Introducing Graphic Gear

Hi folks,

I'm excited to announce that this month at Sketch Group we launched Graphic Gear, an online store selling markers, refill bottles, and accessories for illustrators, facilitators, and visual practitioners.

Wait, what? Let me explain ...

My first graphic recording gig, seven years ago, was in front of 3,000 people. I was on stage at a Microsoft conference on the Gold Coast, and nervous but quietly confident in my ability to listen, synthesise, and capture the content in real-time.

Unfortunately, the tools I'd chosen for the job were whatever markers I had lying around, purchased over the years and in various states of use. They bled through the paper, they dried up on me halfway through the gig, the colours were limited, and the fumes got a bit much after two hours of sketching.

Matt's first graphic recording. Not the colourful canvas he is proud to produce these days!

Fast forward to the modern day, and I've become somewhat of a devotee of the Neuland brand of markers for every sketching job I tackle. Made in Germany, the reason I'm such a fan is:

• They come in a wide range of muted and vibrant colours
• The ink lasts for ages
• They are refillable (22 refills out of one bottle!)
• They are non-toxic, so no nasty fumes
• They don't bleed through paper like other pens, and
• The black and colour ink doesn't run together

After attending the International Forum of Visual Practitioners in Atlanta last year, I've realised that pretty much every professional graphic recorder and facilitator uses Neuland markers, for the same reasons. And every illustrator that I put one of these markers into becomes a fan of the brand and can't get enough of them. Neuland have created a great product.

The problem is that ordering them from Germany is slow and the shipping is expensive.

So I decided to fix that. I signed up as the official Neuland reseller for Australia.

If you'd like to get your hands on the very same markers that the Sketch Group team use when we sketch events, now you can! Just visit graphicgear.com.au. Make your mark today!

Coming Soon:
The Visual Facilitation Field Guide

At the start of the year, I was busy writing three chapters for a book about visual facilitation. 

It's called The Visual Facilitation Field Guide and there are 50 other co-authors from all over the world who have shared their knowledge and insights into what will be an amazing read for anyone interested in using visuals to make meetings, coaching, and training more interesting and effective.

The chapters I've authored, unsurprisingly, focus on how to create a sketch video. I share everything from the initial activity that we run at the start of every project to understand the target audience and narrow down the key message, through to the process of storyboarding your ideas. I even include a detailed tutorial on shooting your own video, whether you're working on a budget from a home office or employing a videographer and shooting in a professional studio.

I'm honoured to be included amongst so many talented practitioners and thought leaders, and believe this book will genuinely be a must-read in the visual facilitation space. If you're interested, you can order a copy by backing the printing of the book on Kickstarter. There are 14 days remaining in the campaign.

Order your copy now!

Featured Video

We’re delighted to be able to finally share with you a great campaign we recently made with VELCRO® Australia. The series was code-named Tradie Hacks and consists of 10 rhyming motion-graphic videos that demonstrate how VELCRO® Brand Products can be used for just about anything.

It’s bright, bold, funny, there's a dog, and one even contains a little nudity (almost).

We were so thrilled to once again work with such a great company and push the envelope on script, style and substance.

Check 'em out!

Let us know your thoughts on this issue, or share it with the world, via on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram via @SketchGrp. And don't forget to check out Graphic Gear!

Cheers