[Read] Megan Herbert Live Draws: Digital Natives, Data Captives

Forward by Megan Herbert (Political Cartoonist)

Live drawing, also known as graphic recording or live scribing, is a unique way to distil the key messages of an event to be easily shared with the wider world. There are a variety of ways to do this, but I draw speakers’ portraits in situ using an iPad while simultaneously summarising their key take-away quotes, combining those words and pictures in images that can be posted in real time to social media or used promotionally after the event. Because they’re illustrations that have the human touch, they tend to be more widely shared than straight photographs, which extends the reach of the speakers’ messages.

That’s why this conversation, Digital Natives, Data Captives, was a perfect candidate for live drawing coverage. The topic of online safety and device use (and abuse) for teens and children is at the top of the list of many parents’ biggest concerns (including mine). As we try to navigate this situation from the silos of our individual households, it’s helpful to know what the research says and to hear how experts suggest we move forward. When drawing the conversation between children’s rights advocate Hye Jung Han and interviewer Sally Warhaft, I chose electric colours and an urgent, sketchy style to capture the energy in the room; audience members were collectively leaning forward in their seats. Distilled on the page, this vital conversation can now be shared with anyone who was unable to be there on the night.