Sketchnoting is a revolutionary blend of doodling and notetaking that promises to transform the way you capture, process, and retain information. Its process isn’t just about artistry or impressive doodles; a sketchnote is about breaking down complex ideas into visual elements, creating a visual story, and aiding recall and creativity.
Whether you’re a student trying to decode a dense lecture, a professional wading through a sea of meetings, or simply a lifelong learner looking to grasp a new concept, sketchnoting might be the game-changer you’ve been seeking. Learn how sketchnoting is a visual technique that can improve your routines with the article below!

What is Sketchnoting?
Sketchnoting, or visual notetaking, captures information by combining hand-drawn visuals with concisely written text. A sketchnote harnesses the power of visual thinking to simplify complex ideas, improve memory retention, and make learning engaging. By merging doodles with notes, sketchnoting offers a creative and effective way to document and convey information.
What are the Benefits
of Sketchnoting?
In your quest for better ways to capture and understand information, have you considered the transformative power of sketchnoting? Here’s how sketchnoting can revolutionise how you learn and collaborate:
Improve memory
Have you ever noticed how a picture sticks in your mind longer than text? With sketchnoting, you’re not just jotting down words; you’re creating memorable and distinct visual cues. These visual anchors enhance your ability to recall information with remarkable clarity.
Retain information
By actively engaging your linguistic and visual faculties, sketchnoting ensures that your brain processes the information on multiple levels. This dual engagement of a sketchnote helps you retain details more effectively than traditional note taking.
Organise data
Think of sketchnoting as mapping your thoughts. You’ll naturally begin to structure information in a way that flows and makes sense to you, leading to organised and easily accessible notes. This sketchnoting process allows you to view ideas through a fresh, imaginative lens.
Enhance creativity
Sketchnoting isn’t just about reproducing what you hear or read. It’s about interpreting information creatively. As you draw, doodle, and design, you’ll find that you’re not just taking notes—you’re innovating!
Foster collaboration
When you share your sketchnotes with peers or colleagues, you’re not just sharing notes; you’re sharing a visual story. In turn, this can spark meaningful discussions, leading to collaborative insights and a richer understanding of the topic at hand. Your sketchnote becomes a conversation starter, bridging the gap between ideas and understanding.
Where Should You
Use Sketchnoting?
If you’ve been drawn to the idea of sketchnoting and its plethora of benefits, you might be wondering: where exactly can you apply this dynamic technique? Let’s explore some arenas where sketchnoting can be your secret weapon:
Presenting concepts
Incorporating sketchnotes into your presentations can make them more memorable, relatable, and impactful. When conveying a new idea or intricate topic, sketchnoting can be a game-changer to make a complex concept click. By visually mapping out your thoughts, you give your audience a clear, engaging, and easy-to-follow representation of your concept.
Managing projects
Overseeing a project can often feel like juggling a hundred moving parts. With sketchnoting, you can visually map out timelines, responsibilities, and milestones. Not only does a sketchnote offer a bird’s eye view of the entire project, but it also aids in identifying potential challenges and streamlining workflows.
Arranging meetings
Before a meeting, ulitise sketchnoting to list the main discussion points, objectives, and expected outcomes. During the meeting, continue to sketchnote critical takeaways and action items. This approach not only keeps the meeting on track but also ensures that everyone leaves the meeting with a clear understanding of the discussions and next steps. Your visually structured notes can become a beacon of clarity amidst the usual post-meeting confusion.
How To Sketchnote in 3 Easy Steps
With its myriad benefits, sketchnoting can be daunting for many. However, the art of sketchnoting, while vast and expansive, can be initiated with a few simple steps. Here’s a quick guide to get you sketchnoting like a pro in no time:
1. Highlight your main idea
Before diving into the intricacies, identify the core concept or topic your sketchnote addresses. Place this central idea in the centre of your page, ensuring it’s bold and eye-catching. This centre is your anchor, the foundation from which all your sketchnoting efforts will radiate. Remember, this concept should capture the essence of what you’re trying to convey.
2. List related information
With your central theme in place, begin branching out by sketchnoting down related details, facts, or thoughts extending from your main idea. Maximise symbols, arrows, and doodles to represent relationships, hierarchies, or sequences. Organising related data in a sketchnote helps create a natural flow, guiding your eyes (and brain) effortlessly through the content.
3. Personalise and update
The beauty of sketchnoting lies in its adaptability. As new insights emerge or your understanding evolves, refine your sketchnote. Add colour, tweak designs, or introduce new symbols that resonate with you. The key is to make your sketchnote deeply personal, ensuring every element on the page speaks to you and aids your recall.

Practice Effective Sketchnoting with Ortus Draws
Sketchnoting offers a refreshing departure from traditional note-taking methods, merging the visual and verbal in a harmonious dance of creativity and clarity. While the steps provided offer a starting point, the beauty of sketchnoting lies in its fluidity and personal touch.
As you embark on this journey, remember it’s less about perfecting an art form and more about discovering a tool that speaks to your unique way of processing the world around you. If you’re interested in learning more visual tools like graphic illustration and animated videos, contact our team in Ortus Draws today! Get expert insights and visual services that are sure to bridge the gap between creativity and learning.
Ortus Draws is a team of professional sketchnoting artists who specialise in bridging knowledge and visuals with creative and informative mind maps, video animations, and graphic illustrations. Our illustrations capture the key points of virtual events, webinars, discussions, training material, documentation, blogs and internal meetings. Are you looking for illustrators and animators? Contact us now!