At Sketch Group, we believe that sketching can be transformational. Our sketches solve problems, bring stories to life, simplify the complex, and capture conversations. Here's a snapshot of what we've been up to lately. No Images? Click here Conferences, Coworking, Connection, and CharityHi there! There is plenty happening here at Sketch Group—even more so than usual! The lead-up to the end of financial year is always a frantic onel I hope you're managing to keep on top of everything in your world. Here's a snapshot of our goings on over the last month ...
VizConf returns for 2019VizConf, the annual conference for Australia's visual thinkers and doers that we co-founded last year, is back for 2019. For those who missed it, 90 visual practitioners descended upon Melbourne for a day of inspiring keynote presentations, open space learning sessions, and good old-fashioned networking and connecting. The feedback from attendees was unanimous—we were onto something. This is a conference for anyone who uses visuals in their workplace, school, community, or home—or wants to learn more about doing so. It was quite magical seeing some of the most talented graphic recorders, facilitators, digital sketchnoters, illustrators and designers gather in the same place for the first time. This year, VizConf is adding a new dimension to the event—six pre-conference workshops taught by experts in the field, covering a range of topics from lettering and sketchnoting to visual collaboration and visual storytelling. There are beginner and more advanced training options, so if you've got some training budget to spend before the end of June, be sure to check out the list of workshops. The keynote presenters for VizConf 2019 have been announced: US-based lettering coach Heather Martinez, who goes by the online moniker of Corporate Graffiti Artist, and Sarah Firth, a Melbourne-based cartoonist, graphic recorder, and all-round creative soul. Over half of the tickets available at super early bird pricing have sold, so don't delay—if you'd like to learn more about using visuals in your workplace, you'll want to come along. Grab your tickets now. Space&Co celebrate with a sketchSpace&Co are a relatively new client at Sketch Group. They run a collection of coworking spaces throughout most big cities in Australia, and recently celebrated 5 years since their first location opened its doors. How better to mark the occasion than by having Sketch Group create a visual vox pop of each facility? Each of Space&Co's office Melbourne locations has an enviable view of the city skyline, so this was definitely one of the most picturesque series of locations that we've sketched in. Thanks to Space&Co for the opportunity to help you celebrate! If you're ever visiting a Space&Co coworking space, be sure to keep an eye out for one of our canvases, which are all proudly displayed on the walls at each location. Warming the Sketch Group officeWe hosted a celebration of our own last month—we've been working from our new offices for about three months now, but only recently got around to organising an official function to celebrate that fact. Being located above a piano bar means it's very easy (dangerously so, some might say) to wander downstairs and order an Old Fashioned or a glass of Hawker's Pale Ale. A few select clients and the wider Sketch Group team helped make our move official, with a night of drinks, laughs, and the odd tinkling of the ivories (by performers far more musical than ourselves). A big thank-you to the handful of clients and partners who made the trek on a chilly evening to help us make our official. For those who have yet to visit the new premises, it's a wonderfully inspiring and creative space, and we've already hosted a number of problem-solving workshops with new clients. We'd love you to make an appointment, and come check it out! Food and friends at the Ragtime Tavern, below the new Sketch Group office space Giving back: a quick updateIf you're not familiar with our B1G1 Giving Back program, you may not be aware that Sketch Group is structured in a way that acts of giving are baked into the business. We track key metrics—financial and non-financial—and tie specific charitable projects, chosen by the team and aligned to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, to those metrics. The acts of giving are tracked on the B1G1 website as "impacts". I'm beyond proud to say that, to date, we have contributed over 119,472 impacts since signing up to the program last November. There are water sanitation projects being funded in Kenya, computer literacy lessons being taught in the Northern Territory, trees being planted in the Daintree, homeless people receiving meals in the US, and rescued girls receiving meals in Cambodia, all because of the work we do—and you are a huge part of that. Together we are literally changing lives. Thank you for helping Sketch Group make a real impact in the world. With gratitude,
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