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Boosting Business Growth: 10 Advantages of Animated Explainer Videos

Boosting Business Growth: 10 Advantages of Animated Explainer Videos 960 720 ORTUS DRAWS

Animated explainer videos are concise and captivating, utilising animation and storytelling to convey complex ideas simply and engagingly. These videos have become increasingly popular for businesses due to their effectiveness in capturing and retaining audience attention. 


Studies have shown that 90% of consumers find videos helpful in their decision-making process, making animated explainer videos an essential tool for businesses to communicate their message effectively. With their ability to simplify concepts, increase brand awareness, and drive conversions, these videos offer a powerful and versatile solution for businesses looking to make a lasting impact in today’s digital landscape.

Increased Engagement

Animated explainer videos are highly engaging, capturing and retaining the attention of viewers more effectively than other forms of content. The dynamic combination of visuals, animation, and storytelling in these videos creates an immersive experience that keeps audiences hooked from start to finish.

Animated explainer videos helps break down information into easily digestible chunks.

Improved Understanding

One of the key benefits of animated explainer videos is their ability to simplify complex ideas and present them in a visually appealing and concise manner. By breaking down information into easily digestible chunks, these videos help viewers understand the core message of a product or service more efficiently.

Memorable Content

Animated explainer videos leave a lasting impression on viewers due to their creative and captivating nature. The combination of visuals, characters, and storytelling makes the content more memorable, increasing the chances of viewers recalling key information about your business.

Animated explainer videos help viewers recall key information about your business.

Brand Awareness

Using animated explainer videos allows businesses to showcase their brand personality and values in a visually compelling way. These videos offer an opportunity to create a distinct visual identity, making it easier for viewers to recognize and remember your brand.

Increased Conversion Rates

Animated explainer videos have proven to be highly effective in driving conversions. By clearly demonstrating the value and benefits of a product or service, these videos help build trust and persuade viewers to take the desired action, resulting in improved conversion rates.

SEO Benefits

Including animated explainer videos on your website can positively impact your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Search engines often prioritise websites with video content, leading to higher rankings in search results. Additionally, videos increase the time visitors spend on your website, which can further boost SEO performance.

Cost-effective

Creating animated explainer videos can be a cost-effective solution compared to other forms of video production. With advancements in animation software and technology, businesses can achieve high-quality results without breaking the bank, making it a budget-friendly option for businesses of all sizes.

Animated explainer videos are cost-effective without breaking the bank.

Versatility

Animated explainer videos offer versatility in style, tone, and messaging. They can be customized to suit various target audiences, allowing businesses to deliver tailored messages and engage specific customer segments effectively. Whether your business operates in B2B or B2C markets, animated explainer videos can adapt to your unique needs.

Easy to Share

The shareability of animated explainer videos is a significant advantage for businesses. These videos can be easily shared across multiple digital platforms, such as websites, social media channels, email campaigns, and video-sharing platforms. This accessibility enables businesses to reach a wider audience and maximize the exposure of their brand and message.

Time-saving

Animated explainer videos provide a concise and efficient way to deliver information. In a short period, businesses can convey their key messages, explain complex concepts, and showcase product features. This time-saving aspect is beneficial for both businesses and viewers, ensuring that information is communicated effectively without unnecessary delays or lengthy explanations.

Animated explainer videos is time-saving.

To unlock the full potential of your business and captivate your audience in the realm of video animation, incorporating animated explainer videos is a strategic move that can yield remarkable results. By harnessing the power of visually compelling storytelling, businesses can establish themselves as leaders in the realm of video animation creation and ads.

Need an
explainer video?

When it comes to choosing a trusted partner in this endeavour, Ortus Draws stands out as an industry leader, offering unparalleled expertise and creativity. Take advantage of the opportunity to engage, educate, and inspire your audience through animated explainer videos. Embrace this powerful marketing tool and take your business to new heights of success!


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company that specialises in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps, video animation, and graphic illustrations. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

What are explainer videos and why does your company need one?

What are explainer videos and why does your company need one? 1008 566 ORTUS DRAWS

Are you looking for a creative way to tell your brand’s story? Do you want to engage your audience in a fun and exciting way? Look no further than explainer videos! As experts in the art of storytelling and explainer videos, we’re excited to share our knowledge and insights with you.

Explainer videos have taken the marketing world by storm and for good reason. They’re a compelling and entertaining way to communicate your message to your target audience. Let’s dive into the different types of explainer videos, the benefits of using them for your business, and how to effectively create one that will leave a lasting impression.

Types of Animated
Explainer Videos

Video animation samples for explainer videos

The most popular types of videos include whiteboard animation, 2D animation, 3D animation, and motion graphics. Each of these animation styles has its unique strengths that can help your business effectively communicate your message.

Whiteboard animation sample for explainer videos

WHITEBOARD ANIMATION

is a classic style that showcases animated illustrations and text on a white background, creating a fun and engaging visual effect.

2D animation

is another popular choice that uses flat, two-dimensional images and characters to tell a story. This animation style is highly versatile and can be used to create various visual effects, from playful and lighthearted to sleek and professional.

For more complex visuals, 3D animation videos are an excellent choice. This animation style uses three-dimensional objects to create a highly realistic and immersive visual experience. While motion graphics is a dynamic and engaging animation style that uses moving images and text to create an eye-catching and memorable image.

Each type of explainer video has its strong points, and choosing the right style for your video will depend on the complexity of the concept, the tone of the message, and the preferences of your target audience.

Increased engagement
& website traffic

Explainer videos can be highly effective at increasing engagement for businesses, as they provide an easy-to-follow format that can captivate viewers. Additionally, explainer videos can be tailored to specific audiences, ensuring that the message is relevant and resonates with the intended viewers. 

This can translate into higher website traffic, increased social media shares, and higher conversion rates. Overall, it’s a valuable tool for businesses looking to connect with their target audience and achieve their marketing goals.

Boosted Brand Awareness

Businesses can increase visibility and familiarity with their customers with the help of engaging informative videos. Moreover, explainer videos can be easily shared on social media and other online platforms, which can help to extend their reach and attract more viewers.

By consistently producing high-quality explainer videos that align with their brand identity and values, businesses can also establish a strong and recognisable brand image that resonates with their target audience. This increased brand awareness can lead to greater customer loyalty, and ultimately, greater success in achieving business objectives.

Improved Communication with Customers & Employees

Explainer videos can be a valuable tool for improving communication with both customers and employees in businesses. By using stimulating visuals and narration, businesses can communicate their key messages and features in a way that is easy for customers to follow and feel more compelled to create a purchase.

For employees, explainer videos can be used to communicate important company policies, procedures, and updates in a way that is clear and consistent. This can ensure that employees have a thorough understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and can work more effectively as a team.

Additionally, explainer videos can be used to train new employees, reducing the need for in-person training sessions and allowing for more flexible and efficient onboarding processes.

There you have it! Explainer videos are an incredibly powerful tool for businesses to successfully communicate their message and engage their target audience. Furthermore, explainer videos can help to increase conversions, boost brand awareness, and improve communication with both customers and employees.

So if you’re looking to take your marketing efforts to the next level, consider incorporating an animated explainer video into your strategy. With the right approach and the help of a professional explainer video agency, you can create a video that effectively communicates your message and achieves your business goals.

Need an
explainer video?

No need to look no further than here, because we’ve got you covered! Bring your story to life with Ortus Draws! We’ve worked with organisations from multiple sectors, from retail and robotics to cybersecurity – and we know how to craft a compelling video for you.

So let’s chat and find the perfect way to tell your story!


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company that specialises in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps, video animation, and graphic illustrations. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

Illustrate to Captivate: Engaging Participants Before, During and After an Event

Illustrate to Captivate: Engaging Participants Before, During and After an Event 2560 1707 ORTUS DRAWS

Organising events can be a daunting task, but engaging with participants before, during, and after the event can make it an even more successful experience. In this blog, we’ll provide some tips on how to engage with event participants at every stage of the event with illustrated content.

Preparations
before the event

If you want your event to be a success, you’ve got to nail the preparation and marketing. And one of the best ways to get people pumped and engaged before the event is by making sure your marketing materials are totally on point.

That means they should be eye-catching, informative visuals like infographics and illustrated portraits. After all, most people these days are visual learners. Make sure to include all the essential details about the event, like the schedule, who’s speaking, and what kind of activities are included.

Don’t be afraid to use illustrations to help explain stuff and highlight key points. With the right illustrated content, you can create marketing materials that will grab people’s attention and get them excited to come to your event.

During the event

It’s not just about getting people to show up to your event – you’ve got to keep them engaged while they’re there too. One way to do this is by using live sketchnoting. A live illustrator captures the essence of what’s going on during the event in real time through visual notes, symbols, and images.

This kind of visual notetaking can help participants better understand and retain the information being presented, and it can also make the whole event feel more personalised and engaging. Plus, having the sketches displayed on a big screen or printed out as souvenirs can be a really fun way to involve attendees and help them feel like they’re part of the event.

In fact, incorporating illustrations and visuals into your event can have a whole host of benefits. For one thing, it can make the event feel more approachable and welcoming, particularly for those who might find text-heavy presentations a bit intimidating or dull.

Visuals can also be a powerful tool for aiding memory retention since our brains are wired to remember images better than words. By incorporating illustrations and other visuals throughout your event – whether that’s through presentations, handouts, or interactive activities – you can help participants remember and engage with the information you’re presenting.

After the event

Just because the event is over doesn’t mean your work is done! it’s important to keep the connection with participants strong to retain clients and maintain a positive relationship. One great way to do this is by sharing the live illustrations or graphic facilitations created during the event. These can be shared as souvenirs of the event, reminding attendees of the key messages and insights they gained.

In addition, sharing the presentation materials and following up with participants can help keep the conversation going and allow for continued engagement even after the event. Encouraging attendees to share their experience of the event on social media and other platforms can also help to extend the reach of the event and create a sense of community around it.


Ultimately, illustrations and visuals can be powerful in engaging participants before, during, and after an event. They help to create a personalised experience for attendees, aid memory retention, and make content more accessible and engaging. By incorporating these techniques into your event planning and marketing strategy, you can create an event that truly captivates and engages your audience.

CONTACT US now!

Want to see how we can make it work? Why not have Ortus Draws listen in on your next virtual event or virtual conference? With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company specialising in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

Overcoming the Obstacles of Virtual Meetings: Best Practices for Productivity

Overcoming the Obstacles of Virtual Meetings: Best Practices for Productivity 2560 1703 ORTUS DRAWS

As we slowly emerge from our homes and venture into the big wide world, virtual events and meetings might start to lose their spark. But before you abandon the virtual meeting room altogether, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that virtual events are here to stay.

In fact, they offer many advantages, such as increased accessibility and reduced costs. But virtual meetings also present unique challenges that can hinder productivity and collaboration. Let’s dive into these common obstacles and offer a few practical tips and best practices for overcoming them, so you can ensure your virtual meetings are productive and effective.

Lack of engagement
and distractions

Attending a virtual event or meeting can be a great way to connect with people from all over the world, without even leaving your sofa.
But let’s be honest, it’s easy to get distracted when you’re not in a
physical room with other people.

When it comes to virtual events and meetings, lack of engagement is a real buzzkill. It can be tough to keep attendees tuned in when there are more distractions than you can shake a stick at.

From that new episode of your favourite show on Netflix to your furry friend begging for a belly rub, it’s easy to lose focus. Distraction can be a click away and there’s always the temptation to check your phone, answer emails, or finish that crossword puzzle. Half the time, it’s totally discreet to click on another tab and occupy your brain with something more entertaining.

Lack of the
human touch

When you’re not able to meet face-to-face, it can be more difficult to establish a personal connection and build relationships with others.

Without those casual conversations in the hallway or over coffee, it can be challenging to get to know people beyond their job titles. This lack of personal interaction and the human touch can also make it harder to establish trust and rapport, which can be crucial for successful collaboration.

Zoom fatigue

Virtual events and meetings were all the rage during the pandemic, keeping us connected and our businesses running smoothly. But now, we’re in the midst of a “Zoom fatigue” epidemic, where endless virtual events and meetings are draining us mentally and physically. It’s like a never-ending cycle of clicking links and staring at screens, leaving us feeling like we need a week-long nap.

It’s clear that virtual events and meetings are losing their touch, and we need to find ways to spice things up and keep things interesting. Because let’s face it, we don’t want to be snoozing our way through another video conference.

Here are a few ways we can help bring productivity back into your virtual events
and meetings:

1. Bring a live illustrator into your VIRTUAL event and provide a “good” distraction to the attendees

Live digital illustrator in a virtual event

By creating a real-time mind map of the discussion and key points, the illustrator can help attendees visualize the ideas and concepts being presented. It’s like watching a magic trick unfold before your very eyes. Plus, it’s a welcome distraction from the usual screen time and can help keep attendees focused and engaged. The live illustration creates a sense of excitement and anticipation, as attendees watch the mind map come to life, and can even spark new ideas and discussion points.

2. Use live sketchnotes to add a human touch to the attendee’s discussions

Ortus Draws - Google Fiber Brag Better Meredith Fineman (Virtual Event Sketchnote)

With a live illustrator at your virtual event or meeting, you can create unique and personal sketchnotes and mind maps that capture all the discussions and insights from your attendees. It’s like having a one-of-a-kind tailored piece of artwork for your group and event. This not only adds a human touch to the session but also makes it more engaging and memorable for everyone involved. Plus, it’s a great way to break up the monotony of staring at a screen all day!

3. Make virtual more fun and engaging through the live sketchnotes

Sketchnoting during a virtual event

By incorporating eye-catching graphics and a skilled illustrator, virtual events can be transformed into something fun and engaging. Attendees will be able to see the discussion come to life in real time, making it easier to follow and understand. Plus, it adds a personal touch to the event, making it feel less like a boring meeting and more like a fun collaboration. So, if you want to add some spark to your virtual events, consider bringing in a live illustrator to work their magic!

CONTACT US now!

Want to see how we can make it work? Why not have Ortus Draws listen in on your next virtual event or virtual conference? With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company specialising in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

The Power of Sketchnoting: Personal and Professional Benefits

The Power of Sketchnoting: Personal and Professional Benefits 1200 900 ORTUS DRAWS

Sketchnotes can be an incredibly powerful tool in both everyday and professional life. By creating visual representations of ideas, concepts, and presentations, individuals can engage their creative thinking, retain information more effectively, and communicate more clearly. Whether it’s taking notes in a lecture or brainstorming new ideas at work, sketchnoting can help individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve success.

What is Sketchnoting?

Ortus Draws - Sample AWS Dassault Systemes

Sketchnoting is a technique that combines writing and drawing, and it can be used to record and remember information more effectively. Sketchnoters create quick visual notes that include pictures, symbols, and keywords. Sketchnoting is a great way to capture ideas quickly and easily. It can help you to stay focused and organized during meetings, and it can also be used to create visual presentations or reports.

Benefits of Sketchnoting in the Professional Realm

Sketchnotes can be used to help individuals set and achieve their personal goals. With visual drawings of their goals and the steps needed to achieve them, individuals can gain a greater sense of clarity and focus. This can help them to stay motivated and track their progress over time.

Ortus Draws - Event GIF - Virtual Events

Sketchnotes can also be a powerful tool for effective communication. By creating visual summaries of ideas, concepts, or presentations, individuals can convey information in a clear and engaging way. This can be particularly helpful in professional settings and virtual events, where presentations and reports can often be mundane and uninspiring, especially in today’s world where more are moving into virtual spaces.

Enhancing Learning Through Sketchnoting

Many students and professionals have reported success using sketchnotes to help them make notes, recall key points, and comprehend complex ideas. By creating visual representations of information, individuals can engage their visual and creative thinking, which can aid in solidifying learning.

Sketchnotes can also be a helpful tool for enhancing memory. By using colours, symbols, and other visual cues, individuals can create mental associations that can aid in easier recall of information. This can be particularly helpful for individuals with learning differences, such as dyslexia or ADHD.

Developing Creative Problem-Solving Skills

Sketchnoting can also be used to develop creative problem-solving skills. This note-taking method can help professionals to remember key information, develop creative solutions to problems, and remain engaged during long meetings or events. Sketchnoters can use pictures and symbols to visualise ideas and find new ways to approach problems.

By sketching out ideas and solutions, professionals can gain a better understanding of the problem and come up with innovative solutions. Sketchnoting can also help professionals to identify patterns and connections between ideas, which can lead to more creative solutions. Additionally, the visual nature of sketchnoting can help professionals to better remember the information and ideas they have come up with, making it easier to refer back to them in the future. By combining words and images in a visual format, individuals can unlock their creative potential and generate new ideas.

Mindfulness & Self-reflection

By creating visual representations of their thoughts and emotions, individuals can gain a greater understanding of their own mental states and develop strategies for coping with difficult emotions.

Sketchnotes can also be used as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth. By creating visual representations of their thoughts and experiences, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their own beliefs, values, and behaviours. This can help them to identify areas for personal growth and work towards becoming their best selves.

Experiment with different techniques and find the best way you can apply sketchnoting in your daily life!

Contact us now!

Want to see it happen in real time? Why not have Ortus Draws listen in on your next virtual event or virtual conference? With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company that specialises in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

Ortus Draws - 3

Visualising Ideas in Virtual Spaces

Visualising Ideas in Virtual Spaces 1418 975 ORTUS DRAWS

Virtual events have become a ubiquitous part of our lives, as the pandemic has forced many organisations to adapt to remote working and virtual meetings. While virtual spaces offer a range of benefits, they also present new challenges, especially when it comes to presenting ideas and engaging audiences.

Visualise Ideas

Visualising ideas using visual thinking is an effective way to make virtual spaces more engaging. It can enhance communication by employing visual thinking techniques, such as creating diagrams, charts, and infographics, so participants can more easily understand and absorb information.

Visual thinking also helps to break down complex or abstract concepts into more digestible parts, making it easier for participants to grasp the overall picture. This can keep audiences engaged and interested in the topic being discussed, which is particularly important for virtual events where distractions can be abundant.

Additionally, visual thinking can create a shared understanding between participants, which can facilitate better communication and collaboration. When ideas are presented visually, participants can see and interact with them in a more tangible way, which can lead to more productive discussions
and better outcomes.

 Visual Notes

One way to incorporate visual thinking is through visual notes, also known as sketchnotes, which are a form of visual storytelling that helps to bring ideas to life. They are a combination of hand-drawn illustrations, symbols, and annotations that help to convey complex information in a clear and engaging manner. Visual notes are an ideal tool for virtual events, as they allow presenters to visualise their ideas that can be shared with attendees in real time.

Live Illustrations

Live illustrations are another powerful tool for visualising ideas in virtual spaces. They involve a professional illustrator who creates illustrations in real-time, in response to the speaker’s presentation.

The illustrations are then shared with the audience, either via screen sharing or in a digital format. This technique is particularly effective for presentations where the speaker wants to bring a story to life or explain a complex concept in a visual manner.

Ortus Draws - Sample AWS

When used in combination, visual notes and live illustrations can engage and inspire audiences in virtual events. They help to break up the monotony of long presentations and keep attendees’ attention focused on the speaker’s message. Moreover, the visual elements created during virtual events can be reused in other contexts, such as on websites, social media platforms, or in marketing materials.

Whether through visual notes or live illustrations, the use of visual elements can help to bring presentations to life and leave a lasting impression on attendees. By incorporating visual elements into your virtual events, you can elevate your presentations to the next level and make your ideas come to life.

Let’s visualise ideas for your next event! Why not have Ortus Draws listen in? With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company that specialises in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

Sharpening Your Memory: 7 Tips for Visual Note-Taking

Sharpening Your Memory: 7 Tips for Visual Note-Taking 1200 900 ORTUS DRAWS

Attending conferences, virtual events, and meetings can often result in a large amount of information being presented, making memory retention often a challenge. However, there are many ways to boost memory retention, and one of the most effective ways is through the use of visuals and visual notes.

Visual notes, also known as sketchnotes, are a great way to supplement traditional note-taking and help you retain information better. By incorporating images, symbols, and colours into your notes, you can make the information more memorable and easier to recall later on. By using visual notes, you can give your memory a boost and ensure that you retain the information for the long term.

7 visual note-taking tips to help you get started

1. start with an outline

An outline can be a useful first step when it comes to making visual notes. By creating a rough outline of the information you want to remember, you can organise your thoughts and plan your visual notes effectively. This helps you to focus on the key points and ensure that you get all the important details. An outline also helps to give structure to your visual notes, making them easier to understand and review later.

2. Use images and symbols

Symbols can help to represent complex ideas in a simple, easy-to-understand way, while images can help to add context and make the information more meaningful. By replacing words with images and symbols where possible, you can add a visual element to your notes that makes the information more engaging and easier to understand. 

3. COLOUR CODE

By using different colours to highlight important information and make connections between related concepts, you can make the information more memorable and easier to recall. This can be especially helpful when you’re trying to remember a large amount of information or when you’re trying to make connections between different pieces of information. The use of colours helps to create visual cues that can be easily recognised and remembered.

4. Make it personal

Personalising your visual notes can help reinforce the connections you make between different pieces of information, making it easier to recall. By incorporating your own experiences, thoughts, and feelings, you make the information more meaningful and memorable. This is because personalising your notes ties the information to your own experiences and emotions, making it more meaningful and memorable.

5. KEEP IT SIMPLE

Overloading your visual notes with too much information or too many details can be overwhelming and hinder your ability to retain the information. Instead, focus on the key points and aim to keep your notes simple and easy to understand. Straightforward visual notes can also be easier to review later on, as they highlight the most important information.

6. review regularly

Regular review is key to retaining information, and this applies to visual notes as well. By making time to review your visual notes regularly, either shortly after you take them or at set intervals, you can reinforce the connections you’ve made between different pieces of information and keep the information fresh in your mind. This can greatly enhance your ability to recall the information later on.

7. experiment

Everyone’s learning style is different, so feel free to experiment with different types of visual notes and find what works best for you. Try different symbols, images, and layouts until you find a method that helps you remember the information.

Whether you’re an employee, businessman, or student, incorporating visual notes into your note-taking routine can make a big difference in your ability to retain information. With the rise of virtual events, the use of visual notes has become increasingly important, allowing you to effectively capture and retain information from presentations, meetings, and conferences. So, try incorporating these visual note-taking tips into your routine and see the difference it makes in your ability to retain information.

contact us now!

Let’s bring some memory retention and colour to your next virtual event! Why not have Ortus Draws listen in? With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company that specialises in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

Ortus Draws - 1

How to Utilise Live Illustration in Your Virtual Presentations

How to Utilise Live Illustration in Your Virtual Presentations 1440 730 ORTUS DRAWS

Virtual presentations have become a common occurrence in recent times due to the increase in remote work and online events. Although virtual events offer ease and versatility, they can also be tedious and monotonous. This results in what is now referred to as “Zoom fatigue”. But there is a way to make your virtual presentations more interesting and engaging!

What are live illustrations?

Ortus Draws - Sample Shield

Live illustrations are a form of visual storytelling that involves creating images in real time, making complex information more accessible and memorable. By incorporating live illustrations into your virtual presentations, you can help to combat Zoom fatigue and create an interactive experience for your audience. Live illustration is especially relevant in today’s world of virtual presentations, where the lack of in-person interaction can make it challenging to keep audiences engaged.

But, how is it done? An illustrator joins in on the virtual event, listens to the discussion, and illustrates it. Allowing the audience to visually understand the content being delivered. This can be done for workshops, presentations, or virtual roundtable discussions. With a live illustration, the illustrator will work alongside the presenter to capture the key points being discussed. This helps in making information easier for the audience to follow along and understand the content. You can even take it home as a visual souvenir!

One of the main benefits of live illustration is increased engagement. In a virtual setting, it can be easy for audiences to become distracted, especially if the presentation is lengthy or technical. The live illustration provides a visual element that keeps audiences focused on the content. It also helps break up the monotony of slides and text-based presentations, making the information more memorable.

How can you utilise IT?

There are several ways to incorporate live illustration into your virtual presentations:

  1. Hire an illustrator. The illustrator can create illustrations in real time, responding to the content being discussed and capturing the key points. This provides a visual representation of the information and helps to keep audiences engaged.
  1. Incorporate pre-created illustrations. If you’re unable to have an illustrator join your virtual presentation in real-time, you can still incorporate live illustration. Simply work with an illustrator to create illustrations in advance that you can incorporate into your slides or share as a separate document.
  1. Use illustration tools and software. Various tools and software available allow you to DIY or do it yourself to create illustrations in real time, including online whiteboards, digital sketchpads, and illustration software. These tools can be used to create live illustrations during your virtual presentation, providing a visual representation of the content.
Ortus Draws - 1

When it comes to incorporating live illustrations into your virtual presentations, the key is to find the approach that works best for you and your audience. Whether you hire an illustrator, incorporate pre-created illustrations, or use illustration tools and software, live illustration can help to increase engagement and make your virtual presentations more memorable and effective.

Contact us Now!

So, why not give a live illustration a try and see how it can bring your virtual presentations to life? Have Ortus Draws listen in on your next event! With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.


Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company that specialises in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!

Adding the Human Touch
to Virtual Events with Sketchnoting

Adding the Human Touch
to Virtual Events with Sketchnoting

1200 900 ORTUS DRAWS

Providing a convenient and cost-effective way to bring people together in a digital setting grew in popularity in the recent years and continues to do so. More virtual events have been hosted to provide this convenience and safety however, one of the challenges with virtual events is that they can sometimes feel impersonal and need more of the human touch which makes in-person events so engaging. But what if there was a way to bring a personalised and human touch to your virtual events? 

The answer lies in sketchnoting.

Ortus Draws - Mind map sample

What is sketchnoting?


Sketchnotes, also known as visual note-taking, involves using illustrations, symbols, and keywords to capture and communicate ideas and information. This technique is a powerful tool for adding a human touch to virtual events, making them more personalised and engaging. By creating visually appealing and easily understandable notes, you can help your audience stay focused and involved during your virtual event, even when they are participating from the comfort of their own homes.

But how?

One way of implementing sketchnotes is through a live illustrator. This means having an illustrator join in your virtual event and sketchnotes will be done live and in real-time while the virtual event is ongoing. This can be achieved through the use of digital tools such as graphics tablets, smartphones, or laptops. By sketching notes in real-time, attendees can actively engage with the content of the event and create a visual representation of the information as it is being presented. This can help to keep attendees focused, involved, and engaged, as well as provide a unique and personalised perspective on the event.

Ortus Draws - Illustrator

Why should you have sketchnotes?

Encouraging the use of sketchnoting in your events can also add an element of interactivity to the as attendees can share their notes with each other and provide feedback and insights. This can help to foster a sense of community and collaboration, even in a virtual setting. 

Furthermore, a benefit to having an illustrator provide sketchnotes to your event is that this becomes a souvenir for your virtual event attendees to take home. They can use the notes to reinforce their understanding and retention of the key information presented during the event. The visually appealing and easily understandable nature of sketchnotes can help attendees quickly recall important points and ideas.

They can also use the sketchnotes as a reference for future discussions and decision-making. The notes can serve as a useful reminder of the topics covered during the event and can be referred to at a later date to support further analysis and decision-making. 

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Lastly, the sketchnotes can be shared with colleagues, friends, and family to help spread the information and ideas covered during the virtual event. This can help to extend the reach and impact of the event, and can also serve as a testament to the attendee’s commitment to personal and professional development.

Sketchnoting not only adds a human touch to virtual events but also increases audience engagement and retention of information. It’s a great way to make virtual events more interactive and memorable. Incorporating Sketchnoting into virtual events is a great way to combat Zoom fatigue and bring a more personal and engaging element to the virtual event experience.

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WHERE CAN I GET SKETCHNOTES?

With that being said, let’s bring some colour to your events! Have a live illustrator sit in your events and have Ortus Draws help you create more engaging knowledge-sharing experiences.

Browse through our amazing illustrations to see how our pieces captivate audiences in a more practical and informative way. 

Contact us to book one of our talented illustrators to sketchnote your next event live!

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Visual Note-Taking: The Complete Guide

Visual Note-Taking: The Complete Guide 6048 4024 ORTUS DRAWS

Have you heard of visual note-taking, and have you thought about trying it out yourself?

This guide will cover everything you need to know about visual note-taking, including its definition, the different mediums you can use, tips on how to get started, and the benefits of incorporating this technique into your note-taking routine.

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What is visual note-taking?

Visual note-taking, also known as sketchnoting or graphic recording, is a method of creating visual notes to capture and communicate information in a more engaging and memorable way. It is a form of note-taking that uses illustrations, drawings, and symbols to represent information. Unlike traditional note-taking, which relies solely on text, visual note-taking combines text with visuals to create a more engaging and memorable representation of information. This approach can be used to capture notes from a variety of sources, including meetings, presentations, lectures, and workshops.

It encompasses a range of techniques, each with its own unique approach and purpose. One of the most popular forms of visual note-taking is mind mapping, which uses a central idea or concept and branches out to connect related ideas, concepts, and information. Mind maps help to organize information in a way that is easy to understand and can be a great tool for brainstorming, planning, and problem-solving. Another popular form of visual note-taking is graphic recording, which involves creating visual representations of information during events such as conferences, workshops, and meetings. Graphic recording helps to capture the key takeaways and ideas discussed and can be used as a reference or summary of the event.

These are just two examples of the many different forms of visual note-taking, each with its own unique approach and benefits. Whether you choose to use mind maps, graphic recording, or another form of visual note-taking, the goal is to capture information in a way that is memorable, engaging, and effective.

What do I need to take
visual notes?

There are many different mediums that can be used for visual note-taking, including paper, whiteboards, and digital tools. When it comes to paper, many visual note-takers prefer using dotted notebooks, which allow for more freedom in terms of placement and size of illustrations and text. For digital tools, there are many apps available, such as Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, and Procreate, which offer a variety of tools and features that are ideal for visual note-taking.

Do I have to be a good artist to do it?

Anyone can make visual notes! Getting started with it is easy, and it is a technique that anyone can learn. Here are some tips to help you get started:

  1. Start with a basic set of symbols and illustrations. Familiarize yourself with a few basic symbols and illustrations that can be used to represent different concepts, such as arrows, boxes, and icons.
  1. Practice, practice, practice. Visual note-taking is a skill that takes time to develop, so be sure to practice regularly. Try incorporating visual note-taking into your daily routine, such as taking notes during meetings or when reading a book.
  1. Experiment with different mediums. Experiment with different mediums to find the one that works best for you. This could include trying out different paper or digital tools, or experimenting with different styles of illustration and symbols.

There are many benefits to incorporating visual note-taking into your note-taking routine. Some of the benefits include:

  1. Increased engagement. Visual note-taking can help you stay engaged and focused during meetings, presentations, and lectures.
  1. Improved memory retention. Studies have shown that people remember information better when it is presented in a visual format, making visual note-taking an effective tool for improving memory retention.
  1. Increased creativity. Visual note-taking can help spark creativity and be a great way to capture ideas and inspiration.
  1. Better communication. Visual note-taking can help to communicate information more effectively, making it easier for others to understand and remember.

Where can I use it?

With its many benefits, there are many different scenarios where you can use visual note-taking in your daily life. Here are some examples:

  1. Taking notes during meetings. Using visual notes, it’s a great way to capture the key points and ideas discussed during meetings, making it easier to review and recall the information later.
  1. Recording lectures. Visual note-taking can be used to capture the most important information from lectures, making it easier to study and review the material later.
  1. Planning and brainstorming. Visual note-taking can be used as a tool for planning and brainstorming, allowing you to capture ideas and organize them in a visual format.
  1. Presenting information. Visual note-taking can be used as a tool for presenting information, making it easier for others to understand and retain the information.
  1. Virtual and In-person Events. Whether you take visual notes for yourself or hire an illustrator for your event, visual notes will help capture your event minutes and provide an engaging experience for you and your audience.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply someone who loves to learn and organise information, visual note-taking can help you retain information more effectively, spark creativity, and communicate ideas more clearly. So why not give it a try and see how it can enhance your note-taking and information-management skills? Start with the basics, experiment with different mediums, and keep practising – you might be surprised at the results!


If you’re interested in seeing it happen in real time, have Ortus Draws listen in on your next event! With a live illustrator present, you’ll have a concise, coherent, and colourful visual representation of the discussion ready to catch the eyes and engage viewers.

Ortus Draws is a live sketchnoting company that specialises in bringing ideas to life with creative and informative mind maps. Our sketchnotes capture the key points of virtual events, roundtables, webinars, discussions, conferences, presentations, pitches, interviews, and internal meetings. Are you looking for an illustrator for your event? Contact us now!