| Authors: | Jennifer Hartnett-Henderson |
|---|---|
| Time: | 11:40 |
| Session: | http://docs.writethedocs.org/en/2013/conference/talks.html#jennifer-hartnett-henderson |
| Link: |
Sketchnotes are rich visual notes created from a mix of handwriting, drawings, hand-drawn typography, shapes, and other visual elements. Hartnett-Henderson is here talking about sketchnotes because she’s one person with multiple careers: her day job is a strategist, and she’s also an artist working in photography. Finding balance between the two has been really difficult: either looking for a paying job while doing art, or having a job and leaving the art aside. So sketchnotes have been a way to bring her artistic life into her day job.
Sketchnotes work because they code information in both images and words: by encoding in two different ways (“dual coding”), it’s easier for people to comprehend and absorb.
Sketchnotes aren’t art, so don’t worry if you’ve had a traumatic art experience [ha ha]: they’re images in service of information. You only need to be able to draw simple geometric shapes to create sketchnotes.
Resources: Mike Rohde’s “Sketchbook Handbook” (especially the video edition) is useful for getting started. Eva-Lotta Lamm is paid to attend conferences to sketch, and publishes her sketches annually.
Tools: Tools are a distraction, so pen and paper are great. Some apps like Paper by FiftyThree are good, as well.