Link Episode 10 – Visual Storytelling: A Conversation with Alece Birnbach

When Alece Birnbach saw someone draw a simple umbrella during a meeting to illustrate a speaker's point, it sparked a career transition that would combine her advertising background with her passion for drawing. Now, with 15 years of experience as a graphic recorder, she helps organizations communicate complex ideas through visual storytelling.

"Graphic recording is three things: listening, synthesizing and drawing," Alece explains in this episode of "The LINK." During meetings, conferences, and strategic sessions, she creates real-time visual representations of discussions and presentations. The result is a compelling visual story that helps attendees better retain and share information. (See her work from the Edge Long Beach education tracks Optimize, Innovate, Sell and Inspire.)

Alece's work spans various formats, from live conference sessions to knowledge walls where participants contribute ideas that she transforms into themed visuals. She also creates story maps for organizations undergoing transformation, recently helping a major fashion brand communicate changes to over 2,000 employees. "People remember what they see many times more than what they hear," she says.

For organizations struggling with internal communication, Alece often employs metaphors that resonate with specific audiences. Whether it's using a rock band theme for a fashion brand or a garden metaphor for mental health benefits, these visual frameworks help align teams around shared visions. She encourages others to start small when incorporating visuals into note-taking: Use shapes, arrows, and simple figures to connect ideas. "You're already doing it when you circle things or draw arrows," she says. "That's the beginning of graphic recording and visual notes."

Through her work at Graphic Recording Studio, Birnbach continues to help organizations communicate more effectively, one visual story at a time.