Until the invention of the printing press, scribes in many cultures, ranging from ancient Egypt to Medieval times, combined writing, symbols and sometimes art. Although this would seem to be a skill of the past, it still exists today. Graphics are informed by words, and words help to create graphics – whether conceptual, technical or something in-between.

Throughout my life, I’ve been a scribe, from the time I grilled my great-grandmother for stories of her life in Buffalo, New York as a young girl, to my career in journalism, museums and educational nonprofits. The power of storytelling as a powerful educational tool informs my collaborations with others.