May 2013
Robert Black Strategy Cartoonist
Robert’s diverse array of experience and interests combine with a well-developed sense of humour to create a unique view of the world. Through his cartoons, Robert brings a fresh perspective to strategic meetings or corporate communications.
What is strategic cartooning?
Strategic Cartooning uses drawing and visual metaphor to assist companies with their strategic thinking, helping management groups to see problems from a new visual perspective, often with a good dash of humour.
Cartoons are also a great way to encourage group conversations around difficult topics. People can struggle to remember presentation bullet points, and yet describe a cartoon that made its point with humour weeks later.
A common practice is to have Robert sit in on company strategic workshops and produce cartoons that facilitate the group conversation, often in conjunction with other management or meeting facilitation consultants.
Robert also draws cartoons on commission, both individually and as series. Typical uses for this are management books, company safety campaigns, and manuals.
About Robert
Companies who’ve used Robert’s work
AurizonAustralian Unity
Boroondara City
Ivanhoe Mining
Linfox Transport
Mars Confectionery
Melbourne Water
Newcrest Mining
Oxford University Press
Perilya Mining
Telstra
United Energy
VISA Australia
As well as being a cartoonist, Robert has worked as a senior graphic designer for almost 20 years at his award-winning design studio ThereFor. He has also worked in the fields of web development, software programming, and workflow automation. With a personal interest in engineering, entrepreneurship, and strategic thinking, Robert has been an active participant in design industry bodies and has held various positions on State and national committees of the Australian Graphic Design Association. [more about Robert]
Contact
Contact Robert on
My cartooning journal
When I tell people I work as a Strategy Cartoonist, sometimes the
easiest way to explain it is to just give some examples of what I do...
May 2013
Cartoons for consultancy website ▶
I’m just wrapping up a project doing a series of cartoons for the website of a boutique consulting company in Western Australia. They’ve got a very nice website, but they felt that it was just a bit text heav… [continue]
December 2012
Partnership workshops ▶
I’ve just helped out at 2 one-day workshops for the Australian division of a major international energy company. Run by a consultant who specialises in relationship management between companies in strategic allia… [continue]
October 2012
Mining illustrations ▶
I’ve just completed a huge project for one of my major mining clients. Eighteen posters and over a hundred drawings using cartoon characters to explain some highly technical details. The 3D computer-generated im… [continue]August 2012
Safety handbook ▶
I’ve just done a series of cartoons for an Australian mining company’s safety handbook. They already have an amazing safety procedure manual as thick as a phone book, to appease the lawyers and regulators, bu… [continue]
July 2012
Contamination awareness ▶
I’ve just completed a commissioned series of cartoons and a logo for a contamination prevention awareness campaign. A large Australian company has realised after doing a little research that it can save tens of m… [continue]May 2012
Financial services company leadership workshop ▶
Just completed a three day Leadership Workshop/Forum with the management of a major Australian financial services company. The meeting was run by a professional facilitator, and my role was to sit in the corner and draw … [continue]March 2012
Visual metaphors for division of a large telco ▶
I’ve been working for a major division of one of Australia’s largest telecommunications companies, to create a cartoon series that visually captures the essence of some fairly radical changes planned for its … [continue]
December 2011
Mining company strategy meeting ▶
I just worked at a mining company’s two day management workshop. Held at a fancy conference centre outside Melbourne, it featured two top-grade facilitators and the upper management of the company’s three d… [continue]The Pencil Sharpener logo and all cartoons on this site are copyright Robert Black 2013