About #thevisualcoach

I am Zhi Lee, #thevisualcoach, author of The Visual Coach Handbook

I help people get from A to B through the use of visuals. I actively listen to synthesize information, laying down the essentials using simple graphics brought to life using colour.

My Specialty

I specialise in high-fidelity data synthesis, working an audience, and providing a world-class tactile paper experience.
I work with a harvester, as part of a two-person tactical team. This ensures that while complex corporate, community, or cultural themes are being mapped onto massive 2.5-meter paper murals, no key data or exact quotes are lost in translation. Combining a background in consulting through my Agile Coaching business Teamworx, and LEGO® Serious Play®, I have delivered dozens of high-stakes strategy sessions that require deep systems-thinking and flawless analog execution.

Hear about my Sketchnoting journey on Soundcloud

Proudly reviving the age-old medium of paper, my harvester and I bring large community events and conferences to life by synthesising key themes and translating them into visuals. I apply Listening Levels 2 and 3 where I focus on context, story, emotions and tone. I am able to do this effectively as we operate as a team of 2. My assistant (known as a harvester), captures data and key quotes at Listening Level 1.

Prep Work / What to Expect

To deliver a quality result, every event we undertake involves just as much prep as the event itself. It starts with 1-2 pre-alignment meetings on your outcomes, meeting with your facilitator, deeply understanding the agenda, and logistics to ensure the best lighting and working space. We will care about your outcome as much as you do.

We prepare by reviewing speaker profiles, pre-event questions, reviewing prepared slides and videos to deeply unpack the key themes, and generate icons beforehand. If we are unfamiliar with any cultural themes or technical terms, we will put in the mahi (work).

We work with you to set up the area in an invitational way so participants are enticed to interact with the visuals. We take pride in carefully protecting carpet and walls by using delicate painter's tape and dropsheets.

We make a digital record of the outputs with a full-frame Canon DSLR and diffused on-camera flash. The final image is colour balanced and corrected in Adobe Lightroom. As an optional service, we can produce a timelapse video of the sketches being developed over the day. At the end of the event, the posters are carefully removed and rolled up for you to keep.

Our style is clean and simple, using basic shapes and icons (as opposed to high fidelity cartoons) because I sketch fast, accurately and live, as the conversation unfolds. I am trained in the Bikablo method, which has influenced my style heavily, although I have evolved by using methods from other well known graphic recorders globally. I am not an artist, I am a great listener and information distiller. If you are looking for an artist, a different style, or a digital recorder, there are many other companies you could consider such as Reflection Graphics, Emphasise NZ, Liana Stupples, Interactionz, Issie Loseby, Amanda Shreyer, or get in touch with the IFVP.

Running a visual thinking course (1 hour, half day, full day)
Scribing / recording an event on large paper (half day, full day)
Running a LEGO Serious Play workshop to brainstorm / strategise / problem solve (half day, full day)
1 on 1 visual coaching

Check out our many 5-star reviews on Google.