Services

GRAPHIC RECORDING | VISUAL NOTES | WORKSHOP SERVICES

Analog Graphic Recording

You talk, I listen and draw. 

It changes the energy in the room and your attendees are engaged!

This is the LIVE visual capture of your event, keynote, or conversation on large paper using images and text.   I can use paper and markers or work digitally. The process and results foster engagement, connection, accountability, and clarity as participants can see the graphic recording develop.

Graphic recording creates common understanding and connection through visuals in strategic planning meetings, brainstorming, journey mapping, storytelling, and system mapping.

    1. Before your event, we will chat via phone or video to discuss your goals for the meeting, how you plan to use the graphic recordings after the event and clarify any questions about content or format.

    2. Any  content (agendas, general context for your gathering, themes, presentations, etc.)  you can share ahead of the event will help me do image and content prep so I am ready to listen and draw.

    3. When your first event speaker starts, I start drawing.  As a dedicated listener, I  capture the essence of the conversation in real time for all to see.  This increases engagement and clarity.

    4. Photos of the Illustrations can be uploaded to a conference app, and attendees can view the drawings before or after breaks or at the end of the day.

  • Deliverables: 

    You will receive the images in JPG and PDF formats.

    I typically create one image per speaker or topic/agenda item and can fit approximately 1-1 ½ hours of content on a drawing.

    Some ideas for using the graphic recordings:

    • Upload to conference app

    • Share with attendees via email

    • Share via social media or internally

    • Add to your event summary reports or documents

    • Insert them in a gallery or add to blog post or website

    • Print them as postcards, posters, or canvasses for your office

    • Use them in presentation slide decks

    • Print on t-shirts, mugs, calendars

    • Share your branding colors, logo, and event agenda or briefing early

    • Involve me in your event planning – I have lots of ideas on how to use visuals to make your event engaging and interactive

    • Plan how you will use the graphic recording images and let me know.  This may dictate how and what I capture so the output will be most useful to you

    • Introduce me on the day of your event and let attendees know what I’ll be doing and why (I am happy to introduce myself!)

    • Tell your attendees how they will get access to the graphic recordings after the event

    • Plan strategically where and when you display the output during the event

    • Share the graphic recordings quickly post-event to maintain momentum, and/or have a relevant social media strategy

    • Consult the list of ideas above for ways to use the graphic recordings

    • Let me know how I did!  I love feedback and learning how I can serve my clients better

Colorful illustrated poster titled 'The Art of Housing' from the 2024 WHEDA staff retreat, featuring various notes, quotes, and graphics about collaboration, housing process, impact, stories, and strategies.
A colorful illustrated infographic titled 'Building a Future Without Gun Violence.' It features sections discussing violence prevention as a cross-sector movement, the importance of research, advocacy, community collaboration, and policy changes. The
A colorful illustrated infographic titled 'Threads of Belonging' discussing navigating differences and building community through themes like democracy, antisemitism, support, and diversity, featuring various notes, quotes, and symbols.
A colorful illustrated poster titled 'Threads of Belonging: What does diversity science say about belonging & community?' with handwritten notes, icons, and graphics discussing diversity, inclusion, civic engagement, family support, storytelling, and
A colorful infographic titled 'Threads of Belonging' discussing community building, inclusion, diversity, and neuroscience, with various notes, diagrams, and illustrations.
A colorful illustrated infographic titled 'Fostering Hope Through Youth Violence Prevention: Access to Healing for Youth' with sections discussing hope, opportunities, innovations, and ways to create change, featuring drawings, quotes, and program in
A woman with long dark hair, glasses, and a silver bracelet is writing or drawing on a large colorful poster or infographic with a black marker. The poster contains various text and illustrations related to civic engagement and social issues.
A colorful infographic about design thinking, divided into two sessions: creating supportive communities and supporting strong and healthy families. It includes topics such as neighborhood development, safety, family structures, safety programs, comm
Colorful illustrated infographic titled 'Convening of the Managed Grazing Dairy Value Chain' with various sections, icons, and handwritten notes about dairy farming, sustainability, market growth, and community support.
Colorful illustrated infographic titled 'Converging of the Managed Grazing Dairy Value Chain' with various sections, icons, and phrases about dairy management, solutions, and systemic change.
Milwaukee-based graphic recorder and graphic notes artist Sherrill Knezel is writing on a large whiteboard filled with colorful handwritten notes and drawings about careers, growth mindset, and self-improvement.
Milwaukee-based graphic recorder and graphic notes artist Sherrill Knezel is writing on a whiteboard with colorful markers. The whiteboard has text and diagrams, including the words "asked to lead."
A colorful hand-drawn infographic about intergenerational living, including topics like zoning, licensing, reverse stigma, and community engagement.
A colorful illustrated graphic on youth violence prevention with sections on fostering hope, access to healing, innovations, resources, and community connections, dated May 17, 2023.
A colorful illustrated poster for the 3rd Annual Trauma Symposium featuring handwritten notes, quotes, and graphics about trauma awareness, resilience, community, and healing, with key themes like empathy, self-empowerment, build wealth, choose good
Colorful illustrated mind map titled 'Truth Evolution' with various notes, diagrams, and quotes about truth, ecology, storytelling, and personal growth. Contains words like 'power,' 'change,' 'opinion,' and 'role' with illustrations of eyes, smiling
A colorful hand-drawn infographic about what an affordable housing future could look like, featuring text, sketches of trees, houses, community spaces, and people, with themes of imagination, community, accessibility, nature, and sustainability.

Digital Graphic Recording

I love working digitally to graphic record your event while projecting on one or more large screens. Your attendees see what is being created in real-time and the visual summary is easy to share during and after the meeting or event. 

Are you hosting a virtual workshop or webinar or gathering your team online to work on your strategic plan? Want to collaborate to bring the meeting to life? Simple! I am experienced at working virtually via a range of platforms to support your virtual events and webinars with visuals.  I join remotely and graphic record the meeting digitally.

    1. Before your event, we will chat via phone or video to discuss your goals for the meeting, how you plan to use the graphic recordings after the event and clarify any questions about content or format.

    2. Any  content (agendas, general context for your gathering, themes, presentations, etc.)  you can share ahead of the event will help me do image and content prep so I am ready to listen and draw.

    3. I work digitally on an IPad Pro and can project my drawing live by plugging into an existing screen, or using a projector to project onto a screen or white wall.  I can also work virtually via a variety of platforms (Zoom, Teams, Webex) to partner on your virtual meetings and webinars.

    4. When your first event speaker starts, I start drawing.  As a dedicated listener, I  capture the essence of the conversation in real time for all to see.  This increases engagement and clarity.

    5. The Illustrations can be uploaded to a conference app, displayed on screens during breaks, or used to refer to before or after breaks or at the end of the day.

  • Deliverables: 

    You will receive the images in JPG and PDF formats.  An optional output is a timelapse video (mp4) of the drawings as they develop.

    I typically create one image per speaker or topic/agenda item and can fit approximately 1-1 ½ hours of content on a drawing.

    Some ideas for using the graphic recordings:

    • Upload to conference app

    • Share with attendees via email

    • Share via social media or internally

    • Add to your event summary reports or documents

    • Insert them in a gallery or add to blog post or website

    • Print them as postcards, posters, or canvasses for your office

    • Use them in presentation slide decks

    • Print on t-shirts, mugs, calendars

    • Share your branding colors, logo, and event agenda or briefing early

    • Involve me in your event planning – I have lots of ideas on how to use visuals to make your event engaging and interactive

    • Plan how you will use the graphic recording images and let me know.  This may dictate how and what I capture so the output will be most useful to you

    • Introduce me on the day of your event and let attendees know what I’ll be doing and why (I am happy to introduce myself!)

    • Tell your attendees how they will get access to the graphic recordings after the event

    • Plan strategically where and when you display the output during the event

    • Share the graphic recordings quickly post-event to maintain momentum, and/or have a relevant social media strategy

    • Consult the list of ideas above for ways to use the graphic recordings

    • Let me know how I did!  I love feedback and learning how I can serve my clients better

A colorful, illustrated infographic emphasizing the importance of inclusion in education, highlighting themes like diversity, community, trusting relationships, special education, and the value of different systems and perspectives.
A colorful infographic titled 'La Farge Entrepreneur Workshop,' discussing topics such as job creation, community sense, economic development, and entrepreneurship in Vernon County, Wisconsin. It highlights small business attraction, stability, diver
A colorful illustrated infographic about theories of belonging and community, featuring quotes, icons, and notes on identity, social change, trust, insecurity, and diversity, with highlighted words and phrases.
A colorful illustration about belonging, diversity, and inclusive practices, featuring a large tree with branches labeled to symbolize psychological safety and community building. It contains various handwritten notes, icons, and keywords emphasizing
A detailed infographic about supporting patients and families at the end of life, with sections on hospice benefits, talking with family, signs of death, and how to help, illustrated with icons and text.
A colorful illustrated infographic about women in business symposium. It features a photo of a woman named Jenny. The infographic includes various sketches and text about key topics like risk-taking, building wealth, confidence, and poker power, with
Colorful infographic about effective storytelling techniques, including points on amplifying narrative, encouraging trust, exposing biases, and asking questions, with various illustrations and highlighted keywords.
An infographic titled '10 Lessons from the Montgomery Bus Boycott.' It highlights key lessons about activism, such as persistence, collective organizing, anger, and using strength and strategy. The illustration includes a bus and various symbols repr
A colorful, illustrated diagram about grief, its phases, coping strategies, and emotional responses, including quotes, symbols, and creative tips for dealing with grief.
Colorful illustrated poster titled 'An Invitation to Vocation' honoring 35 years of service by Derek Mosley in Milwaukee. Features a photo of Derek Mosley, various handwritten notes, doodles, and symbols related to his story and vocation, including a
Colorful infographic highlighting themes of grief, sorrow, healing, and the importance of expressing emotions, with handwritten text and illustrations.
A colorful illustrated poster highlighting themes of community, faith, leadership, and self-growth, with various handwritten notes and drawings related to empowerment, storytelling, and collaboration.
Colorful infographic about literacy services at We Energies, including statistics, personal stories, goals, and staff highlights, with illustrations and text bubbles.
Colorful illustrated graphic about the opening of the St. Charles Mission School archive project with handwritten notes, images, and quotes from various people.
A detailed infographic about creating multiple streams of revenue, featuring sections on community-based programs, partnerships, passive and active income, and strategies for business growth. Includes illustrations, graphs, and key phrases like 'thin
Colorful infographic titled 'Building a Thought Leader' with various thoughts and ideas about leadership, engagement, expertise, networking, and value. Features sketches of people, speech bubbles, and icons, emphasizing concepts like speaking engagem
Colorful graphic promoting a cultural intervention called 'Revolutionary Love,' featuring a bus, handwritten text, hearts, books, and symbols emphasizing love, wisdom, justice, and community.
Colorful illustrated poster for the Professional Dimensions Annual Meeting 2024. It includes various motivational quotes and messages about women, change, and empowerment, with whimsical drawings of an eye, a bird, a globe, and people, all in pink, r
A colorful infographic discussing diversity, media influence, perspectives, and respectful conversations, hosted by Mt. Zion Lutheran Church on September 15, 2024.
Colorful illustrated poster titled 'An Invitation to Vocation: A celebration honoring Venice 35 years of serving Milwaukee.' The poster features various sections with handwritten text, small illustrations, and a photo of Dr. Monique Liston. It discus
Graphic illustration with text and drawings about community development, banking, credit, collaboration, inspiration, and solutions. Contains keywords, quotes, and concepts related to social and economic support, teamwork, and sustainable growth.
A detailed infographic discussing solutions for missing middle housing, including topics like zoning changes, affordability, community building, barriers, innovative housing options, and city planning.

Strategic Illustrations/Infographics

Need a clear, expressive graphic for a newsletter, website, or social media? How about an engaging agenda or minutes that people actually read? What about a creative way to communicate your guiding principles or strategic plan? Let's talk! I can also create a visual summary from your text-based content or video of a short talk or presentation that has already happened. Use a one-page visual to share your message or content with a wider audience. Let's collaborate to tell your story and communicate your WHY.

The samples below are from strategic illustration projects ranging from guiding principles to capstone projects, community engagement narrative data visualization to conflict resolution processes.  Each work is unique.  Let’s talk about ways we might collaborate to upift and amplify your project today!

Illustration of three people holding hands with a background of clouds, a lightbulb, and a clipart document. The text 'EQUAL VOICE,' 'HELP REDUCE INEQUITY,' and 'INPUT OF THOSE THAT MAY THINK DIFFERENTLY' is displayed.
Three people holding hands in a circle outdoors, with a mountain, cityscape, clouds, and a lightbulb in the background, and text reading 'LSW Guiding Principles' in a starburst shape.
Infographic titled '10 Lessons from the Montgomery Bus Boycott'. It features various tips and insights on activism, organization, and perseverance, with illustrations of a bus, fists, and people, emphasizing themes of resistance and community support
Infographic illustrating social and structural drivers of gun violence, including job insecurities, educational inequalities, lack of resource allocation, food deserts, limited transportation, access to healthcare, economic instability, community dis
Colorful infographic illustrating strategies for addressing school social work challenges, including a city park scene with trees, a person with a backpack, and informational text about problem-solving, roles of social workers, and best practices.
A digital illustration with connected black circles containing handwritten words and phrases related to change, such as "metaphor", "seeds", "midwifing", "hospicing", and "idea". Some circles include descriptive notes, and dashed lines connect the ci
Diagram illustrating social and structural drivers of gun violence, including factors like job insecurities, educational inequalities, lack of resource allocation, food desert, limited transportation, access to healthcare, trauma/PTSD, lack of green
A colorful infographic about voting in Wisconsin, featuring questions about registration deadlines, absentee ballots, identification, and election day procedures, with illustrations of ballots, a voting box, and a person voting.
Illustration by Sherrill Knezel of diverse people holding hands with a circular emblem reading 'Diversity, Equity & Inclusion' and 'University'.
A cartoon illustration by Sherrill Knezel features a person with curly hair, wearing a green shirt with a red heart, standing at a crosswalk.
Illustration by Sherrill Knezel of a person walking along a path with puzzle piece characters, with phrases 'PERFECT LIFE' and 'DREAMS', under a sunny sky. Includes a quote about living your dreams.
A digital illustration by Sherrill Knezel with inspirational words and doodles. It features a target with an arrow hitting the bullseye, a person with a thought bubble containing a heart, a light bulb, and various clouds.
Illustration by Sherrill Knezel of three people standing on a winding road in a mountainous landscape, holding puzzle-piece signs and a large heart.
Illustration by Sherrill Knezel of three people holding hands with hearts on their chests, surrounded by clouds, a lightbulb, a newspaper, and text about diversity and inclusion.
Two stick figure people talking, surrounded by clouds, puzzle pieces, and text discussing purposefulness, strength, and connection.
Illustration by Sherrill Knezel of a teacher wearing a graduation cap, holding a trumpet, with the words 'Help Helping Students,' 'Add Value,' 'Path to Success,' and 'Student First' written around it, set against a mountainous background with clouds.
Map illustration by Sherrill Knezel. The map highlights challenges, opportunities, and key aspects at each stage, with illustrations of people, buildings, and icons related to healthcare and housing.
A colorful infographicby Sherrill Knezel. There is also a pink section labeled 'Opportunities' discussing limited bed capacity and client screening processes.
A colorful infographic by Sherrill Knezel about the medical respite journey map, focusing on transition strategies, client support, and housing options for post-respite care.
Illustrated infographic showing Milwaukee Parks Foundation initiatives, including community engagement, new amenities, and improvements such as parks with trees, skate park, concert stage, playground, and walking paths, emphasizing diversity, inclusi
A colorful illustrated community pathway with milestones, trees, and people. The pathway is labeled 'Ensure the near west side works, plays, and stays connected' and features signs about local events, history, and development projects. The illustrati
A colorful infographic with the title 'Leading with 2020 Vision' featuring various questions and ideas about education, learning, and societal change, including concepts like dismantling structures, rethinking normal, and embracing diversity.
Flowchart illustrating conflict resolution steps, emphasizing communication, problem solving, and mediation, with green and black text and cartoon characters.
A detailed illustrated timeline of Mrs. Rosa Parks' life and Civil Rights Movement in black, white, and red colors, highlighting key events such as her bus boycott, early years, and activism.
A colorful, illustrated infographic about what to expect at the polls, including instructions on presenting acceptable photo ID, registering to vote, seeking assistance, and bringing notes to the polling station.
An infographic with tips for everyday life, featuring cartoon illustrations of characters and icons, mainly in green, blue, and black colors.

Time Lapse Explainer Videos

Hand-drawn timelapse videos are a great way to communicate your organization’s story or explain a process to a broad audience.  Videos are proven to increase engagement on all social media platforms.  Why not leverage the power of videos to uplift your message and amplify your impact?

You provide the script and I will storyboard, illustrate, create simple time lapse animation, edit, add voice-over and music and deliver!

Let's Start Creating Together!

Want to see more samples of my work? Right this way.

Conference Solutions

Want to use visuals throughout your conference to increase engagement and connection, and leave your attendees inspired and excited about the experience?

Besides graphic recording keynotes, panel discussions, or breakout sessions, consider using a social listening wall to collect answers to a particular question you want to pose to attendees. What a great way to collect personal and powerful narrative data! Have participants share stories or ideas around a chosen topic or add post-it notes to the board while I draw out their responses in real-time to create a finished artifact to share out at the end of your event.

Visual agendas or hand-drawn workshop templates are also ways to infuse engaging visuals into your next meeting.

Get In Touch
 

Workshops

Visual thinking is a way to bring clarity to complex ideas in a creative way. Using visuals to communicate makes your ideas more memorable and engaging.  Adding visual thinking and visual communication tools to your skillset allows you to increase value and efficiency at work and beyond.

Visual thinking workshops are based on the following theories:

  • Dual-Coding Theory:

    We process and store visual and verbal or text-based information in two separate, distinct areas of the brain and when we use both, we increase memory and retention...kind of like having two drawers to look in later to find what we need to remember!

  • The Picture Superiority Effect:

    We are more likely to remember pictures and images than text and words. We process images immensely faster than text and remember them longer than words.

  • Pattern Recognition:

    Our brains seek to create categories and then sort information to make connections. Using images to create a visual vocabulary increases clear communication and innovative solutions.

I deliver engaging, hands-on workshops to help you learn how to practice thinking and communicating visually at school, at work, and in life!  

Are you an educator or student? Visual thinking and communication help you practice listening, become adept at synthesizing content and big ideas and increase learning and memory.

Are you a working professional? Visual thinking and communication help you make connections not visible before, communicate complex ideas clearly, and collaborate creatively to align values.

Want to become a visual thinker at work and play?

Get In Touch To Learn More!