attendees may include:

• What surprised or challenged you?

• Do you see something missing that should be included?

• Do you see new connections or patterns between ideas?

• What’s your biggest takeaway?

• What should our next steps be?

Sparking new conversations and ideas

Graphic recording maps give people a visual record of the event where they can review all the content at once. As people walk through, one person may build on the ideas of another attendee. Or someone might hear someone’s takeaways from the event that are different from their own.

Sticky notes to add to the conversation

 Give your attendees sticky notes and have them record their comments to add to the graphic recording. They may add insights or clarity to the ideas presented on the graphic recording maps.

Gallery walks go virtual

 If you are hosting a virtual event, the digital graphic recording maps can be saved as a PDF to be shared. Or you can save the images to Miro or another whiteboard program to share comments. Google Docs is another way to share graphic recording maps and allow for comments.

Before or after the event

 During a multiday event, you can have a gallery walk midway to check the pulse of how the event is rolling out. A gallery walk at the end of the event helps people review the content in its entirety and may reveal progress made. If you review the charts from a previous event before you start the next event, your conversation is more apt to build upon, rather than repeat, what was said at the previous event.

A gallery walk encourages attendees to be more intentional about their experience of the event. Try it at your next event or planning session!

If you’re interested in using graphic recording to elevate your next event, contact LiquidSketchStudio and we can help you design your next gathering.

Learn more how LiquidSketch Studio can make your next event or meeting more effective.

My graphic recording uniform.

Ever since I’ve been a kid, my hands get covered with ink when I draw with marker pens. Now that I’m an adult, it still happens! When I graphic record, I always wear black, so any permanent marker stains don’t show. Maybe it’s my inner wanna-be-a-New-Yorker showing through, but I’ve found having a graphic recording uniform makes it easier to get ready for a very busy graphic recording day.

I must be in good company, because quite a few prolific professionals have resorted to uniforms so they could focus their decision-making efforts on their work. Steve Jobs was famous for his black mock turtlenecks and jeans, Karl Lagerfeld donned a black suit and white shirt, and President Obama only wore blue or grey suits to reduce decision fatigue. (Hmmm, notice there are never any women on uniform lists. Maybe, we like variety in our wardrobe too much.)

The Something Borrowed Shirt by ADay

This is by far the most I have spent on any blouse and it is completely worth it. It is made of a high-tech stretch fabric that is also very cool. I can just roll it up in my suitcase and it is ready to go. The notched collar ads a touch of laid-back executive class without being stuffy. I wear the shirt open like a jacket and it covers my butt nicely.

Luxe High-Neck Swing Tank Top for Women by Old Navy

 I bought 5 of these on sale to stock up. The tank is a little longer than usual, so I can wear it under the longer Something Borrowed Shirt and be confident that everything is covered up, even when I am bending over or reaching my arms up. The material is a comfy 95% rayon and 5% spandex.

Mid-Rise Dark-Wash Rockstar Super Skinny Jeggings for Women

 These jeggings have a big stretchy waistband like pregnancy jeans, so they are super comfortable. They keep their shape all day so they don’t bag out. (But I need another pair for a multi-day gig.) I wear black instead of blue denim so I look a little dressier.

 ABEO Diamond II

I have had knee surgery twice and have also suffered from plantar fasciitis, so I always wear shoes with mega support. I wear black shoes so they look less like an athletic shoe. ABEO also makes some great boots with built-in orthotics, which I wear if I know I am not going to be standing all day. But if I am working at a conference or tradeshow booth, I go for the athletic shoe as it gives the most support. The next pair I get will probably be a bright color.

 The BaggyOne

 I like to keep the pens I use the most right within reach. The BaggyOne is sold to be worn with a belt. I lengthened the strap and wear it like a crossbody bag, as I find that more comfortable to work in.

It's not about art, it's about ideas.

I am not an artist.

“Can you draw portraits of the speakers for speaker gifts,” my client asked me.

“No,” I said. “I’m not much of a portrait artist.”

As a graphic recorder, I am more of an idea wrangler, synthesizing real-time conversations into a visual representation. In fact, the end piece isn’t as important as the experience of attendees and participants watching the creation in real-time. It’s is more about the communication of concepts rather than the realism of the created image.

P.S. And as for speaker gifts, I usually doodle on top of photos of the speakers.

Graphic Recording San Diego Design Conference

Graphic recording is useful during a conference because it helps add clarity to the information being present. It also creates an artifact that remains after the event, giving attendees and others a visual summary of the content shared. Including graphic recording images in your recap videos extends the reach of your content and can be reshared the following year to help drum up excitement for the upcoming event.

Ass a San Diego graphic recorder, local design conferences are my favorite events to attend!

Graphic Recording Creative Mornings San Diego

Coffee and a 20 minutes talk from a member of San Diego's creative community. That's what you can expect at every Creative Morning event. Most of my graphic recording work is non-disclosure so it's fun to share oll the Creative Mornings sessions that I have attended. Special thanks to the volunteers that keep this amazing event running. You can follow along on Instagram at @LiquidSketchStudio

Graphic Recording Listening Walls: Attendees, We Hear You!

Back in the days before quarantine, LiquidSketch Studio created a listening wall for Visit Sana Monica. At a local event, citizens were asked a series of questions including what was their favorite attraction, their favorite businesses, and ways to improve the city. Their input would be used to inform Santa Monica's new strategic plan.

LiquidSketch illustrated answers to bring more attention to the survey process at the event . The large mural attracted visitors’ attention and they stopped to participate in the survey. Each participant was also entered to win a free staycation as another incentive.  After the event the wall was dismantled and would be used as a backdrop at other Visit Santa Monica events.

Listening walls showcase the power of graphic recording:

• People see that their opinions are heard

• They feel more part of the decision making process

• The graphic recording image attracts attention

• Pictures of the graphic recording image are shared on social media further amplifies live events

One citizen cited the local YMCA as one of their favorite attraction. Funny thing, the CEO of that YMCA saw the sketch and stopped to take a shot for the YMCA’s social media.

Contact LiquidSketchStudio.com to find out how we can create a listening wall to make your event more successful.

"Hosting an Effective Brainstorm on Zoom" at San Diego Design Week.

San Diego Design Week is here, September 9 -13! LiquidSketch Studio, a Southern California graphic recording boutique is hosting a workshop: Hosting an Effective Brainstorm on Zoom.

Learn how to structure and facilitate an effective brainstorm session on Zoom. As designers, finding creative solutions to problems is what we do! Just because you’re working remotely, you don’t have to lose that magic that a face-to-face session can generate. We’ll talk about how to bridge the communication gap that can occur with digital meetings and the importance of visualizing participant input. You will learn how to structure a brainstorm, how to work visually in a virtual world, and low tech ways to make Zoom more engaging.

This prerecorded workshop is available all week. You can access it here.

Introducing the Chuck-It List!

People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.

— Steve Jobs

What are you going to focus on this year?

More importantly, what are you going to say no to? I

Instead of the Bucket List where you pile on experiences, your favorite graphic recorder is honored to present the Chuck-It list— an invitiation to narrow down your responsibilities so you can focus on what’s important.

What are you saying no to? Let me know!