Bringing Nottingham’s Creative Vision to Life Through Live Illustration

Last year, I had the privilege of returning to my northern roots (as a proud Manchester lass!) and working in the vibrant city of Nottingham. I was invited by Professor Helen Kennedy and Donna Close FRSA to be part of City as Lab: Telling Stories initiative at the University of Nottingham.

The workshop brought together representatives from across Nottingham’s creative and cultural landscape to explore ideas for the city's future. Using a dynamic World Café format, participants shared their insights, challenges and aspirations. My role as a live illustrator and graphic facilitator was to visually capture these thoughtful conversations, transforming them into vibrant drawings that embodied the group’s collective vision.

Feeding the Creative Beast

One of the highlights of the day was crafting a "monster" filled with Post-it notes. These notes detailed key challenges and opportunities for Nottingham’s creative and cultural life. This playful yet powerful activity sparked fresh ideas and engaged everyone in meaningful dialogue. This playful starter allowed people to get stuff off their chests and feel lighter and more energised for the day ahead.

As the workshop progressed, I floated between tables, capturing the energy and heart of discussions in real time. The end result? A set of four visual records that highlighted central themes and provided a tangible, engaging way to revisit the workshop’s key takeaways.

Why Visuals Matter

Live illustration adds more than just a visual element to events; it deepens the connection to ideas by making them not just seen but felt. The drawings I created during the workshop serve as an inspiring reminder of the attendees’ ideas and pledges. Far more memorable than notes scribbled on the back of a postcard don’t ya think?

Live illustration for City as Lab and Nottingham University sharing ideas for the city's creative and cultural future by Esther Springett

With each live illustration project, a time-lapse video is recorded. These are ideal for replaying during breaks, sharing on social media and using in post-event email campaigns to reinforce key messages and inspire action.

Collaborating with Visionaries

A special thank you to Donna Close and Professor Helen Kennedy for bringing me on board for such a meaningful project. It was a pleasure to work with a group so passionate about shaping Nottingham’s creative and cultural future.

Make Your Events Unforgettable

Whether you’re hosting a workshop, conference or team-building event, live illustration and graphic facilitation can help you get the most out of your event. From creating engaging visuals to inspiring lasting impact, I’d love to help bring your ideas to life.

Get in touch today to explore how you can make your event unforgettable!