Graphic Recordings: Visual protocols for lasting impact

Graphic recordings are an innovative method for capturing complex content, discussions, and strategies visually and live during an event. Whether at conferences, workshops, or team meetings – graphic recordings help you make the essentials visible and understandable for everyone involved. In this guide, you'll learn what graphic recordings are, how they work, what software and examples are available, and how the DIALOGBILD agency can support you in visualizing your strategy.

What are graphic recordings?

Graphic recordings are visual transcripts that translate what is said and discussed during an event into images, symbols, and short texts in real time. A graphic recorder listens attentively and summarizes the key messages, moods, and contexts live on a large sheet of paper or digitally on a tablet. The result is a memorable, structured image that conveys the essence of the event at a glance.

Origin and Development

Graphic recording originated in the USA in the 1970s, particularly in the context of strategy workshops. Since the 2010s, the method has also become established in Germany and is now an integral part of many events – from Berlin to Hamburg, from small workshops to international conferences.

How does graphic recording work?

The process of graphic recording is divided into several phases:

1.) Briefing: Objectives, topics, and special requests are discussed with the client in advance.

2.) Preparation: The recorder prepares both technically and organizationally, creates key visuals if necessary, and plans the layout.

3.) Live Recording: During the event, content is visualized in real time – either on paper or digitally on a tablet. The drawings are created visible to everyone or in the background.

4.) Follow-up: The resulting image is digitized, processed, and made available to the participants.

What's special about graphic recordings: They appeal not only to the mind but also to the emotions. The combination of image and text makes content easier to remember and encourages further dialogue..

Graphic Recording Berlin: A Creative Scene and Diverse Offerings

A vibrant graphic recording scene has developed in Berlin in particular. Numerous artists and agencies offer their services for events, conferences, and workshops. You benefit from creative minds who work both analog and digitally and support all kinds of events.

Benefits of Graphic Recordings for Your Company

  • Complex content becomes understandable and tangible
  • Sustainable memory and motivation
  • Promotes creativity and dialogue
  • Visual summary for internal and external communication
  • Various applications: strategy workshops, change processes, product development, conferences

Graphic Recording Examples: Practical Inspiration

Whether it's a strategy workshop, innovation meeting, or large-scale conference – graphic recordings are versatile. Examples demonstrate how diverse the results can be: from colorful murals to structured infographics to digital minutes that can be shared afterward.

Typical Use Cases

  • Strategy Development: The core messages and objectives of a workshop are recorded and serve as the basis for further implementation.
  • Conferences: The most important presentations and discussions are visually documented and can later be used as posters, presentations, or social media content.
  • Change Processes: Changes and new mission statements are communicated clearly and create acceptance within the team.

Graphic Recording Software: Digital tools for modern visualization

With the trend toward digitalization, graphic recordings are increasingly being created digitally. Various software solutions are available for this:

1.) Sketchbook Pro: Intuitive, affordable, ideal for live drawing

2.) Collaborative whiteboard, ideal for teams

3.) FigJam/Figma: Real-time collaboration, modern design

4.) Stormboard: Brainstorming, sticky notes, templates

5.) Whimsical: Flowcharts, mind maps, easy to use

6.) Notion: Combines notes, databases, and visualization

7.) Trello: Task and process visualization

Digital graphic recordings can be easily shared, further processed, and integrated into presentations or websites.

Tips for Successful Graphic Recordings

  • Focus on key messages: Not everything needs to be drawn – focus on the essentials.
  • Simple symbols and clear structures: This keeps the image clear and understandable.
  • Use color accents selectively: Colors help structure topics and highlight important points.
  • Enable interaction: Participants can add comments during breaks or afterward.
  • Don't forget follow-up: Digitize, label, and make them available as a file.

How DIALOGBILD supports you with strategy visualization

The DIALOGBILD agency provides professional support in the implementation of graphic recordings – both analog and digital. With experienced visualizers, DIALOGBILD accompanies your events, workshops, or conferences, capturing the most important content, discussions, and results live in meaningful images and symbols. This creates vivid graphic recordings that convey complex connections at a glance, strengthen memory of the event, and can be used as a lasting communication tool. DIALOGBILD also offers individual consulting, customized preparation, and high-quality follow-up, allowing you to use the visualizations in a variety of ways for internal and external purposes. Especially with strategy visualization, you benefit from the agency's many years of experience, which presents your corporate goals and processes in a clear, understandable, and motivating way.

Conclusion: Graphic recordings as the key to successful communication

Graphic recordings are far more than just pretty pictures – they are an effective tool for conveying complex content in a clear, memorable, and lasting way. Whether in Berlin, digitally, or worldwide: With the right tools and an experienced partner like DIALOGBILD, you can take your strategy, processes, and events to a new level. Use the power of visual language to sustainably anchor your messages and lead your company successfully into the future.

Uni Oldenburg Zukunftsbild Graphic Recording Visual Recording Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

Uni Oldenburg Zukunftsbild Graphic Recording Visual Recording Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

FUTURE DISCUSSION

Founded in 1973, the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg is one of Germany's younger universities. Its primary goal is to find answers to the key societal questions of the 21st century through cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and teaching. DIALOGBILD hosted the kick-off event for the future discourse "Democratization of Innovation." ...

Sartorius Sales Vertrieb Hunting Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

Sartorius Sales Vertrieb Hunting Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

HUNT FOR BUSINESS

The Sartorius AG is a publicly listed pharma and laboratory supplier seated in Göttingen. Sartorius possesses its own manufacturing plants in Europe, Asia and the Americas and further possesses sales branches and sales agencies in over 110 countries. In the year 2022, the German pharma and laboratory supplier employed 15,942 employees worldwide. The bio-technology segment encompasses the focus on filtration, fluid management, fermentation, purification and laboratory.

The mechatronics segment especially produces tools and systems for weighing, measuring and automation for laboratory and industrial use. We developed a dialog picture for the sales conference 2024 based on the topic “Customer Support Center Strategy”. In order to represent the individual phases in a striking fashion, we employed the metaphor of the hunt. ...

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Stadtwerke Jahrestagung

MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ANNUAL MEETING

At the 21st EUROFORUM Annual Conference “Stadtwerke 2017”, 50 speakers, 300 participants and 35 partners came together to discuss strategies and solutions for the new energy world. The participants were particularly enthusiastic about the graphic recording, which was created off stage at the same time as the presentations and discussions by DIALOGBILD.

VW Nutzfahrzeuge Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge Transformation Werk Hannover Leitbild Strategiebild Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

VW Nutzfahrzeuge Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge die Fabrik der Zukunft Smart geplant Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

TRANSFORMATION PLANT HANOVER

Process optimization, strategy, cultural work and good communication are key to the VW Nutzfahrzeuge plant management Hanover in leading the way to a successful future. In the past, strategy and transformation processes were often accompanied by powerpoint "battles".There were numerous charts that tried to make it as comprehensible as possible what goals the company wanted to achieve and how it planed to get there.

Now the company wants to go other ways and has developed a vision for the future together with Goldpark and DIALOGBILD. On the one hand, the picture emerged in an intensive process, on the other hand, the discussion about the things that are important to the board in the picture led to a common understanding and also made it possible for different perspectives to be discussed and brought together. ...

Staufen Best Practice Day Graphic Recording Visual Recording Live Illustration Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

Staufen Best Practice Day Graphic Recording Visual Recording Live Illustration Dialogbild Agentur für Visualisierung von Prozessen, Veränderungen und Visionen.

BEST PRACTICE DAY 2019

Staufen is an international lean management consultancy focused on process and leadership optimization based on lean principles.

DIALOGBILD was commissioned to produce a graphic recording for the annual "Best Practice Day" conference.  ...

Frequently asked questions about graphic recordings

What is graphic recording?

Graphic recording is the visual documentation of content created during events such as workshops, meetings, or conferences. What is said and key ideas are captured in real time through drawings, symbols, and short texts on large sheets of paper or digitally. This creates a memorable, structured image that vividly depicts complex relationships and promotes memory and understanding.

What is the difference between graphic recording and visual facilitation?

While graphic recording focuses on visually documenting content, a visual facilitator plays a more active role in the process: They moderate, ask questions, and develop visual solutions together with the group. Graphic recording documents, while visual facilitation actively shapes and guides group processes.

When and where can graphic recordings be used?

Graphic recordings are suitable for almost any event where knowledge, opinions, or ideas are exchanged: conferences, seminars, workshops, conventions, meetings, trade fairs, or brainstorming sessions – both in-person and digital.

What are the advantages of graphic recording?

  • Complex content is presented in a clear and memorable way.
  • Promotes creativity, dialogue, and shared understanding.
  • Results can be used in a variety of ways (e.g., for internal communications, social media, brochures).
  • Visualization appeals to the mind and emotions and is remembered longer.

How does graphic recording work?

After a briefing on setting objectives and preparation, the graphic recording is created live during the event. The graphic recorder listens, filters the key messages, and translates them into images. After the event, the originals can be digitized and reused in a variety of ways.

What formats and materials are available?

Graphic recordings can be created analogue on paper strips, metaplan boards, flipcharts, or digitally on tablets. The results are available as posters, individual sheets, or digital files and can be printed or shared online.

What are the advantages of digital graphic recording?

Digital graphic recordings can be instantly shared, printed, and used for social media. They are ideal for virtual events because the recorder can also work remotely. The results are available to all participants immediately after the event.

What information should I provide in advance?

The course of events and objectives, as well as technical details (e.g., for digital recordings), are important. For complex topics, a brief introduction can be helpful, but experienced recorders usually capture the essence directly from the live event.

Who owns the rights to the graphic recording?

The resulting graphic recording belongs to you. You can use it for internal and external purposes, publish it, or further process it – there are generally no copyright restrictions.

How long does the setup and follow-up take?

You should allow about an hour for on-site setup. After the event, the drawings will be digitized and prepared so you receive high-quality files for your future communication.

How much does a graphic recording cost?

The costs depend on the scope, duration, format, and individual requirements. Quotes are usually calculated individually. Contact the provider directly for advice and a customized quote.

Can I take photos or videos of the graphic recording?

Yes, this is possible and even encouraged, as long as the recorder is not disturbed. This way, the visualization can be documented and shared even during the creation process.