Your ideas, drawn in real time

Live graphic recording that turns conferences, meetings, and big conversations into clear, memorable visuals people actually remember — and share.

Graphic recording of the DIA 2025 Global Annual Meeting opening plenary, featuring FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and other global health leaders discussing collaboration and patient impact
Live recording — DIA 2025 Global Annual Meeting, Opening Plenary
the short version…

What is graphic recording?

While your speakers present and your participants discuss, I listen, synthesize, and draw. The result is a large-scale visual map — created live on a digital tablet and projected for the room — that captures the key ideas, connections, and voices of your event as it happens.

It's part note-taking, part illustration, part translation. People watch their words become pictures, and something shifts: they lean in, they stay engaged, and they leave with a shared picture of what just happened.

Why bring in a graphic recorder?

Engagement you can see

A drawing taking shape on screen holds attention in a way slides never will. Audiences follow along, catch details, and take ownership of the ideas.

Memory that lasts

Visuals dramatically improve retention. Weeks later, people don't remember the bullet points — they remember the picture.

Alignment in one image

When a group can literally see the big picture, misunderstandings surface early and shared conclusions stick.

Assets ready instantly

Digital work means polished, high-resolution graphics ready for social media, newsletters, and reports the moment the session ends.

not your average scribe

Drawn by someone who understands the room

I spent 10+ years in global health and international development before picking up the stylus full time — leading monitoring and evaluation for a $150M program, advising USAID on pharmaceutical systems, and earning a Master of Public Health from Yale along the way.

That matters, because graphic recording is synthesis, not stenography. When your panel debates regulatory harmonization or health systems financing, I'm not just catching keywords — I understand the conversation. Complex, technical, multi-stakeholder discussions are exactly where I do my best work.

Organizations I've drawn for

  • USAID
  • DIA (Drug Information Association)
  • The Gates Foundation
  • National Academy of Medicine
  • Fairfax County Health Department
  • ATPCO
  • International Fresh Produce Association
  • The Foundation for Fresh Produce
  • American Heart Association (Maryland)
  • Humane Rescue Alliance
  • SGNL

Two ways to work together

Graphic recording of USAID's Global Gender Equality Conference opening remarks, drawn live

Live graphic recording

In person or virtual — I capture your event as it unfolds, projected live for your audience.

Live services →
Illustrated journey map showing produce moving from grower to distributor to retail store to shopper

Studio work

Visual summaries from your notes or recordings, commissioned illustrations, infographics, and more — no live event required.

Studio services →

Planning an event? Let's make it visual.

Tell me about your conference, retreat, or meeting, and I'll tell you exactly how graphic recording could fit — format, logistics, and a quote to match.

Email Tobey