Why Your Graphic Recording Boards Deserve Their Own Spotlight

Let your big ideas strike a pose.

You hired a graphic recorder. The markers flew, the ideas flowed, and by the end of the keynote, you had a wall full of brilliance. But don’t let those boards become beautiful wallpaper, they’re a map of your event.

Here’s why those visuals should be seen, snapped, and shared—and how to make the most of them.

1. Repetition = Retention

When people can walk past an idea again and again, they don’t just see it—they start to absorb it.

Placing the boards in high-traffic areas (lobby, coffee stations, near the swag table) lets attendees reconnect with the content at their own pace. That big idea they missed while checking email? It’s right there in full color, waiting for a second chance to land.

2. Make It Snappable. Make It Shareable.

Truth: if you put something smart and visually gorgeous on a wall, people will take pictures of it. And they’ll post those photos on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, in newsletters and share those photos with colleagues who didn’t attend.

Give your attendees a gentle nudge by:

• Including your event hashtag on the boards or nearby signage

• Suggesting they “snap + tag” during breaks

• Offering a few graphic-recording-specific photo ops (#contentgold)

3. Get Your Event on the Social Radar

Let’s be honest: most industry events look the same online. But when a feed is full of hand-drawn infographics packed with insight and personality? That stands out.

Don't be surprised if your hashtag climbs the trending list. Graphic recording boards are catnip for content creators—attendees and speakers alike.

4. Extend the Life of the Event

Here’s where LiquidSketch brings the cherry on top: we’ll snap high-quality photos of the boards, clean them up, and deliver files you can use in post-event emails, blog posts, slide decks, and your own social media.

The conversation doesn’t have to end when the mic drops.

You’ll walk away with:

• Visual recaps that recap and captivate

• Assets your marketing team will drool over

• Proof your event wasn’t just a meeting—it was a moment

5. Make the Boards Part of the Experience

Set up a gallery walk. Start a conversation. When people feel like part of the story, they’re way more likely to remember (and share) it.

Don’t Let Your Ideas Die on the Wall.

Graphic recording boards are content in real time and content after the fact. And with the right strategy, they turn your event into something people keep talking about (and tagging) long after the chairs are stacked and the cookies are gone.

That’s what I do. Let’s make your ideas impossible to ignore.

Graphic recording: the secret weapon for meeting planners to energize their events.

Think back to the best conferences you’ve been to. What do you remember? The great parties. (Yikes on the internet there is a video of me singing Surfing U.S.A. by the Beach Boys.) The setting. But do you really remember the sessions?

As a meeting planner, your real job isn’t just to deliver content. It’s to turn moments into meaning. To make sure people leave not just inspired but transformed. That’s where graphic recording comes in.

You’re Not Just Planning an Event. You’re Designing Memory.

Instead of relying solely on slides and spoken words, you’re layering in a real-time visual system that helps attendees follow, process, and organize ideas as they happen.

You’re adding infrastructure for understanding.

Your Attendees Need More Than Audio

Here’s the gap most conferences ignore: When attendees are only listening, they’re using a single cognitive channel. That’s a lot of pressure on attention—and it’s easy to lose.

But when they can see ideas unfold while hearing them, something clicks.

Now they’re:

• Listening to the speaker

• Watching ideas take visual form

• Connecting concepts spatially

• Interpreting meaning through images and structure

That multi-sensory engagement is a performance upgrade for the brain. Even if someone isn’t looking directly at the speaker, following the graphic recording while listening can increase focus and comprehension. More of the brain is engaged, which means more of the content actually lands.

Engagement Isn’t a Gamble Anymore

You’ve seen it before—phones come out, attention drifts, energy dips.

Graphic recording gives the room a pulse by creating a live, evolving focal point that pulls attention back in. Attendees aren’t just passively consuming—they’re tracking, anticipating, and making sense of what’s being built in front of them.

Clarity Is a Competitive Advantage

Your attendees are processing a lot in a short amount of time. Graphic recording helps them cut through the noise. It organizes complex discussions into clear visual structures, highlights key ideas, and reveals connections across sessions.

Instead of leaving with fragmented notes, they leave with a coherent mental model.

That’s what makes your event feel valuable.

You Create a Shared Experience (Not Just a Schedule)

One of the hardest parts of event design is alignment—getting everyone to feel like they’re part of the same conversation.

Graphic recording makes thinking visible.

It captures collective insights in a way the whole room can see, react to, and remember. It reinforces key themes and creates a sense of shared momentum.

Your Event Doesn’t End When It Ends

You’re always thinking about post-event value.

Graphic recordings give you a powerful asset: something visual, shareable, and immediately useful.

Attendees revisit it. Teams discuss it. Speakers reference it. Marketing repurposes it.

Instead of content fading out, it keeps working.

The Real ROI: What Sticks

At the end of the day, your success isn’t measured by how full the room was.

It’s measured by what people take with them.

If you want to find out the big picture about how graphic recording can make your event unforgettable, contact us at LiquidSketchStudio.

Graphic recording the San Diego Service Jam

The San Diego Service Jam brought people together to learn design in community—and have a ridiculously good time doing it at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education in Liberty Station.

For one fast, idea-fueled weekend, people gathered to think, make, test, research, and of course, design.

In just 48 hours, five teams built five new services. The ideas ranged from strengthening parent-child connection to helping people get unstuck with support from others, break the ice, turn down the volume in a noisy world, and build stronger connections with neighbors.

All the thinking was done on white boards and paper and sticky notes, making thinking visible. People didn’t get bogged down looking down at their laptops.

On Saturday, the teams interviewed nearly 100 people in Liberty Station. On Sunday, they tested with just as many. They learned quickly, adjusted in real time, and jammed their way through design skills and community building all at once.

In between the creative sprints, local design professionals dropped in to give flash talks on designing, prototyping, and testing. I was delighted to capture their words of wisdom as a graphic recorder.

But what amazed me most? How quickly ideas moved from the conceptual stage into something real.

Turns out good ideas move a lot faster when you stop polishing and start testing.

Big shoutout to Brian and Grace De Lac and the San Diego Service Jam.

What’s the Difference Between Graphic Recording, Graphic Facilitation, and Sketchnotes?

These terms get tossed around like they mean the same thing—but they don’t. (And yes, others may use the phrases differently.)  They are, however, all members of the same family—live visual thinking. Each one plays a different role in the room.

Let’s break it down.

Graphic Recording - Making Ideas Visible

Let’s say you’re at your professional organization’s annual conference, and the keynote is on fire. Ideas are flying, people are nodding, and phones are mostly down.

Then you glance to the side. There’s a human standing at a massive board, drawing fast. And somehow, they’re translating everything the speaker is saying into words and images in real time.

It feels a little like magic. This is graphic recording. It’s the art of listening deeply and turning ideas into visuals as they happen. Not later—live.

The result? A visual map of the talk that lets people see what was said at a glance.

People don’t rally around paragraphs. They rally around pictures.

Graphic Facilitation - Shaping Ideas Visually

This isn’t a keynote. It’s a working strategy session—a room full of smart people trying to figure something out.

Instead of just capturing ideas, graphic facilitation helps shape them.

It uses visuals, templates, diagrams, and  frameworks to guide a conversation toward a goal. This is working art. And because conversations are messy, the visuals can be messy—but very effective.

Sometimes the facilitator is also the one drawing. Sometimes it’s a tag team—one guiding, one visualizing.

These sessions are usually private, and the drawings can be a little raw. But they create a shared picture of what was said—and where the team is going.

This is where alignment begins.

Sketchnotes - Sharing Ideas

Now we’re back in the audience at that same keynote, with the same ideas flying.

But this time, the artist isn’t at the front of the room. They’re sitting in a chair, sketchbook (or iPad) in hand, capturing the talk for themselves—or for their audience.

That’s sketchnoting. It’s a more personal, portable version of visual note-taking in a smaller format. 

Instead of a six-foot board, it lives on a page.

And afterward, those notes can be shared—on LinkedIn, in a recap, in a “here’s what mattered” moment.

So what’s the difference?

• Graphic Recording = capturing ideas live, large-scale, for a group

• Graphic Facilitation = guiding conversations using visuals to reach a goal

• Sketchnotes = personal, portable visual notes from a talk or session

Same root skill. Different job in the room. Of course, there is also digital graphic recording and virtual graphic facilitation but the concept behind each is the same.

If you want help capturing or shaping your ideas, let’s talk.

It’s not Gen Z. It’s the way we communicate.

I was recently sitting in a corporate strategy session when the HR team shared something interesting: they were receiving a surprising amount of negative feedback about their younger employees with confusion on communication styles, job expectations, and questions about motivation.

You could feel a bit of generational head-scratching in the room.

A few days later, I attended the San Diego Meeting Planners International WAVE Forum and heard Nikki Gonzales of Soundings speak about empathy in the workplace and how it can help bridge generational divides. Her perspective was thoughtful, practical, and refreshingly human.

So I decided to ask her a few more questions.

Nikki works in operations for Soundings, a company that connects businesses with talent in marketing and event planning. She has also become something of a Gen Z evangelist for companies trying to better understand their youngest employees.

Her first point? The generational labels might not be as rigid as we think.

Your horiscope doesn’t define you, neither does your generation.

Nikki began by pointing out that generational stereotypes are just that—stereotypes.

“The generations that we have defined are by the years we’re born,” she said. “But in many cases, we can pull characteristics from all the generations as well. It’s mutual respect. No matter what generation you are, everybody’s always looking for that.”

Ask how would the recipient like to receive their information.

Communication expectations can vary widely across teams—and much of that comes down to the tools we use.

“When you’re talking with my peers outside of the work setting, we’re texting and everything’s shorthand,” Nikki said. “Everything is short sentences. Everything is so fast.”

That style sometimes carries into the workplace.

“It’s always the question: how do I send this communication, and through which channel?”

For some colleagues, a quick Slack or Teams message works perfectly. For others, email still signals a more formal request.

“People are more used to seeing requests that are more formal come through email,” Nikki said.

She’s learned to adapt her own communication style accordingly.

“I’ve actually had to adjust sometimes when I’m sending things to different team members. Some people are used to seeing everything in an email formatted a certain way with an attachment. Others are perfectly fine with a quick Teams message.”

Ultimately, it comes back to empathy. “We’re all working on the same projects together. We’re all working on the same team for the same goal. It just might look a little different in how people need to get there.”

Meaning beyond a paycheck.

One consistent theme Nikki sees among her peers is the search for meaning in their work.

“One thing that my generation—I find with a lot of my peers—is that Gen Z is looking for purpose,” she said. “We want to be in organizations that value our opinions, that value our insights, and that will give us longevity.”

She also challenges the common perception that Gen Z employees are eager to jump from job to job.

“I think it’s a misconception that we’ll jump around to different roles just to get to the very top really fast,” she said.

“In many cases, at least from what I’ve seen with my peers, we stay with companies that genuinely care about their people. So I would implore people to put aside any misconceptions of Gen Z being lazy or not wanting to work. We are willing to work and put in the hours—as long as we get that respect back as well.”

Remember your first day at work.

After all, every generation once walked into its first job.

“I think we forget sometimes that Gen Z may be entering their first corporate environment—or their first real-person job—for the very first time,” Nikki said.

That means there will inevitably be a learning curve. “There’s a little bit of grace that we need to remember to give. Give them the space to make mistakes and learn from them.”

For Nikki, some of the biggest professional growth has come from exactly those moments.

“The most growth I’ve had in my career so far has been in the moments where I had to own up to mistakes that I made—and then had the chance to do better.”

Make your own water cooler.

Remote work has added another layer to generational dynamics: how people build relationships when they’re not physically together.

“I feel like it’s a different feeling when you’re in the office and you can just pop into somebody’s cubicle and say hi,” Nikki said. “There’s a level of connection that’s different when everything happens over Zoom or Teams.”

Still, those connections can be created intentionally.

“You create those water-cooler moments by reaching out,” she said. “Schedule a quick coffee chat with someone. Ask how they got here. Ask what their story is.”

Those small conversations help build the same kind of trust that used to happen naturally in office hallways.

Maybe it’s more about communications.

Every generation gets labeled. Every generation gets misunderstood for a while. But Nikki’s advice isn’t really about Gen Z.

It’s about something far simpler—and far harder to practice. A little empathy. A little curiosity. And the willingness to meet people where they are… instead of where we assume they should be.

Business for Good Is Not a Slogan. It’s Architecture.

Your favorite San Diego graphic recorder attended her first Business for Good San Diego Summit this week. The premise behind the organization is simple—but powerful: business can be a force for good in society, but only if it’s designed that way. That idea ran like a thread through the entire summit.

Here are a few insights that stuck with me.

Nonprofits Are Businesses

One of the most refreshing truths shared during the summit was this:
Nonprofits are not charities. They are businesses.

They may have a social mission, but they still require sustainable revenue models, strong leadership, and thoughtful operations. Without those structures, they remain dependent on donations rather than building long-term impact. Mission matters. But structure sustains the mission.

Making Your Minute Count: Public Commenting

Another topic that came up was civic engagement—specifically the art of making a public comment at a city council or school board meeting. You often only get one minute. Which means strategy matters.

A strong public comment tends to follow a simple structure:

1. Start with a hook – something that captures attention immediately.

2. Create an emotional connection – why this issue matters to people.

3. Support with data – facts that give credibility.

4. End with a specific ask – what action you want taken.

It also helps to research who you’re speaking to. What issues matter to them? What pressures are they navigating?

In other words, even civic participation benefits from thoughtful design.

The B Corp Movement

The conversation also touched on B Corp certification, a global movement recognizing companies that meet high standards of social and environmental responsibility.

There are roughly 10,000 B Corps worldwide, and about 50 of them are based here in San Diego.

Becoming a B Corp isn’t just a badge. It often requires companies to rethink aspects of their business model—from governance to supply chains to community impact.

Again, it comes back to design.

Business for Good Is Architecture

One of the most powerful moments of the summit came from Paula A. Cordeiro, Dammeyer Distinguished Professor of Global Leadership and Education at the University of San Diego.

Her message was clear:
“Business for good isn’t about good intentions. It’s about architecture.”

In other words, positive impact doesn’t come from a clever mission statement or a well-written brand promise.

It comes from how a business is built.

According to Cordeiro, true “Business for Good” organizations design their structures to create long-term value for people, communities, and the planet. Social impact isn’t layered on later—it’s embedded into the foundation.

Design Matters

As someone who spends her days helping organizations visualize strategy and clarify complex conversations, this idea resonated deeply. Whether we’re talking about business models, civic engagement, or company culture, one truth keeps surfacing:

Clarity and impact rarely happen by accident.
They happen by design.

Listening, Sketching, and Sticky Notes: Inside San Diego’s Creative Economy Conversation

The California Art Council made a stop in San Diego to gather local feedback on its statewide Creative Economy Strategic Report—and the room showed up ready to talk, listen, and build on each other’s ideas.

The event was hosted at San Diego Made Factory, a cornerstone of the local creative community. Think artist studios, coworking energy, and a steady hum of markets, workshops, and gatherings. In other words: the perfect container for a conversation about creativity and commerce.

I attended on an off day—not as the hired graphic recorder, but as the kind who can’t not sketch a good conversation. So yes, the iPad came out. Some habits are features, not bugs.

The day opened with a spoken-word artist and poet (a strong signal that this would be more than a PowerPoint affair), followed by an overview of the proposed plan. 

From there, attendees split into small groups, each assigned to dig into one of six sections of the report. Every group shared their reactions, concerns, and ideas back to the room—fast, focused, and refreshingly candid.

Then came one of my favorite parts: an elegant idea-filtering exercise. Each person wrote an idea on an index card. That card was passed to another attendee and rated from 1–5. Then passed again. And again. Any card that earned three separate 5s was read aloud to the whole group.

Simple. Democratic. Surprisingly powerful.

A reminder that good facilitation doesn’t need bells and whistles—just a smart structure and trust in the room. Connections were also built the analog way. Questions went up on orange stickies. Offers of help landed on green ones. You could literally see curiosity and generosity taking shape on the wall.

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.