Simple Sketches Engage The Audience Better They reinforce your original thinking and help narrate your concept in the most compelling manner.

As a natural artist myself I can remember three specific instances when I have excited the audience with my hand drawn

presentations. All of them also won the top honors. The first one was when I created an advertisement campaign for a stock

broking firm in India (1992). They were looking to create great response to the company’s new services and confidentiality was

the key word. I used a world war common parlance, "walls have ears" idea and sketched up the visual of a private sneaking up to

the wall to hear something. The sketch was a combination of both charcoal and ink,

later treated photographically to a quarter tones for newspaper. The sad story was,

the newspaper messed up the print. However, the response to the ad was so

overwhelming that I had my client’s phone ringing through the day and night.

The second one was what I created in 1994 when I used to work for a Software

company (today it is a popular financial technology firm). I had moved from the

advertising industry to the corporate world to learn the importance of managing a

single brand ground up challenge. The presentation predominantly was done using the popular OHP sheets. Overnight, I created

my branding plans, status and new ideas with cartoons, caricatures, comedy and words. I used some drams to unveil the slide

because I knew no one else even thought of this approach (risk of course!). I had the audience shuffle, clap and offer abundant

appreciation for the strategy.

The third time I used this sketch approach was during my present stint (2012) with Virtusa Corporation. I was part of the

Insurance practice team. While I could see most of the groups were betting on the glorious Power Point way, I suggested to my

team that we should try a hand at sketches and a flip chart presentation with the SME to narrate the idea using these charts. All

agreed and I set forth in pulling up my memories of sketching (had lost touch for a few years and an accident had challenged my

free flowing ability). Motivation came from team; I showed some simple and quick sketches of cartoon characters and they

approved it. Then I realized I had just 20 minutes to wrap up the whole story.

With help from team on the story board, I had it delivered on time. Even before

the presentation commenced, the panel of judges asked who created these

sketches; team pointed to me. There was all round applause and honestly it

was quite a while since I heard a hall full of applause. And, we shared the top

hours with the Telecom team for Innovation and value.

Little doubt, simple sketches talk a million words. They reinforce your original thinking and help narrate your concept in the most

compelling manner.

I used a World War-I common

parlance, "walls have ears"

idea and sketched up the visual

of a private sneaking up to the

wall to hear something

Motivation came from team; I

showed some simple and quick

sketches of cartoon characters

and they approved it.