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Graphic Recorder

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First things first and in case you didn't know...

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A Graphic Recorder and Graphic recording (sometimes called graphic harvesting, live illustration or live scribing) turns key messages into memorable, engaging pictures that can be cascaded throughout a company, shared with stakeholders and referred to long after the meeting or event. 

 

It visually captures conversations, presentations, or meetings in real-time using illustrations, diagrams, and text. They work at events, conferences, or workshops, transforming complex ideas into engaging visual summaries. Industries like business, education, and healthcare use their services to improve communication and engagement.

Key skills/talents

The following are a few key skills you should have if you’re looking to become a Graphic Recorder:

  • Drawing & Illustration – Solid freehand sketching ability, although you don’t need to be able to draw REALLY WELL, and you certainly do not need to be an ‘artist’

  • Active Listening – Quickly synthesising spoken ideas into visuals.

  • Visual Storytelling – Structuring narratives through appropriate imagery.

  • Typography & Lettering – Clear, legible handwriting and penmanship.

  • Speed & Adaptability – Working live under time pressure. Equipment fails, agendas change without warning, and all possible human and environment variables can come into play at some point. You just respond quickly and professionally.

  • Mental Agility - Being able to take in information, which may be random, unexpected or about a topic you're not expert in, and make sense of it.

  • Colour Theory – Using palettes effectively for clarity.

  • Digital Tools (e.g., Procreate, Adobe Fresco) – For hybrid/digital recording.

  • Facilitation Skills – Engaging with clients and audiences.

  • Business Acumen – Pricing, contracts, and self-promotion.

  • Cultural Sensitivity – Representing diverse perspectives fairly.

  • Marketing Skills - Being able to promote your services and your work, in what is a relatively unknown space.

  • Ethical Practice - Maintaining professionalism and confidentiality

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​Qualifications required

As you might expect, no qualifications are required for Graphic Recording, it is purely proven skills and track record. However, given most of your work will be in the corporate space, proven and recognised training will be a huge help to your ‘pitch’ credentials...

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Short Courses

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Degrees (useful but not essential): Illustration, Graphic Design, or Visual Communication at Universities like:

 

Online Learning

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And of course Cara’s training services, either online (majority) or some in person: https://graphicchange.com/training and https://graphicchangeacademy.com

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Rules and regs

 

As a Graphic Recorder, having the right insurance is essential to protect your business. Public Liability Insurance covers accidents at events, such as ink spills or property damage, while Professional Indemnity Insurance safeguards you against client disputes over your work. 

 

Additionally, equipment Insurance is crucial for covering your digital tools, like tablets or laptops, used for live illustration. 


For freelance-friendly policies, consider regulars on here, like PolicyBee: www.policybee.co.uk or Hiscox: www.hiscox.co.uk, which offer tailored coverage for creative professionals.

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Remuneration framework

Graphic Recording, because it is so nuanced and so specialist, can pay very well. It is possible to earn £1500+ in a day and this rises with experience and for higher intensity or longer-term projects.. However, a proven track record is required to command those prices, and to start out you will likely have to charge about £4-500 for a day, similar to a freelance graphic designer.

 

Cara is able to work part-time and live comfortably, but that comes down to personal choice with work-life balance. Meaning that if you wanted to work and earn more, you could - within reason. Please be mindful that this isn’t a ‘high-demand’ service per say, and there will be a limit on the number of clients that want (and are willing to pay for) your services and work.

 

... Nevertheless, with reputation and contacts you could earn over £100k a year.

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How to get started

To launch your career as a Graphic Recorder, and alongside any course you choose to do (which we would recommend), begin by building a strong portfolio – practice by sketching online TED Talks or local events to both build up your skills, and to demonstrate (particularly with the watchable Ted Talk links) your live illustration skills. 

 

Gain real-world experience by (at the very start) offering free or low-cost work for charities or small events that will really benefit from your skills, as you hone them. Given the skill involved here, however, we wouldn't advise free/low-cost work for long... Know your value!

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Networking is key, and certainly, referrals have been Cara’s main and primary source of work. Remember, corporations like to show off their ‘quirkiness’ and alternative thinking, so sharable (and boastable) visuals will soon put your work under other people’s noses. 

 

In addition, connect with fellow visual practitioners. As Cara says in the chat, there are more of them out there (globally) than you might expect, so get involved and get connected.


Finally, expand your capabilities by going digital – master tools like Procreate: www.procreate.art or Miro: www.miro.com to offer hybrid (in-person and virtual) graphic recording services.

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Job site links

In short, there are no job sites that can help you here, and as a self-employed service, the work is for you to find and get.

 

That said, freelance platforms such as Upwork: www.upwork.com, Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com and PeoplePerHour: www.peopleperhour.com, frequently advertise opportunities for visual practitioners. 

 

Event production companies like DRPG: www.drpg.co.uk often hire graphic recorders for conferences and live events, but even if they don’t (yet), knowing what you do and what can be done would be another string to their services bow, so do make yourself known to event companies.


For corporate opportunities, use LinkedIn's job search function to look for terms like "facilitation specialist" or "workshop illustrator": www.linkedin.com/jobs. These platforms offer everything from one-off assignments to longer-term projects.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

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Progression pathway​

This is categorically down to you and how far you want to go with it. As we have already covered, Cara is experienced enough to command a good rate, which means she chooses to work less to get the ‘non’ work-life balance she wants. But that ability only comes with experience, so if a healthy work-life balance is your ultimate goal, too, then put the hours in as early and as frequently as you can, to build up your portfolio, and your reputation.

 

Depending on how much and how often you want to work (and how much money you therefore want to earn), the world is your oyster with Graphic Recording - and we do mean The World - because if you’re good, like Cara, you could end up being hired to attend events in other countries.

 

… You can also (now) do the work remotely and can join meetings via Zoom etc, which although more complicated (so you really will need experience for this type of graphic recording), means you could live and be anywhere to do this job. 

 

Perhaps the most important ‘progression’ thing to note about this job/this type of work, is how highly it can benefit / compliment your own work-life needs, be they financial, geographical, or simply non-work time.

 

… But only if you’ve got the experience, credibility and reputation to achieve it.

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Additional Information/links

Books

 

Digital Tools

 

Communities

  • Visual Thinking UK (Facebook Group)

  • #GraphicRecording (Instagram community) – Explore via the #

 

And of course, Cara’s website, which is: https://graphicchange.com

Cara’s academy can be found here: https://graphicchangeacademy.com

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