RISCS (the Research Institute for Sociotechnical Cyber Security) is more than just a mouthful – it is the UK’s leading academic research institute looking into troublesome digital security threats of the present and future, to individuals, businesses and states alike.
For the past three years I’ve been invited to scribe at their annual conferences in Bristol, turning detailed presentations and jargon-heavy industry updates into jaunty, life-affirming illustrations, whilst also trying to fly the flag for good old humanity in the midst of all the tech.
Ranging from a few minutes to an hour-long workshop, the sessions at each conference require focus, speed, prep and (ideally) a sling for post-event comfort… To keep it fresh, each year I experiment with slightly different techniques, from simple cartoon layouts in 2024 to a combination of cartoon and collage in 2025. This year the theme was ‘storytelling’ so I pushed the cut-out element a little further by promptly tearing up a paperback and collaging like a fool. The result was the best event yet with a great atmosphere and lashings of groovy feedback from various kindly humans…
Below: excerpts from RISCS ’24 at the M Shed
Below: RISCS ’25 at The Bristol Marriot – a chance to hang out the ol’ washing line one more time…
RISCS ’25 – and a chance to broadcast the theme of storytelling with aged paperbacks…
