The power of visual storytelling: Why more organisations are hiring live illustrators for events
In a fast-paced, information-heavy world, it’s no wonder that organisations are looking for more engaging, inclusive and memorable ways to communicate complex ideas. That’s where visual storytelling, (and live illustration in particular) comes into its own.
Whether you’re hosting a strategy workshop, stakeholder consultation, or multi-day academic conference, having a live illustrator in the room isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ - it’s essential! It creates clarity, captures insight and builds shared understanding in real time.
Pen on paper live illustration by Esther Springett
Why hire a live illustrator for your event?
Live illustration (also called live scribing or graphic recording) helps solve real problems faced by organisations and teams:
It increases engagement – People are more present when they see their ideas being captured visually in the moment.
It boosts accessibility – Not everyone absorbs information the same way. Visual notes offer an inclusive alternative to traditional minutes and written reports.
It creates alignment – Visuals help everyone in the room see the bigger picture, stay focused and move forward together.
It captures energy – When you bring a live illustrator into the room, you signal that this meeting or event matters. The energy shifts. People pay attention.
It leaves a legacy – You walk away with visual assets that are easy to share and repurpose across reports, presentations and social media.
Digital live illustration by Esther Springett
“You have brilliantly captured the content, flow, and spirit of the event. It looks so lively and should hopefully elicit some interest and questions from colleagues and students!”
Who is it for?
I work with clients across public, private and third sectors - from grassroots community organisers to global companies. Some recent collaborations include:
🎓 University of York – capturing three days of technical keynote talks on neuromorphic hardware (yes, really!) in a high-energy visual timeline.
🏛 Mayor of London’s Office – Working with Sadiq Khan’s team to map impact across London’s Creative Enterprise Zones
🖥 Ivanti Live – illustrating a corporate event from a skyscraper venue in Shoreditch.
🤝 University of Kent – turning real-life stories from coastal communities into powerful, accessible visuals.
🏥 NHS respiratory nurses & the Burdett Trust for Nursing – visualising the findings of a pilot project on patient care.
“Esther was approachable, friendly, highly professional and her final product was just what we needed to represent our workshop pictorially.”
From strategy days to storytelling walls
I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Each live illustration project is tailored to the room, the audience and the goals of the event.
Sometimes that means quietly capturing the flow of a dialogue-rich workshop. Other times, it’s holding space for complex conversations and surfacing what’s not being said. In every case, the goal is the same: to make thinking visible.
Visual storytelling allows us to reflect what’s said in the room - clearly, creatively and without filters. It’s a form of listening. And that’s where the magic happens.
Ready to make your meetings more engaging?
If you’re planning a conference, strategy session, or public consultation and want to bring clarity, energy and insight to the room, I’d love to hear from you.
