Keynote Live Illustration

Project Objectives
The primary objective was to help the audience connect emotionally with keynote speaker Anne Kirby's story in real time, and to make her message more accessible for visual learners in the room.

Creative Strategy
I met with Anne before the conference to review her talk outline and develop ideas for how key moments in her story could translate visually. This preparation allowed me to plan sequences in advance, so my drawings could cue and reinforce segments of her talk as she spoke.

Process
For the live event, I used pens, markers, and watercolor pencils, with a GoPro camera filming the drawings in real time. The setup connected directly to the venue's HDMI inputs, projecting the illustrations on a screen above Anne as she spoke.

Outcomes
The illustrations helped visually connect Anne's personal story to the broader themes of community and resilience for the audience. As the closing keynote of the conference, the combination of Anne's talk and the live illustration created a memorable send off for attendees.

Reflection and Key Takeaways
This project reinforced how valuable preparation is for live illustration work, and how much I enjoy the challenge of live drawing for a cause that matters.