Process Talk - Katya Balakina: Working with Graphic Recording Agencies

Join 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.)