03 Dec How can sketchnoting help me at work?

Sketchnoting is a visual form of note-taking, building upon creativity and illustrations. It is a highly unrestrictive form of note-taking, encompassing drawings, obscure lettering, colours, arrows, boxes and more.

Sketchnoting is an effective, versatile and fun note-taking system, which is why it’s being used more frequently within business environments. It can help you engage with meetings and better retain information – especially if you prefer a visual learning style.

What are the benefits of sketchnoting?

Drawing and annotating key concepts ensures you can make a better connection with your content, as opposed to just writing or typing mindlessly. Sketched notes provide a more visual representation – they are memorable and you may be more inclined to revisit them at a later date.

Non-linear note-taking allows you to arrange things in ways that make sense to you personally, meaning you can go back and further enhance key points; you are not limited to the confines of an A4 lined piece of paper.

Notes of this kind are appealing to the eye. Because of this, sketchnoting can be a social activity and a good point of conversation. Research suggests that the best way to learn or remember key concepts is to explain or discuss them with someone else – sketchnoting provides you with the perfect opportunity to do so.

Post-it Notes: the perfect tool for sketchnoting

Taking notes on individual Post-its is useful when sketchnoting. These Post-its can be arranged easily on a larger piece of paper to create a finalised sketchnote. This makes your notes more interactive, as they are not stuck down permanently on a page. They can also be colour-coded to categorise different points as in the example shown below. 

If you want to sketchnote on a grander scale, try using a large blank wall as a canvas for your ideas – paste your Post-it Notes up where everyone can see, to encourage discussion and further collaboration.

Take a look at this Vine for a great example of sketchnoting with a NoteShel. 

You don’t have to be artistic

It’s a commonly perceived misconception that you need to be an artist to sketchnote successfully. Wrong. You don’t need a degree in Fine Art to benefit from sketchnoting – anyone can draw, and these drawings don’t necessarily have to be artistic. As long as your drawings make sense to you personally, you are likely to benefit.

Sketchnoting inspiration may hit you at anytime. It’s therefore important that you have the right tools for the job. Our stylish Post-it Note holder and pen is the perfect portable note-taking solution. Sketchnote to your heart’s content wherever you may be, and try out the above Post-it technique for yourself.

Read more:

Find a note-taking system that works for you

Seven ways to achieve business brilliance through brainstorming