Andy Gray, live illustrator and graphic recorder, will be joining the POC Conference to illustrate the day’s sessions live at the side of the stage.
At Products of Change, we’re always on the lookout for innovative ways to make our events more memorable, engaging and accessible, and this year, we’re excited to announce that Andy will be returning.
Andy joined us last year, but digitally; this year he will be illustrating in-person off to the side of the stage, where attendees can witness his process live.
He will be joined by his son, Reuben, who supports Andy at events, in particular by being his colourist. “you can see him coming in behind and doing that side of things. It frees me up on my head space to focus even more on the listening and turning things into focussed imagery,” said Andy. “Best thing is, he is actually colourblind. So he is my colourblind colourist!”
Andy and Reuben use Neuland markers and materials, including its refillable pens and ethically sourced paper.
What is live illustration?
Many of us have sat through conferences, scribbling rushed notes, trying to listen and remember at the same time, or dare I say losing focus on the conversation. But what Andy does is capture these conversations and ideas in real time, converting them into visual graphics and summaries to enable attendees to better grasp and engage with the discussions as they unfold, but also for them to take away and recollect the topics of the day.
Andy’s work, sometimes known as “graphic recording” or “sketchnoting,” goes beyond simple note-taking. As he listens, Andy captures patterns, makes connections, and distils information into colourful, playful visuals.
(Below: a selection of Andy’s illustrations from last year’s Conference)
More than a stunt – what will attendees get out of it?
For conference-goers, not only do they come away with a piece of artwork to commemorate the Conference and to remember the conversations of the day, but it also serves as a tool for memory and understanding.
Research shows that visuals help us remember and connect with information more deeply – which is beneficial to everyone but is especially so for neurodiverse attendees. This is something that is central to Andy and the way he works; being neurodivergent himself, drawing centres his focus and enables him to better engage with the world around him.
After the Conference, Andy’s visuals will be shareable as JPEGs or PDFs, meaning no one misses the highlights and attendees can re-engage with key themes on socials or team meetings after the event.
Andy comments on his takeaways from last year’s Conference:
“Big ones are just how much big brands actually do care about the planet and are actively doing something about it. You hear so much reported bad news and prices etc. but when you see them taking proactive action even before government legislation – it’s amazing! Plus I loved the truly innovative ways in which processes like the clothing industry, and particularly dye work, was being rethought.”
As a church minister and educator, Andy somewhat entered the world of graphic recording by accident, doodling in lectures to help him stay focused. Diagnosed with autism later in life, Andy credits his neurodivergent mind for his ability to “see connections others might miss” and process conversations at lightning speed.
Over the years, Andy has turned his passion into a full-fledged career, capturing the essence of events everywhere from local gatherings to international conferences.
In the past year, Andy live illustrated a podcast at Sky Studios for one of the biggest UK entrepreneurs, Dan Priestly. He has also been working on a self published projects for children’s books as well as writing his own novel and illustrating his own work.
Having Andy was a highlight of the Conference last year, and we are looking forward to welcoming him and Reuben in-person this year.
