FAQ

Graphic recording engages attendees on a deeper level. The human brain retains more information through visual and interactive aids (Paivio, A. (1971). Imagery and verbal processes. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston), making graphic recording a valuable tool for improving participation, idea-sharing, and retention.

Builds shared understanding: it keeps everyone on the same page by capturing all perspectives, presenting them in a way that is easy to understand, and shows links between ideas. This leads to better decision-making, increased understanding of different points of view, and a more productive conversation.

Problem-solving: just as mathematicians write complex math equations on chalkboards, graphic recording similarly maps out issues so everyone can see the “big picture” and brainstorm solutions.

It’s a tangible artifact: attendees can refer back to the graphic recordings after the meeting to remember what was discussed or to see how their ideas evolved. This is especially helpful for those who were not present or are new to the conversation. The graphic can be brought to future meetings to anchor the discussion in the work from the previous session.

Boosts creativity: presenting information in a visual way helps people think about things differently, leading to new insights and perspectives. This is why graphic recording is often used in brainstorming sessions and innovation workshops.

Whether you’re in business, education, government, or the non-profit sector, graphic recording can enhance any group dialogue.

We’ve outlined the steps in more detail here.

Graphic recording is a skill that takes many years of training to master, as very few people can interpret conversations, draw, and organize the content quickly in real time.

Keep in mind that investing in high-quality graphic recording can have a significant impact on the success of your event, so it is important to consider the value and potential return on investment.

Below are the average industry rate ranges for graphic recording. We are happy to share Fuselight’s specific pricing, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Fees range depending on the level of experience of the graphic recorder. On average, people newer to this field (e.g. 1-2 years experience) might charge in the 2000-2500 range for a full day event. Those with experience average 2500-4500+ for a full day event. These rates will also vary depending on duration of the event, complexity of the content, and location of the event. Typically these rates include:

• a planning call ahead of the event
• time spent researching your topics, developing imagery, and planning titles & layouts
• coordinating supplies
• graphic recording on the day
• post-event digitization of the graphics, edits, and follow up after the meeting

This article shares a few examples of how to use graphic recordings after your meeting.

We’ve also put together an exclusive 17-page digital magazine stocked with ideas, resources, and examples of how to use graphic recordings after your meeting. An excerpt from the magazine, which is available to all our clients:

Sketchnotes: typically drawn in a sketchbook or iPad, sketchnotes are quick way of visually capturing a discussion. They are often done to help an individual organize their notes in a more visual way, and are not often part of the group dialogue the same way graphic recording is.

Graphic Recording: a graphic recorder captures dialogue in a meeting, conference, or workshop in real time. This is done either on large poster paper, or digitally and projected. The graphic recording is in full view of participants, and is most effective when it’s well integrated with the agenda, facilitation, and invites audience feedback.

Other words used to describe graphic recording include: visual notes, scribing, visual scribing, live illustration

Graphic Facilitation: the facilitator of the session is also using visuals to help organize the discussion. The focus is less on capturing and organizing content in a visually powerful way (as with graphic recording), and more on using bullet points, basic layouts, and quick sketches to organize ideas while facilitating. The graphic facilitator may also use pre-drawn visual templates. They typically work on flip charts or large poster paper for the group to see, however they might also draw on a digital tablet.

Purpose: graphic recording is designed to capture the essence of a conversation or presentation in real-time, while slides and posters are usually created beforehand to present information in a structured and organized way. Slides do not capture the emphasis a speaker brings to their presentation, nor the reaction or deeper questions from the crowd.

Process: graphic recording is a dynamic process that evolves as the conversation or presentation progresses, while slides and posters are static and do not change.

Engagement: it’s a highly engaging and interactive tool that encourages participation and exchange of ideas, while slides and posters are typically one-way communication tools. Graphic recording validates a diverse range of ideas when it is open to feedback and participant additions to the graphics.

Outcome: it’s a unique and visually stunning capture of information that is easy to understand and memorable, while slides and posters are often linear and text-heavy, making it harder for the audience to retain information. The content is captured in a succinct one-pager that people can photograph and share immediately.

Digital graphic recording: the graphic recording is illustrated in real time on an iPad or other digital tablet. It is projected in the meeting space for participants to see. The completed graphic is a high-resolution digital image, along with a time-lapse of the illustrations being drawn.

Benefits of digital graphic recording:

• Easy to edit and revise: the digital image can be easily edited and revised, allowing for more flexibility and accuracy in capturing information.
• Increased accessibility: the images can be uploaded immediately to a shared file for participants to access, including remote participants.
• Environmentally friendly: digital graphic recording eliminates the need for paper, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.

Paper graphic recording: is drawn on large poster paper or foam board using markers. The final graphic recording is a large poster which is also photographed and converted into a digital image.

Benefits of paper graphic recording:

• Creates a unique and tangible artifact: paper-based graphic recording creates a unique and tangible artifact that can be displayed and used for reference in the future.
• Encourages creativity: the act of creating a graphic with pen and paper can encourage creativity, and is a hands-on way of engaging the audience.
• Gallery walk: the physical posters can be displayed in a gallery walk at the meeting so participants can reflect, take photos of details in the graphics, and add sticky notes to the graphics.

It’s best to source a graphic recorder who has expertise in your topics or industry, as they’ll be able to make deeper connections between ideas, and follow the discussion with ease. 

Consider the visual impact of the graphic recorder’s portfolio and what would work best for your event. Experienced graphic recorders are able to adapt their style to align with your culture of work, are able to produce visually stunning graphics, and are able to work in a variety of ways (digitally, paper, Knowledge Walls, etc).

An experienced graphic recorder will also have methods for supporting different formats of meetings and facilitation styles. For example, they’ll know how to harvest content from simultaneous discussions, how to capture complex discussions, and have visual layouts that help guide the conversation or reveal new information.

An experienced graphic recorder can turn an average meeting into a memorable and engaging experience!

Yes! We have translated many of our graphic recordings into other languages. We can provide an organized table with English text in one column, and blank space for translation in the other to make it easier for translators to input their text. (note that we do not have translators on our team, but can provide resources for translators)

Time required to translate the graphic recording depends on the amount of text in the graphic, and the language it is being translated into. Sometimes the translation results in more text than the original graphic, which means we need to make some image and layout edits to ensure everything fits.

We have supported many events that had a multitude of language speakers present. The graphic recordings are a wonderful way of demonstrating the beauty and power of multiple languages.

Although the graphic recorder can only do their live illustration work in one language (we have English and Spanish speaking graphic recorders available), we can ensure there is opportunity for including phrases in other languages.

For example, at Indigenous gatherings, we often collaborate with Elders and language-keepers in the space to provide words and phrases in their language to include on the graphic recording.

Graphic recording is a powerful sense-making tool in most any meeting, and it’s therefore in high demand. Skilled graphic recorders whose work is very visual and attuned to the meeting are in even higher demand!

We’re typically booked up 4-6 weeks in advance. However this varies; sometimes we’re booked up 2-3 months out for in-person events, other times we have openings for shorter notice events. Junior graphic recorders on our team that may not have as much experience might have more availability for short notice sessions.

Remember, you’ll get the most value from graphic recording if we plan ahead for how best it can support the meeting. This includes tailoring the graphics to your content, planning how best it can be set up in the space, ensuring people can provide feedback on the graphics, and most of all, having a senior graphic recorder support the session.

Yes, if we’re on your team, you will win every time 🙂

Custom explainer videos are particularly effective at storytelling. Rather than using stock animation software and images, custom explainer videos are designed from scratch. This includes the strategy for storytelling, tone, design of the illustrations, and flow of animation. They are therefore more eye-catching, engaging, and entertaining than stock animations because they’re highly tailored to your content and audience. There will be no other video like it!

Custom explainer videos are often designed so they can be used well into the future, or in a variety of contexts, such as smaller excerpts for social media, or using the graphics in print materials or infographics. In terms of return on investment and time, a custom animation is the better choice. 

Every explainer video project follows these stages:

• Initial consult
• Script writing / editing
• Storyboarding
• Animation

Rounds of revision are included in each stage to ensure we have your input and guidance each step of the way. We talk about the steps in more detail here.

Production times for an explainer animation range depending on the style and length of the animation, complexity of the content, and how quickly feedback and approval is delivered during each stage. We talk about the steps in more detail here.

Animation is not a quick process; an engaging and well-designed animation requires significant planning. Videos that are rushed often result in generic and cliche content that viewers are likely to skip over.

If your content is very complex, or you’re needing to brainstorm ideas, we sometimes have a live “whiteboarding” session via Zoom to get clarity on ideas and map out concepts visually (this is where our graphic recording talent comes in!).

Explainer videos can range from as quick as 4 weeks to 14 weeks or longer.

We offer a range of styles of animation — from simple (but beautiful!) quick draw videos, to dynamic line animations (also called “whiteboard videos”), to artistic and advanced motion animations. The right style for your project depends on your audience, timelines, and budget.

We go into more detail about each style of animation here.

Cost of producing an explainer video varies depending on style of animation, length of the video, complexity of the story, and rounds of revision required. We are happy to share more details about Fuselight’s specific pricing, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Explainer videos are highly effective when they’re in the 2-3 minute range. This is a “sweet spot” for getting your message across in a narrative and creative way. Of course, longer videos are also possible, and are often best suited for educational topics such as explaining a chronic disease or science topic.

One minute of animation is equivalent to approximately 130-150 words in a script. This varies depending on pace of the narrator, and how much content is being shown on screen. We are skilled at helping edit your content for conciseness, as not everything needs to be narrated: the animation can show concepts visually.

We also have a script writing template that has helpful tips and prompts for organizing your thoughts. This article has tips about organizing content for an infographic, and the same principles apply when thinking about your content for an animation.

Yes absolutely! The most effective explainer videos are developed in collaboration with subject matter experts (that means you & your team!). 

Every explainer animation production has a timeline that outlines dates you’ll receive drafts from us, and dates we’re hoping for feedback from your team. Three rounds of revision are included in each stage of production (script, storyboard, animation), but sometimes we add a fourth round if something needs to be edited to get it just right!

Yes, we’ve produced many explainer videos in multiple languages. Because animation is a time-intensive process, it’s important we know at the beginning of the production whether you need it translated (note that we do not have translators on our team, but can provide resources for translators).

It’s also important to source a voice over artist who speaks the language you need.

We have a library of songs we source from that are royalty free and accreditation free (means credit is not required if the song has been purchased). Music ranges in cost from $30-$60 per song for sharing the video online or in conferences. Music cost for wide distribution (television, radio, theatres) are significantly higher.

However, we encourage whenever possible to source from local musicians. This is particularly important for videos that are being produced by an Indigenous Nation or organization. There are often talented musicians in community who can provide unique and beautiful music.

On average, we are booked 2-3 months out for animations.

However, sometimes shorter or simpler animations are quicker to produce and we may be able to take those on short notice. In addition, on rare occasions an existing project might need to extend its timelines, which may open up space in our schedule.

Infographics always start from organizing your content into clear and concise points (see this article here for more detail, and a free template).

After we receive your content, we have a kick-off call to review the themes, talk about potential imagery, and how best to organize the content into a clear visual.

Rough mock up(s): we’ll draft 1-3 rough mock ups of potential layouts for the infographic. These are quick sketches just to show how the content could be organized, and may include notes on colours, imagery, and metaphor.

1st Draft: after you’ve chosen a rough mock up and provided feedback, we polish it up into a detailed first draft. This includes text content, visuals, and colours.

2nd Draft / 3rd Draft / Final: we go through a few more rounds of revision to get the infographic “just right.” If the infographic is clickable (see example here), we’ll also prepare the interactivity for feedback.

On average, most projects take around 4-8 weeks to complete, from initial consult, to content review, to drafts, to final product. This timeline can vary depending if we are producing versions in multiple languages, or adding interactivity to the graphics.

Infographics can also be designed so the graphics can be used in other materials, which requires good planning on how the graphics can be used for more than just one purpose.

Below are the average industry rates for infographics. We are happy to share more details about Fuselight’s specific pricing, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Infographics range quite a lot depending on the complexity of your content, style of graphics, and rounds of revision. Studios that are using pre-created templates and stock images may be as low as $500 for an infographic. Those using custom illustration, layouts, and research / consultation can range $2000-6000 or more.

Yes! We have translated many of our infographics into other languages. We can provide an organized table with English text in one column, and blank space for translation in the other to make it easier for translators to input their text. (note that we do not have translators on our team, but can provide resources for translators)

Time required to translate the infographic depends on the amount of text in the graphic, and the language it is being translated into. Sometimes the translation results in more text than the original graphic, which means we need to make some image and layout edits to ensure everything fits.

On average we’re booked 4-6 weeks out for infographic projects. However this varies substantially depending on the scope of the project. Sometimes less complex infographics can be produced in a shorter timeframe. In addition, on rare occasions we may have an existing project extend its timelines, which might open up space in our schedule.