--- type: Biography title: "About Matt Orley - Professional Graphic Recorder" description: "Background, skills, and strategic philosophy of illustrator Matt Orley." resource: https://www.bigpaperstrategy.com/about-matt tags: ["about", "bio", "matt-orley"] timestamp: 2026-07-24T23:54:07.948Z --- # About Matt Orley - Professional Graphic Recorder The Strategist Behind the Markers # About Matt Orley An electrical engineer by training, a visual storyteller by trade, and a generalist who thrives in translating high-level complexity into human connection. 0+ Years of Experience First Live Board in 2010 • Big Paper Strategy founded 2018 0 Events Captured that's 351 days of drawing 0 Separate Drawings that's 77,100 minutes of intense listening... at least! 0 SQ FT of PANELS Inked Live On-Site < 0% Spellcheck Fail Rate Quickly Fixed Live with Marker! Stats updated through May 2026 ![Matt Orley Headshot.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2FMatt_Orley_Rectangle_Portrait_2026.HB6deQtN.webp&w=725&h=890&q=80&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ## Listening in Real Time I founded Big Paper Strategy in 2018, though I did my first live graphic recording project back in 2010. I am an analytical listener. I work in real time to process, filter, and synthesize complex brainstorms and conference speeches into single, cohesive visual maps. Rather than just "drawing doodles," I leverage an eclectic engineering and business career to immediately understand technical processes, corporate strategies, and abstract jargon. --- ## An Analytical & Generalist Path My career spans hardware design, industrial sales, digital art and wall murals, digital marketing, and advocacy: **Engineering Roots** Holds an electrical engineering degree from Grove City College. Developed CES award-winning electronics at Khyber Technologies. **Industrial Sales** Managed industrial control systems sales at FACTS Inc. **Digital Art & Murals** Part of the VIEWNIQUE team at OMNOVA Solutions. Acted as a digitally printed wall mural artist, managing sales and production while honing his skills in Photoshop, digital art, and design as a profession. **Advocacy & Impact** Supporting the continued fight against human trafficking in collaboration with Shared Hope International. ![Matt Orley Headshot.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2FMatt_Orley_Rectangle_Portrait_2026.HB6deQtN.webp&w=725&h=890&q=80&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ### Matt Orley Founder @ Big Paper Strategy Live Illustrator & Graphic Recorder I'm highly active on LinkedIn, sharing daily thoughts, drawings, and visual strategy insights. Highly Active on LinkedIn [Connect on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mttorley/) ### Praise from Planners What speakers, executives, and event coordinators write about Matt's work. ★★★★★ "Matt's ability to storyboard, connect the dots, and capture insights through the power of illustration is the best that I've ever seen by a country mile. Imagine the power of having every participant leave your conference with a learning journey map to help them apply learnings for years to come." **Julien Leblanc** blueprint North America ★★★★★ "Holy wow I love this Matt Orley!" **Ann Handley** MarketingProfs, Keynote Speaker ★★★★★ "You provided great value to IPEC. The proof of that is the apparent new business you may have picked up as a result of your work on-site! Moreover, I know we all agree that your style – low-maintenance, self-reliant, easy-going, always professional – is doubly appreciated." **David Blansfield** Northstar Meetings Group, Executive Vice President ★★★★★ "Our CEO was so impressed by this art piece that he wants posters made to put in ELT offices to remind us of our ongoing connection to the community. How awesome!!" **Emily Carpenter** Community Partnerships Manager @ M Health Fairview ★★★★★ "Jaw-dropping reactions. Well done!!!" **Jennifer Martin, MBA, CAE** New York School Nutrition ★★★★★ "Matt was professional and very easy to work with both pre-planning and during the conference. The Graphic recordings of two of our plenary presentations were a huge hit for both our attendees and presenters." **Britt Peck, CEM** Shared Hope International ★★★★★ "You brought a layer of richness and excitement to the conference that was pretty magical!! And thank you for sending the digital files... they are gorgeous!!" **Nancy Hawthorne** Senior Manager, Conference Projects ## Outside of Work I live with my family between Cleveland and Akron in **Peninsula, Ohio**. I enjoy classic Gen-X sports: LinkedIn commenting, falling off my bicycle in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, hunting for mushrooms, and refereeing disagreements between my dogs, Callie and Samantha. ![A rumpled map of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park sitting on a desk.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2Fcuyahoga-valley-map.DE4DVvxj.jpg&w=500&h=237&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) Origin Story ## Answering a Craigslist Ad in the 2009 Recession It was 2009, and the Great Recession was at its peak. I answered a Craigslist ad posted by a consulting firm looking for an onsite artist for a Diebold (ATM Manufacturer) C-suite gathering. > "I had no idea what the heck you guys were talking about until HE drew it for me." — Diebold C-Suite Executive Hearing that executive connect the dots was my lightbulb moment. Years later, I founded Big Paper Strategy, combining my analytical mindset with markers and large paper. ![Matt's first graphic recording, images from 2010. ](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2FCraigslist-Origin-Story-3.gKSIag4C.jpg&w=600&h=338&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) How It Works ## How My Live Illustrator Brain Works How do you draw while listening, and listen while thinking about what you just heard? It's the question I get asked most. The answer is preparation, pattern recognition, and years of experience: 01 ### The Visual Metaphor Library Long before the event starts, I map out custom visual metaphors based on your titles, speaker bios, and session topics. 02 ### Pre-Event Vocabulary Prep I research speaker slides, runs of show, and industry-specific acronyms to make sure spelling and jargon are accurate. 03 ### The 60-Second Cognitive Buffer Like a computer buffer, I hold the last 30 to 60 seconds of speech in my head, actively synthesizing it while my hand finishes illustrating the previous point. ## Extra Views of Matt Some of them working, some not at all! ![Matt Illustrating live](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2FMattOrleyDrawingRockAndRollGraphicRecording.BL7FU9SL.jpg&w=800&h=533&q=80&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ![Matt Orley with a blank panel standing in his backyard.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2Fextra-matt-1.CwIMjSaL.jpg&w=709&h=944&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ![Matt standing next to a mountain river on a road east of Stanley, ID. Sawtooth Mountains seen in the far distance.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2Fextra-matt-2.DNnHS4eR.jpg&w=1024&h=769&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ![10 panels drawn at a conference in Washington DC. Silhouette of Matt Orley standing in front of the images. Poor Lighting on the panels.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2Fextra-matt-3.DsQ8WFEr.jpg&w=1024&h=531&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ![Matt Orley inside of a museum exhibit in Washington DC. Tee art style in this exhibit is similar to his own.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2Fextra-matt-4.8DcYR7QS.jpg&w=1024&h=769&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ![Matt getting his haircut at Floyd's Barbershop in Mt. Airy, NC. Also known as Mayberry.](/.netlify/images?url=_astro%2Fextra-matt-5.QM8IjF_u.jpg&w=812&h=944&dpl=6a63fb0afaa87100086d5eee) ## Questions as Testimonials Event attendees often ask me about my experience, where I come from, how I understand their subject matter, and other probing questions. The best compliments I've ever received have come in the form of questions... and to each one I've answered **NO**. “ Do you have a background in tribal law? NO “ Do you have a background in healthcare? NO “ Have you worked in the energy sector? NO “ Do you only draw flooring events? NO ## Trusted Across Industries Live graphic recording is highly versatile. From high-tech software architecture to complex agricultural supply chains, here is a look at client sectors I regularly serve: ## Let's Collaborate Want to lock in your event date or hop on a call to talk about your meeting structure? Reach out today. [Get a Visual Quote](/engage/) [Schedule a Zoom Call](https://cal.com/bigpaper)