Visual storytelling unleashed: Looking back at VizConf 2023

It's been just over a month since VizConf 2023, and I'm still buzzing with the creative energy and sheer brilliance of the visual storytelling community. ?

As a full-time visual storyteller at Indi Dust since April, diving into this industry has been a mix of excitement, and a whole lot of, 'what the hell am I doing?'. But let me tell you, finding the Graphic Recorders Australia crew at VizConf felt like stumbling upon a family I never knew I had.

Picture this: 60-odd graphic recorders, scribes, facilitators, designers—basically, a league of visual superheroes—gathered at 普华永道 Melbourne's 'the difference' space. It was a playground for our learning with moveable whiteboards that cocooned our quirky collaboration.

From Asia (I loved your tech x sketch talk Yee Hui Chia ) to the far corners of Australia and New Zealand, talents converged for a celebration of sketch-based creativity. The air was thick with procreate hacks, and every conversation was a chance to soak in the diverse wisdom of this fantastic community. Although there was definitely a touch of heaviness, as it was also the day Australia voted on the Voice to Parliament.

Now, let's talk about the sketchnotes. Oh, the sketchnotes! ??? I've got a few gems from the keynotes that I'm itching to share with you all. It was soooo cool seeing a room of people live-drawing, mapping a visual journey that encapsulates the essence of VizConf 2023. Dr Marion Piper lead us off with her creativity truth bombs...

But it wasn't all sunshine and apple-pencil pops, we got to listen to an empathetic panel including Glenn Stephenson, Sarah Cook and Kate Baxter feel their way through how to capture the hard stuff.

But beyond the visuals, it's the people who made this experience truly extraordinary, and the connections I've forged can't be underestimated as a sole trader in a new business. I got to have an early morning coffee with Marc Hundleby and Alan Chen + Diana Ayoub from Shapeshifter and veteran's like Jessamy Gee rained down her wisdom nuggets like hail in speedy learning sessions.

This only scratches the surface, but hopefully it gives you a bit of an insight into the VizConf crew, the collaborators, the thinkers, the doodlers, and the storytellers. It has got my creative mojo going and I can't wait until VizConf 2024.

If you're in the biz and want to learn about the association check out: https://www.graphicrecorders.org.au/

And if you draw often on an ipad, you gotta check out illani and their wooden sketch stands, designed in Queensland. I came home with one and it has improved my drawing posture out of sight: https://illanicreative.com/shop

I love showcasing talented peeps so if I missed you above, please add your handles/websites etc in the comments so others can explore and enjoy your work.

#VisualStorytelling #VizConf2023 #CreativityUnleashed #VisualCommunity #IndiDustWeTrust