Inter Council Network
Illustration • Graphic Recording • Graphic Design
01. Overview
The Inter-Council Network Learning Series brought together participants from across Canada to explore topics related to anti-racism, decolonization, feminist approaches, and equitable international cooperation. The series consisted of six virtual learning sessions delivered in both English and French.
I was commissioned to create graphic recordings that visually documented each session, transforming complex discussions into engaging and accessible illustrations that participants could revisit after the events.
02. Context
The sessions explored nuanced and interconnected topics involving social justice, equity, international development, and systems change. The challenge was to listen in real time, identify key themes and insights, and translate them into visuals that were both accurate and accessible.
The final illustrations needed to:
Capture the key messages of each session.
Support participant learning and knowledge retention.
Remain visually engaging for a broad audience.
Be adapted into both English and French versions.
Align with the organization's communications goals.
03. Responsibilities
Attended and documented six virtual learning sessions.
Synthesized presentations, discussions, and participant contributions into written notes & visual summaries.
Created original illustrations and iconography.
Developed final, polished graphic recordings for distribution.
Adapted completed visuals into bilingual English and French versions.
Collaborated with project stakeholders to incorporate feedback and revisions.
04. Final Graphic Recordings
Session 1 - English
Session 1 - French
Session 2 - English
Session 2 - French
Session 3 - English
Session 3 - French
Session 4 - English
Session 4 - French
Session 5 - English
Session 5 - French
Session 6 - English
Session 6 - French
05. Process
1. Active Listening & Note Taking
During each session, I listened for recurring themes, key terminology, notable quotes, and important relationships between concepts. Rather than documenting every detail, I focused on identifying the ideas that would have the greatest impact for participants.
2. Visual Organization
Information was grouped into clear sections and visual hierarchies. I used layout, typography, icons, and illustrations to create pathways that guided viewers through the content.
3. Illustration Development
Custom illustrations and visual metaphors were created to represent abstract concepts such as collaboration, systems change, equity, and community engagement. These visuals helped make complex topics easier to understand and remember.
4. Refinement & Translation
Following each session, graphic recordings were refined and prepared for distribution. Final visuals were adapted into both English and French* versions to improve accessibility and support the bilingual nature of the learning series. (*The French text was translated from my notes by another team member.)
Conclusion
This project strengthened my ability to communicate complex ideas visually while balancing clarity, accuracy, and creativity. Working across six sessions and producing bilingual deliverables reinforced the importance of thoughtful visual storytelling as a tool for education, engagement, and knowledge sharing.