VisualizeIT: Learn To Sketch & Sketch To Learn

Abstract:
Creativity enhances communication and builds meaningful connections that will help us consume, retain, and recall, information better. This is the core premise and message behind “VisualizeIT” – a talk that is meant to motivate you to think about visual storytelling in tech contexts, not just to make complex technology concepts feel more familiar, but to enhance the learning journey for the 65% of us who are visual learners.

In this talk, we’ll look at my visual storytelling journey from two perspectives: “learn to sketch” focused on a simple toolkit to get you started on visual note-taking, and “sketch to learn” focused on examples of how the toolkit can be used to improve our written and spoken communications, while also combining fun with functionality.

Video:
https://youtu.be/bKKWThZdg1g?t=4357

Presented at Boston GoLang: https://www.meetup.com/bostongo/events/276777963/

Transcript

1. Nitya Narasimhan | @nitya https://cloud-skills.dev | @sketchthedocs
2. @nitya | @sketchthedocs
3. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Using a Visual Vocabulary To Communicate Complex Ideas To Assist With Understanding, Retention, and Recall @nitya | @sketchthedocs
4. @SketchTheDocs @nitya We all process information differently 2 out of 3 humans learn visually Our brains absorb spatial & visual information faster, detecting patterns, making connections improving retention From: "How to Spot Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic Learning Executives..", Inc Online @nitya | @sketchthedocs
5. @SketchTheDocs @nitya From: "How Sketcnoting Can Help with Zoom Fatigue - Student Agency and Building Relationships', Inc Online @nitya | @sketchthedocs
6. @SketchTheDocs @nitya To Journaling evolved to a way of capturing key memories From Self-Care drawing helped me cope with anxiety and stress To Tech Storytelling visualizing technology to grow awareness, understanding & recall @nitya | @sketchthedocs
7. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Visual Storytelling apply your skills to other areas (public speaking), learn from community Sketchnoting 101 jumpstart your journey by building your visual toolkit for note-taking Visual Messaging visualizing key takeaways for attention and recall Personal Branding visualizing people's stories for better engagement
8. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Rapid Note-taking Visual Capture of Ideas Information Summarization & Synthesis @nitya | @sketchthedocs
9. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Rapid Note-taking Visual Capture of Ideas Information Summarization & Synthesis Explain Metaphorically (analogies) Connect Emotionally (anthropomorphism) Visualize Consistently (vocabularies) @nitya | @sketchthedocs
10. @SketchTheDocs @nitya @nitya | @sketchthedocs
11. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Rediscover the joy of doodling making visual marks will help you think and increases your focus Without lifting your pen, doodle a line over and around, crisscrossing in many places. Color or pattern enclosed areas. How did that feel? @nitya | @sketchthedocs
12. @SketchTheDocs @nitya FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS Typography & Imagery Colors & Composition @nitya | @sketchthedocs
13. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Font types for visual interest Font sizes for hierarchy Fast for capture, Slow for clarity FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS @nitya | @sketchthedocs
14. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Listen with intent for takeaways Look for repetitions Select for emotional resonance FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS @nitya | @sketchthedocs
15. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Start with simple figures Then practice poses & faces Make a cheat sheet! FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS @nitya | @sketchthedocs
16. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Just enough to be recognizable Focus on familiar + reusable Inspiration: Noun-Project! FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS @nitya | @sketchthedocs
17. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Focus on composition + clarity Group ideas, create boundaries Cultivate whimsy FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS Credit: Getting Started With Sketchnoting | Michele Ide-Smith @nitya | @sketchthedocs
18. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Think about how the information is being shared – and consumed ex: book, webpage, workflow, tabular FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS @nitya | @sketchthedocs
19. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Help users navigate visually Use familiar signals (arrows, maps, trails) FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS @nitya | @sketchthedocs
20. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Create visual separation Create contextual connection Think about accessibility FONTS QUOTES PEOPLE ICONS CONTAINERS LAYOUTS DIRECTION COLORS @nitya | @sketchthedocs
21. @SketchTheDocs @nitya
22. @SketchTheDocs @nitya https://twitter.com/arunulag/status/1335990361768902656 @nitya | @sketchthedocs
23. @SketchTheDocs @nitya https://twitter.com/nitya/status/1351765213796851712 Share in near-real time Reinforce team messaging @nitya | @sketchthedocs
24. @SketchTheDocs @nitya @nitya | @sketchthedocs
25. @SketchTheDocs @nitya @nitya | @sketchthedocs https://aka.ms/visual-azure-cmu-elasticity
26. @SketchTheDocs @nitya Summarize content in 8 cells (on a single page) Paper or Digital Templates (speed up execution) @nitya | @sketchthedocs
27. @SketchTheDocs @nitya @nitya | @sketchthedocs
28. @SketchTheDocs @nitya https://cloud-skills.dev https://dev.to/t/visualizeit Free, 6-part online workshop series (skill yourself up!) Repository of tech sketchnotes (contributions welcome!) @nitya | @sketchthedocs
29. @SketchTheDocs @nitya On Creativity | Austin Kleon Letters, Maps, Processes Eva-Lotta Lamm Sketchnoting Ideas Denise Yu | Anthropomorphism Maggie Appleton Visual Metaphors Mike Rohde | #SketchnoteArmy @nitya | @sketchthedocs
30. @SketchTheDocs @nitya
31. @SketchTheDocs @nitya • Capture – relevant content • Compose – information flow • Condense – messaging to fit • Clarity & Creativity – refactor • Communicate – to audience
32. @SketchTheDocs @nitya https://aka.ms/visual/golang-learn Follow @sketchthedocs Or watch @LearnTV Thu @1:30pm ET
33. @SketchTheDocs @nitya SUMMARY • What = Communicate ideas • Why = To Learn, To Teach • Who = Anyone (no artistry) • How = Toolkits & Practice STORYTELLING • Convey ideas or information • Foster deeper connection • Motivate audience action • Empower their imagination!
34. Nitya Narasimhan | @nitya https://cloud-skills.dev | @sketchthedocs