What we’re about
NOVA Scribes is a free and open forum for visual practitioners to share their knowledge.
We are anyone who uses visuals to move others: consultants and facilitators who use visuals, graphic recorders, scribes, sketchnoters, and others!
We're all volunteers! Anyone who wants to can be an organizer or presenter.
The proceeds from the events go to:
• the presenters,
• charities that support the arts as a means of bridging people and communities such as the Whitethorne Foundation, which brings arts education to indigenous communities,
• honorariums for new graphic recorders to practice scribing our events, and
• scholarships to bring new attendees to events like the IFVP conference.
We have organized classes, graphic jams, open spaces, and webinars to share skills and learn from each other. We record our webinars for anyone to watch later, and if you're interested in presenting a topic, please let us know!
We organize our events using the Meetup app. You can find us at www.meetup.com/NOVA-Scribes
It's free to be a NOVA Scribes Member; please join us!
Upcoming events
18
Let's Get Playful! Playful Perspectives with Sarah Filman
•OnlineOnlineShift your perspective. Spark fresh ideas. Facilitate with more play.
What if the playful activities you bring to groups could do more than break the ice? What if they could deepen listening, unlock creative thinking, and build collaborative capacity?
Join us for an interactive online session exploring the Playful Perspectives card deck. You'll experience activities designed to help teams and groups develop essential skills: genuine connection, creative expression, and collaborative problem-solving.
What to Expect
We'll experience three types of play-based activities together:
- Start with Heart: Activities that foster genuine connection and empathy
- Create Something Great: Activities that unlock creative thinking and help people release self-judgment
- Train Your Brain: Activities that build collaborative muscles and challenge habitual thinking patterns
These activities work beautifully as meeting openers, and they're also designed to create meaningful shifts in how people work together.
Who It's For
Visual facilitators, trainers, meeting designers, and anyone looking to expand their toolkit of playful activities.
Format
- Online (Zoom)
- 60 minutes
- No prior experience with play required
What You'll Take Away
A new lens on what play can offer the groups you serve, concrete activities you can adapt and bring to your clients, and confidence that play is a serious tool for helping teams develop and connect.
Bring your curiosity and openness. We'll create a space where experimentation is welcome and every perspective enriches our learning.
Sarah Filman is a certified leadership coach, facilitator, improv teacher, and creator of Playful Perspectives for Teams and Groups. Sarah is passionate about the transformative power of play in professional spaces. She believes that how we work together is key to what we can achieve—and that play is a powerful pathway to building connection, trust, and creative possibility.
linkedin.com/in/sarahfilman
playfulperspectives.com
instagram.com/playfulperspectives/
https://playfulperspectives.com/cards
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NOVA Scribes has entered into a partnership with the IFVP: the International Forum of Visual Practitioners! This workshop is part of IFVP Learning.
This workshop will be recorded and posted on YouTube for anyone who cannot attend. You can find the YouTube link in the Comments section of this NOVA Scribes Meetup event once the workshop video has been uploaded to YouTube.
We’re not charging for this workshop, but we will be asking for donations! Donations cover the costs of hosting events on Meetup, to honorariums for new graphic recorders, and scholarships.
Please be sure you are registered on Meetup! If your Zoom name doesn’t match your name on Meetup, you will not be admitted. (We’ve had Zoom bombers.)57 attendees
Process Talk - Katya Balakina: Working with Graphic Recording Agencies
•OnlineOnlineJoin NOVA Scribes for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work with graphic recording agencies. In this Process Talk, visual practitioner Katya Balakina will share what she has learned from collaborating with six U.S. and European agencies, comparing that experience with independent freelance work.
Katya will walk through the full lifecycle of agency projects, from contracting and statements of work to coordination, logistics, and handoffs, and discuss how agency partnerships differ from direct to client engagements. She will also explore how to balance your personal drawing style with each agency’s brand guidelines and expectations for color palettes, lettering, and layout.
Participants will gain insight into:
- How agencies structure projects, hire artists, and manage deliverables
- Common pros and cons of agency relationships
- Strategies for maintaining consistency while honoring your own visual voice
- A look at style guides and templates you can use to define or document your own visual style
Whether you’re new to graphic recording or looking to expand your professional network, this session offers practical advice and candid reflections from an experienced practitioner who has seen both sides of the work.
Presenter: Katya Balakina, visual facilitator and graphic recorder based in Chicago
Date: January 20 | 6:00 PM ET | Virtual via Zoom
Hosted by: NOVA Scribes | Donations support IFVP and NOVA Scribes programs
Katya Balakina is a Chicago-based graphic recorder with over a decade of experience. She collaborates with agencies such as The Sketch Effect, Ink Factory, and Scriberia as well as directly with her own clients.
NOVA Scribes has entered into a partnership with the IFVP: the International Forum of Visual Practitioners! This workshop is an IFVP Learning Lab. All IFVP members have access to Learning Labs at https://ifvpforum.circle.so/c/learning-hub/
This workshop will be recorded and posted on YouTube for anyone who cannot attend. You can find the YouTube link in the Comments section of this NOVA Scribes Meetup event once the workshop video has been uploaded to YouTube.
You can find previously recorded videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJfInZHmS8prj2_DUaJ35CYY8n7SzoPMJ
We’re not charging for this workshop, but we will be asking for donations! Donations cover the costs of hosting events on Meetup, to honorariums for new graphic recorders, and scholarships.
Please be sure you are registered on Meetup! If your Zoom name doesn’t match your name on Meetup, you will not be admitted. (We’ve had Zoom bombers.)28 attendees
Past events
265
Group links
Organizers
Members
2,382
