Practitioner Process Talk with Sarah Spencer

Practitioner Process Talk with Sarah Spencer
A NOVA Scribes / IFVP Learning Lab Event

In our Practitioner Process Talks series, we are thrilled to welcome designer, illustrator, facilitator, and IFVP President Sarah Spencer for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at her creative process.

Whether you are a visual practitioner, facilitator, educator, or simply curious about how graphic recorders think and work, this session offers a rare chance to learn from a respected leader in the field. Sarah brings a blend of artistic skill, improvisational ease, and grounded honesty to her practice. She will reflect on what truly matters to her in the moment of creation and what she has learned from years of working both digitally and on paper.

Sarah will walk us through her end-to-end workflow, including how she prepares for a session, the cues she listens for, and the choices she makes to create clarity and flow in a chart. She will share how she thinks about layout, structure, color, and scale. She will also discuss how she adapts when the unexpected happens, how she stays responsive in fast-paced sessions, and how she keeps her creative energy steady while juggling real-life demands, renovations, and the occasional case of the “buckets”

You will learn how she approaches:
• Designing layout frameworks that keep information organized and readable
• Choosing color palettes and illustration styles that support meaning
• Working in real time while staying fully present to the group
• Balancing preparation with spontaneity
• Translating client goals into visual decisions that elevate the final chart

Whether you are new to graphic recording or ready to refine your practice, this webinar is packed with practical insights and creative inspiration to help you expand your own approach.

Sarah Spencer is a graphic recorder who transforms complex conversations into powerful, real-time visuals that spark clarity, collaboration, and shared understanding. Additionally, she provides product design for facilitators, creating custom tools—including card decks, books, and visual models—that deepen engagement and extend learning well beyond the event. Sarah works with leading organizations across sectors, from Fortune 500 companies and government agencies to large nonprofits and international conferences. She works out of her restored 1963 Airstream trailer, a creative space where ideas take shape and imagination runs wild. Whether crafting stained glass in the studio or exploring the outdoors, Sarah channels her adventurous energy into graphic recording and product design, offering clients original, dynamic visuals that open new pathways for engagement. Let’s imagine, design, and build what’s next—together!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/26letters/

Practitioner Process Talks is an ongoing NOVA Scribes / IFVP Learning Lab series where a visual practitioner walks us through their process from start to finish for creating impactful visuals and participant experiences.

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/

View past recorded NOVA Scribes workshops at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJfInZHmS8prj2_DUaJ35CYY8n7SzoPMJ

Check out our upcoming events at:
https://www.meetup.com/nova-scribes/events/

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.)