The ultimate coming together of graphic recorders, visual facilitators, sketchnoters, illustrators, and anyone who loves working visually to capture, collaborate, and communicate better!
ESTABLISHED 2018
VizConf was started in 2018 by Matthew Magain (Sketch Group) and Marcel Van Hove (Visual Friends). Inspired by international conferences that Marcel and Matt had attended, they successfully brought together Australia’s visual thinking community for the first time, and organised that amazing event in 2018 and again in 2019.
In 2021, Matt and Marcel decided that running VizConf on top of their own businesses was too hard, so instead of letting it go altogether, they donated the conference – the name, brand, and concept – to the GRA, so it could live on in the capable hands of a rotating committee of dedicated volunteers.
VizConf 2018, with the theme Think Global, Draw Local, attracted over 90 attendees, 15 volunteers, and two top-notch keynote speakers in Melbourne pioneer Jessamy Gee and US-based top-selling author Sunni Brown. Building on this success, 2019 bought the community together once more with a rousing opening keynote from Sarah Firth, the launch of GRA and a closing keynote from lettering legend Heather Martinez.
After a few years’ break, VizConf was back in 2023 with a few tweaks to the program, allowing us all a chance to learn, share and explore our practice at a deeper level. This year we’re levelling up again!
MEET THE 2024 VIZCONF TEAM
Graphic Recorder
DEBBIE WOOD
As a Melbourne-based Graphic Recorder & Illustrator Debbie has over 20 years’ design & comms experience working with both large and small organisations to visually convey their messages and purpose. Working across industry including government, disability sector, not for profit, corporate, FMCG, elite sport, leadership coaching, legal, education, health, finance and engineering.
Deb is the current VEEP of Graphic Recorders Australia.
KATE BAXTER
Creative Director
Kate is a recognised expert within the global community of visual practitioners, with a specialism and passion for digital mediums of capture. With 20 years experience in the commercial arts, and 10 globally as a graphic facilitator, scribing sessions across Australia and New Zealand, in Hong Kong, New York, Houston, Delhi, Toronto, Barcelona and London.
Using her illustration and design capability to build rich pictures which communicate highly complex concepts on a single page, Kate also has skills in video editing and animation, building large scale murals and immersive art installations to bring ideas to life and amplify important messages to wider audiences.