The Future of Graphic Recording Is Brighter Than Ever

Julia Bakay
Jul 24
2 min read

Updated: Sep 11

I live in a world where everyone seems to be seeking live graphic recording for an upcoming conference, and I have many friends and colleagues who make a full-time living from this wonderful profession.

Yet, as it sometimes dawns on me, the number of events captured in graphic recording remains a tiny, tiny fraction.

Why? Simply because people don’t yet know this amazing thing exists.

And that fills me with optimism.

For event and conference organizers who have yet to bring something exciting and innovative to elevate their event and capture the takeaways..

...and for us (graphic recorders, visual note-takers, sketchnote artists, scribes, visual minute artists ) the sky is truly the limit for our beloved field!

The Untapped Future of Graphic Recording

There are many event organizers out there who have never even heard of graphic recording, and that means there's huge potential ahead. The future for graphic recorders isn't just about continuous improvement; it's about opening new eyes to what we've been doing for decades.

Once people have a good experience with Graphic Recording, they immediately get the value. It becomes something they want at every event going forward.

Is AI a Threat to the Future of Graphic Recording?

AI is learning to draw, mimic, summarize - but even if it learns to simulate graphic recording - it won’t ever have the human touch and taste to do it well.

Because what we do isn’t just a mechanical process. Graphic recording is about presence, perception, intuition, and storytelling. It’s about knowing what to highlight, what to leave out, and how to capture something that truly resonates with people in the room.

Why the Future of Graphic Recording Is Inherently Human

As AI-generated art spreads across the internet, I find that people are beginning to seek out what feels personal, and real. The subtlety and intention that a human brings to the creative process can't be replaced by robots.

That’s exactly where graphic recording stands out. It’s original. It’s live. It’s filled with choice and taste. People love seeing these graphics even when they are unfinished - they like knowing who’s listening to and engaging with them. In a world full with automated everything, human-made visuals feel more valuable than ever.

Looking Ahead: Graphic Recording Is Just Getting Started

If you’re an event organizer and you’ve never worked with a graphic recorder, you’re about to discover something amazing. It will not only accompany your work, but enhance and preserve what you've created.

As for my fellow Graphic Facilitators -