If you’re planning an online conference, workshop or webinar and looking for a more engaging way to capture the conversation, you might have considered hiring a live illustrator. But how could it work when everyone is joining from different locations?
Do they need to be in the same room?
Can participants watch the artwork develop?
And will it have the same impact as live illustration at an in-person event?
The good news is that online live illustration can be just as engaging, effective and valuable as in-person graphic recording. And it can be surprisingly straightforward to incorporate into your virtual event.
Whether you're hosting a webinar, online conference, research workshop or virtual strategy session, here's how it works and what to expect when hiring a live illustrator.
Online live illustration by Esther Springett
What is online live illustration?
Online live illustration, sometimes called virtual graphic recording or digital live illustration, is the process of visually capturing conversations, presentations and ideas as they happen during an online event.
Rather than creating traditional written minutes or relying on presentation slides, a live illustrator (me!) listens to the discussion and translates key messages into an engaging visual summary.
Using digital drawing tools, I create illustrations in real time, capturing themes, insights, memorable quotes and connections as they emerge.
By the end of your event, you have a unique visual record that brings together the most important ideas in one place.
And the best bit? Nobody needs to leave their home or office to make it happen.
How does live illustration work at an online event?
It's simpler than you might think.
I can join your online event remotely, just like any other participant, using platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
As your speakers present, panellists discuss ideas or participants contribute to workshops, I listen, interpret and illustrate the conversation as it unfolds.
Depending on the format of your event, there are different ways to incorporate the artwork.
1. Watch the illustration develop in real time
One of the most engaging ways to use online live illustration is to let participants see the artwork taking shape.
Through screen sharing, the illustration can become part of the event experience, giving attendees a visual representation of the conversation as it happens.
It's particularly effective during interactive workshops, conferences and sessions where you want people to reflect on emerging ideas.
And there is something rather satisfying about watching a blank canvas gradually fill with the thoughts and contributions of everyone involved!
2. Reveal the finished artwork at the end
Alternatively, the illustration can develop behind the scenes and be revealed at the end of the event.
This works particularly well for webinars, presentations or conferences where you want to keep the focus on the speakers.
The finished artwork becomes a visual summary of the key messages, giving everyone an opportunity to revisit what they've heard and reflect on the bigger picture.
I use the digital drawing application Procreate which conveniently records a timelapse of the drawing as I create it in realtime. I can do a snazzy replay of this at the end of your event to wow your attendees!
3. Share the artwork after the event
Keep the ideas alive and the conversation buzzing and follow up with your attendees after the event.
The finished artwork can be shared digitally afterwards, providing a lasting resource for attendees, organisers and stakeholders.
You can use it in follow-up communications, presentations, reports, newsletters and social media content.
One event, one illustration, plenty of opportunities to keep the conversation going.
Is online live illustration as effective as in-person?
Absolutely. Although the experience is slightly different, the value of live illustration remains the same.
Whether I'm sitting in a conference hall or joining a virtual workshop, the heart of my work is listening.
I'm looking for the ideas that matter, the connections between different perspectives and the underlying themes that give a conversation meaning.
My live illustrations help people see and understand the bigger picture rather than trying to capture every word.
In fact, online events can particularly benefit from visual storytelling.
When attendees are watching presentations through a screen, it's easy for complex information to become overwhelming or for important points to get lost.
Live illustration introduces another way of engaging with the content.
It can help participants:
Follow complex discussions by turning information into clear visual stories.
Recognise connections between speakers, themes and ideas.
Stay engaged by giving them something visual to follow.
Reflect on key messages throughout and after the event.
Remember what matters through a memorable illustrated summary.
And for organisers, it creates a tangible record of the event that can be shared long after everyone has logged off.
Live Illustration online by Esther Springett
What types of online events benefit from live illustration?
Virtual graphic recording can work for a wide range of online events, particularly those involving complex subjects, multiple speakers or collaborative discussions.
Online conferences and webinars
Capture keynote presentations, panel discussions and important takeaways in a single visual summary.
Virtual workshops and strategy sessions
Make ideas visible as participants explore challenges, develop solutions and work towards shared understanding.
Research and academic events
Help communicate complex findings and specialist discussions in an accessible, engaging way.
Stakeholder engagement and consultation sessions
Visually capture different perspectives, recurring themes and emerging priorities, giving participants a shared reference point.
Online training and learning events
Create a memorable visual resource that reinforces key learning points and can be revisited afterwards.
Whether you're bringing together ten people or a much larger audience, live illustration can be adapted to suit the format and purpose of your event.
How do I book a live illustrator for my virtual event?
You don't need to arrive with a detailed creative brief or know exactly what the finished illustration should look like.
That's part of what we'll work out together.
Here's how the process typically works.
Step 1: Tell me about your event
Start by getting in touch with the basics:
What is the event about?
Who will be attending?
What platform are you using?
How long will the event last?
What would you like the illustration to help communicate?
Don't worry if you're still finalising the details.
We can explore what's possible and how live illustration could fit into your plans.
Step 2: Let's talk about your goals
Before the event, I like to understand what you're hoping to achieve.
Is the aim to communicate research findings? Bring together different perspectives? Capture a strategy discussion? Or create an engaging visual record to share with stakeholders afterwards?
We'll discuss the format, audience, key topics and any terminology I should be familiar with.
This preparation is particularly important when working with complex or specialist subjects.
You bring the subject expertise. I bring the deep listening, synthesis and visual storytelling skills to translate those ideas into something people can connect with.
Step 3: Agree how the illustration will be shared
We'll establish how the artwork will fit into your online event.
Would you like participants to see the illustration developing live, or would a final reveal work better?
We'll also consider any technical arrangements, such as screen sharing and how the illustration will be introduced to attendees.
The aim is to make the experience feel seamless, without creating unnecessary work for your event team.
Step 4: I'll join your event and get drawing
On the day, I'll join remotely and create the artwork as the event unfolds.
My role is to listen, interpret and visually connect the important ideas emerging from your speakers and participants.
You can focus on running your event, knowing that the discussion is being captured in a creative and meaningful way.
Step 5: Receive your finished artwork
After the event, you'll receive the completed digital illustration, ready to use in your follow-up communications.
It's a lasting visual record that can continue to support your work, whether that's sharing key messages, engaging stakeholders or communicating outcomes.
What can you do with your live illustration afterwards?
One of the biggest advantages of commissioning online live illustration is how easily the finished artwork can be shared.
Unlike a physical mural, a digital illustration is already in a format that's suitable for online communication.
You might use it to:
Share a visual recap with attendees.
Highlight key findings in a report.
Create social media posts about the event.
Add an illustrated summary to your website.
Support funding applications or stakeholder updates.
Include it in newsletters or follow-up emails.
Revisit important ideas during future meetings.
Rather than letting valuable conversations disappear once the meeting ends, you have something tangible to bring them back to life.
Why work with a professional live illustrator?
There's a little more to live illustration than drawing quickly!
My background in documentary filmmaking, creative producing and advocacy has shaped the way I approach visual storytelling.
I'm used to listening carefully, interpreting complex information and finding the human story beneath the words.
That's particularly valuable when working with organisations navigating complicated subjects, whether that's healthcare research, policy, education, environmental issues or organisational change.
I don't need to be an expert in your particular field.
My expertise lies in asking the right questions beforehand, identifying what's important and turning the conversation into a visual narrative that makes sense to your audience.
And whether we're working together online or in person, that approach doesn't change.
Online Live Illustration by Esther Springett
Looking for a live illustrator for your next online event?
It doesn't need to involve complicated technology or extensive changes to your event plans.
With a little preparation, we can create an experience that gives attendees something to engage with during the event and a valuable visual resource to take away afterwards.
Planning an online event and want to make the conversation more memorable?
👋 Let's chat about live illustration for your next virtual event.
