If you’re planning an event and you’ve discovered live event illustration, GREAT! Hi! Lovely to meet you. I’m Katie, founder of Illustrated Live. We draw pictures at events.

One of the first questions people ask is “How can we use live illustration at our event?”

Whether your event is online or in person, I’ve written this quick guide to illustrate (literally) the different options you have when it comes to displaying your scribing on the day.

I’ve written this assuming that you know these things:

We really do draw live, in real-time. Yes, there’s a tiny bit of prep involved, but the main chunk of the work happens before your very eyes.
Live event illustration can be done in person (we have a global team) and also works beautifully well online! The remote virtual option is perfect if you have a steady internet connection and clear audio. It tends to be a bit cheaper and a lot better for the planet too.

Ok, with that out of the way, let’s dig in.

Online Events: From top secret fly-on-the-wall illustrator, to right there in the spotlight

*Top secret AKA ninja-mode live event illustration*

Let’s start with online events.

We've got you covered with a range of visibility options.

1. Top secret

If you want to keep things under wraps until the grand finale, we can be as elusive as a fly on the wall. 🤫 You won't even know we're there until the big reveal. Or, if you prefer, we can create a masterpiece during the event and email it to your attendees afterwards. It's like a secret gift, just for them.

2. The sweet spot (strategic sneak peeks at the drawing)

This visibility option is the sweet spot that most of our clients love.

Here’s how it works: you're in a Zoom call, and instead of seeing our faces, you see our iPad screen This way, you have full control of the visibility. You can spotlight us, making our illustrations bigger when you want to see them, then unspotlight us, turning us back into a tiny thumbnail. (Is “unspotlight” a word? 😅 it is now. I’m claiming it.) As we draw, you and your attendees can catch glimpses of the illustration taking shape. It's like having a beautiful piece of art unfold right before your eyes while still being able to focus on the keynote speaker.

Best of both worlds!

It’s also worth mentioning that you can have multiple speakers spotlighted at once. When we live illustrated for Johnson and Johnson, for example, they had three panel speakers in the spotlight. At key moments they also shone the spotlight on our live illustrator. J&J had a techie team member in the Zoom who would notice when we were drawing something intriguing or adding more detail, and voila! We’d be spotlighted for everyone to see again.

This is a great technique when maintaining attendee engagement is a priority for you.

3. The Main Feature

The final option, the big cheese = live illustration as the star of the show.

Sharing our screen means we’ll take up the whole event and everyone can see every single bit of drawing, as it happens, live.

Magic.

Yes yes yes Katie, but what about in-person events?

We specialise in digital illustration, which means we can plug our iPad into giant screens, and fill the room with creative, accessible visuals that everyone can see. 🖥️🎉

Note: We can still project onto big screens for in-person events, EVEN when the illustrator is remote.

I know, I know. It’s mad. The internet is a wonderful thing.

In-Person Events: From giant screens to secret visual notes at your conference

At the risk of sounding like a QVC advert,

But wait, there's more!

For in-person events, the iPad means that we're not confined to a stationary spot. We can flit from table to table. Whether you have a world cafe setup or breakout sessions, being able to mingle and create personalised illustrations for your attendees is a superpower.

Lots of our clients like to share the illustrations so far during those breaks. You can show them as a slideshow that will have your guests talking and networking like “OMG I SAID THAT, IT’S ON THE ILLUSTRATION!”. It's an interactive experience that will leave everyone buzzin’.

SPY MODE

Now, let's talk about the stealthy visibility option. Eg. No visibility 😅. If you want us to be your secret accomplice, we can be very very discreet. NDA to sign? No problem. Don’t want the illustrations to be shown anywhere afterwards? Mum’s the word. Some of our clients don’t want the illustrations to show up at all on the day and that’s fine too.

We can be silently capturing your event throughout the day, blending in with the audience, and at the end, we'll present you with all the illustrations and videos. They're yours to treasure and share as you please.

Some of our previous clients have sent them out in thank-you emails, created event recap materials, or even used them in social media posts to showcase what others missed. The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours!

Finding the perfect balance

Will live illustration be too distracting? Not if you plan properly! We've got options galore to suit your needs and keep the focus right where you want it. We like to work with you to develop the best visibility solution for your specific event and goals. This quick rundown of visibility options is just here to soothe your mind and show you that you have the power to choose.

Whether you're planning an online event or an exciting in-person gathering, live illustration can be your secret weapon. It adds a touch of creative magic, boosts engagement and accessibility, and leaves a lasting impression. It's time to unleash the power of live illustration at your next event and create an experience that will be talked about WAY after your event ends.

You’re not boring, so why should your events be?

Get in touch today and let's make something cool.

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