Live Graphic Recording, Live Illustration & Visual Facilitation
I provide graphic recording, live illustration and selected forms of visual facilitation for conferences, workshops, panels, strategy sessions, webinars and hybrid events. Spoken content is translated into clear, memorable visuals in real time — digitally on screen, remotely from the studio, or live with pen, paper and marker-based formats on site.
These live drawings help audiences follow complex content more easily, give events a stronger visual presence, and leave organisers with useful post-event assets for internal communication, social media, reports and follow-up material.
Depending on the setting, the work can function as conference illustration, visual note-taking, remote graphic recording, live scribing, event sketchnoting or illustrated event documentation. The tools and format can vary, but the purpose stays the same: to distil ideas clearly and make them easier to retain.
For a quick, shareable overview of my illustration range, download my illustrator portfolio PDF.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/idmarsden
What this service is for
Graphic recording is especially effective when a project involves dense information, multiple speakers, strategic discussion or an audience that needs help retaining key messages. It works well in business, education, research, public communication and cultural contexts because it combines synthesis, structure and visual storytelling in a way that is immediately accessible.
It can be used during keynote talks, conferences, internal workshops, stakeholder meetings, training sessions, innovation events, webinars and live-streamed discussions. In some cases the result is a single large visual summary. In others, it becomes a sequence of live-drawn scenes, timelapse content or material for wider communication after the event.
If you are specifically looking for explainer videos or whiteboard-style animation, that is covered separately on this page.
Pricing and formats
Live graphic recording projects are quoted clearly and simply. The base rate for on-site or remote live drawing starts at €1,600 per day. Final quotes depend on four factors only: event duration, preparation, travel logistics, and post-event deliverables or extended usage.
This gives clients an early and realistic budget indication while keeping each proposal tailored to the actual event.
Available formats:
- Digital live drawing on iPad Pro, projected live on screen or delivered remotely
- Live drawing on paper with pen, ink or markers for a more tactile on-site presence
- Whiteboard or marker-board drawing where the physical build-up of the artwork is part of the event itself
Each format can be planned for conferences, workshops, webinars, strategy sessions, panels, hybrid events and public-facing programmes.
Typical optional add-ons:
- Pre-event preparation and visual planning
- Travel and accommodation for on-site events
- Timelapse edits, social clips or print-ready exports
- Extended licensing for campaigns, advertising, publishing or long-term branded reuse
If you already know the event format, timing and location, I can usually prepare a straightforward quote very quickly.
Services
1. On-site graphic recording & live illustration
For conferences, corporate events, workshops, keynote sessions and live panels in the EU and Switzerland, I can draw on site in real time. The drawing process can be shown live on screen via projector or LED wall, creating an immediate visual layer alongside the spoken programme.
The most common setup is digital live drawing using iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, but traditional tools can also be used where the format calls for paper, boards, markers or flipchart-based work.
Typical uses: conferences, product launches, leadership events, panel discussions, workshops, inaugurations, public-facing events and branded live experiences.
What it adds: audience attention, visual clarity, a stronger event identity and a finished illustrated asset that remains useful after the session.
In this accelerated timelapse example, a hand-drawn crowd scene is built live, character by character, with an emphasis on expression, composition and clarity. It is a good example of how live illustration can combine visual energy with structured communication.
2. Remote graphic recording for online and hybrid events
For webinars, remote workshops, internal meetings and hybrid conferences, I provide remote graphic recording from the studio. The work is drawn live on iPad Pro or Wacom Cintiq and can be shared in real time via Zoom, Teams or comparable platforms.
This format works particularly well for distributed teams, international meetings and sessions where a visual summary is needed without the logistics of on-site production.
Typical uses: virtual panels, webinars, stakeholder briefings, strategy sessions, innovation sprints, training, internal communications and hybrid conference programmes.
Deliverables: live screen share during the session, followed by a cleaned-up high-resolution visual summary where needed.
3. Timelapse edits and post-event content
Live drawings can also be exported as timelapse videos for social media, recap content, websites, internal communication or event follow-up. This is often one of the most useful secondary outputs because it extends the life of the event beyond the room itself.
- Full process edit for archive or recap use
- Short social edit for LinkedIn, Instagram or event promotion
- Optional branded export with logo, title card, music or outro
4. Print-ready and presentation-ready exports
Finished visuals can be delivered as high-resolution files for reports, internal decks, posters, handouts, newsletters, summary boards or presentation material.
- PDF, PNG or layered source files where agreed
- High-resolution output suitable for print and digital use
- Adapted versions for reports, internal communication and social sharing
Process
- Briefing: event format, audience, objectives, tone, terminology and technical setup
- Preparation: content review, visual planning, key themes, branded elements and optional pre-built layers
- Live delivery: on-site or remote drawing in real time during the event
- Refinement: optional clean-up and finishing after the session
- Delivery: final artwork, exports, and timelapse or social edits if required
Technical notes for on-site events
- HDMI connection is preferred for stable projection when drawing digitally
- Power access at the drawing position
- Rehearsal or technical check recommended
- AirPlay or wireless options possible depending on venue setup
- For paper, board or marker-based formats, suitable drawing surfaces and placement should be agreed in advance
Licensing and usage
Standard event-use rights can include live display during the event, internal communication, PR, agreed social-media use, and post-event documentation. Where required, I can also provide cleaned-up artwork, high-resolution exports and timelapse material for wider follow-up use.
For live drawing on paper, boards or whiteboards, photographs and approved snapshots of the finished artwork can also be included within the agreed usage rights for documentation and communication purposes.
Broader commercial uses such as advertising, paid campaigns, large-scale publishing, broadcast use or long-term branded reuse are licensed separately where needed. This is always defined clearly in advance, so the scope, deliverables and rights remain transparent from the start.
Why work with me
- More than 30 years of professional illustration and visual storytelling experience
- Published magazine and newspaper cartoonist and editorial illustrator, with strong live-drawing judgement and visual synthesis
- Able to work in different visual styles depending on the audience, subject matter and event context
- Comfortable in business, institutional, educational and public-facing contexts
- Hand-drawn, bespoke work with no stock art and no template look
- English, German and French
- Available for remote, hybrid and selected on-site work in Europe and Switzerland
This editorial background includes work for publications such as The New Yorker, MAD Magazine and NZZ am Sonntag, which has been excellent training in listening closely, distilling ideas quickly and communicating them clearly through drawing.
For broader examples of my drawn communication work, you can also view various drawing styles, explore the different categories in my online portfolio, and visit my dedicated page for explainer and whiteboard videos.
Plan your event
If you are planning a conference, webinar, workshop, hybrid session or internal event and want a strong visual layer added to the experience, feel free to get in touch. I can advise on the most suitable format and prepare a clear quote based on timing, location, preparation and deliverables.
On-site availability is focused on the EU and Switzerland. Remote graphic recording is available internationally.