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 we will have a live illustrator, drawing out the discussions of the day.

Andy Gray, a live illustrator and graphic recorder, will be capturing the energy and ideas of our sessions in real time, transforming the spoken word into visual storytelling.

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.

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.

During the conference, Andy will work digitally, projecting his creations live so everyone can watch the story unfold, including those tuning in online. After the Conference, his 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.

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. His breadth of experience ranges from live-sketching on enormous boards for keynote sessions, to working digitally for global audiences (a practice that came into its own during lockdown), and even leading “World Café” sessions that harness the power of group brainstorming. Andy’s work has enhanced everything from book publishing and Christian events to illustrating for Bletchley Park’s historical celebrations.

We’re thrilled to welcome Andy to the POC Conference this year, and we know his live illustration will add a new dimension to our community’s learning and sharing.

Get your tickets here for POC Conference on 5 November 2025 at the Royal Geographical Society, London.