The How and Why of Sketchnotes

All reading, videos and audio materials I give you will be accompanied by a request for a sketchnote, unless otherwise stated.

There is SO MUCH out there on sketchnoting, trust me – you can learn to do it. There are a few reasons why I ask for sketchnotes:

  • You get much higher retention and comprehension if you sketchnote.
  • The practice drawing ideas will serve you well in your career.

If you haven’t done sketchnotes before, do the exercises in The Sketchnote Handbook.

Some hints working with sketchnotes:

  • Only draw key ideas. If you are reading a chapter and try to draw every single sentence, the sketchnote will be 20 pages, and it will take you hours.
  • Photograph or scan your sketchnotes. Make sure you have plenty of light, and that they are focused and oriented correctly. If there are multiple pages, make a PDF.
  • Don’t fret too much over layout. They don’t have to be gorgeous, I just need to be able to look at them and see you understood the material. That said, drawings that artfully communicate deep understanding/engagement with the material tend to earn higher grades.
  • If you must, you can do sketchnotes without drawing. I do expect variations in hierarchy, use of interesting dividers, bullets, etc. See
    How To Sketchnote Without Drawing

Sketchnote Resources