Welcome to the first post in our brand new series: The Science of Graphic Recording.
Because let’s be real—graphic recording isn’t just pretty doodles at conferences. It’s brain science, baby. And today we’re diving into one of the biggest reasons graphic recording works: Dual Coding Theory.
First things first: What the heck is Dual Coding?
In the 1970s, a clever psychologist named Allan Paivio had a lightbulb moment:
Turns out your brain doesn’t just process words in one dusty corner and pictures in another.
It processes both—at the same time, in parallel, on two different but connected tracks.
One track handles verbal info (like what the speaker is saying).
The other track handles visual info (like the images, diagrams, and charts you’re seeing).
And when both tracks are firing together?
⚡ You remember it better.
⚡ You understand it faster.
⚡ You actually care enough to pay attention.
Last week when I had an attendee at a San Diego graphic recording event come up to me and whisper, “I feel guitly that I am watching you instead of looking at the speaker.” I said, “That’s okay, you’re listening and watching so your brain is working harder..”
So how does this tie into graphic recording?
When you’re sitting in a meeting, presentation, or strategic session, graphic recording is like giving your brain two different handholds to grab onto the big ideas:
The words are captured in real time (so your verbal brain’s happy).
The visuals make the ideas tangible and memorable (so your visual brain’s doing cartwheels).
Instead of trying to catch a slippery stream of talk with your tired little attention span, you’ve got a dynamic visual map that anchors the conversation—and pulls your brain deeper into understanding.
Why it matters for your next meeting or event:
👉 When people hear an idea and see it at the same time, their retention rates skyrocket.
👉 Complex conversations don’t feel so overwhelming when they're mapped out in real time.
👉 Attendees stay engaged longer—and you walk away with a visual record that keeps delivering insights long after the last mic drop.
Bottom line:
Graphic recording doesn’t just make meetings prettier.
It makes your ideas stickier, stronger, and way more likely to spark action.
Stay tuned for the next post in our Science of Graphic Recording series, where we’ll dive into cognitive load theory (spoiler: your brain can only handle so many PowerPoint slides before it checks out).