Graphic recording sometimes feels like being a lumberjack trying to stay on top of a rolling log. While preparation helps, actual events often end up going quite differently than planned, meaning graphic recorders must be nimble to keep up.
But through experience, graphic recorders accumulate knowledge and techniques that help them stay on track. While discussions and presentations can be about many different subjects, they usually follow familiar patterns, which helps with predictability. Graphic recorders also have mental libraries of visual elements they can “plug in” as needed.
It’s also true that, while graphic recorders pay attention to everything that’s said, there are certain things they especially listen for:
- Major topics and concepts like “We’re expanding our product lines” or “We need to form new partnerships”.
- The sub-points that explain those topics.
- Figures of speech that suggest visuals, like “There’s a tsunami of changes coming”, or “We’re being thrown under the bus”.
- Spontaneous comments or interactions that capture the emotions in the room.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy to keep your footing. What seemed like the big concept may turn out to be a minor point. Information you didn’t think needed recording may end up being the center of the presentation. There may not be time for the planned Q & A, leaving you with a big, blank space to fill.
But with practice, one learns, no matter what happens, to deliver pleasing visuals that record not just a session’s important takeaways, but its emotional tenor as well. The ability to capture both the concrete and the ineffable is just one of the things that makes graphic recording so valuable.
At Breakthrough Visuals, we have the knowledge and expertise to roll with anything that comes along. If you’d like to explore how graphic recording can add clarity, understanding, and engagement to your next event, get in touch!