Sketchnote Lab Dispatch: February 2025
Five cool things, February Sketchnote Lab Live on Thumbnails, What Makes This Sketchnote Tick Replay & YouTube Video, in-person workshop, ISC25UK in Birmingham, and a list of the month’s posts.
Hey Lab Members! Welcome to February’s edition of the Dispatch.
I’ve enjoyed publishing articles and running monthly Live Labs at Sketchnote Lab. Thank you to the new subscribers and Paid Lab Members who allow me to focus on this area! I have lots to share in this month’s Dispatch, so let’s get to it.
What’s in this issue?
Five cool things to share with you.
Sketchnote Lab Live Workshop on thumbnail sketches, February 22.
What Makes This Sketchnote Tick? Live Lab Replay & YouTube Video.
In-person Sketchnote Workshop for educators, March 12.
International Sketchnote Camp in Birmingham, UK, July 4-6.
Sketchnote Lab posts from the past month.
Custom Sketchnote Workshops so your team can learn sketchnoting.
Five Cool Things
❥ 1. How to make your comics clearer and smoother (2 videos) - Check out these fantastic videos from Drewscape’s Andrew Tan on improving your comics. Also great for enhancing your sketchnotes! Watch Part 1 and Part 2.
❥ 2. How to start and keep an illustrated journal - shares excellent ideas for creating and, more importantly, maintaining an illustrated journal! This is especially useful as you prepare for summer trips.
❥ 3. Three ways drawing enhances problem-solving - Design strategist shares his insights on how drawing can improve your problem-solving with clarity and understanding.
❥ 4. How Sketching Helps Me Develop Ideas - Matt West from Automattic describes how he uses sketching to help capture and develop ideas.
❥ 5. Want to give a great presentation? Use ugly sketches - This Fantastic video from Martin Eppler reminds us that ugly sketches get the job done!
What Makes This Sketchnote Tick? Live Lab Replay and YouTube Video
January’s Live Lab featured me deconstructing the work of sketchnoter Professor in a live, 1-hour session. If you’re a Lab Member, you can watch the full replay, and anyone can see the new YouTube video I created with the first of two deconstructed sketchnotes from that session:
Sketchnote Lab Live for February: Thumbnail Sketching Workshop
On Saturday, February 22nd, I'll lead a Sketchnote Lab Live workshop on creating thumbnail sketches! I would love you to join me.
Subscribers get access to the event where I will show in detail how I use thumbnails in my work and will break into small groups to do thumbnailing together to give it a try. It’s going to be valuable and fun!
If you're not a subscriber yet, this is your opportunity to be part of this fun event.
Sketchnote Workshop for Educators
You can sign up for this one-day, in-person Sketchnote Workshop for educators on March 12, 2025, in Fennimore, Wisconsin. This Sketchnote Workshop for educators is designed to develop and strengthen your visual thinking abilities.
You learn how to create sketchnotes and build strategies for teaching it to students and integrate it into your classroom and curriculum. $250 for the all-day workshop!
International Sketchnote Camp: Birmingham, England July 4-6, 2025
Wooohoo! I’m keynoting the 8th International Sketchnote Camp in Birmingham, England, and I would love for you to join me and the vibrant sketchnoting community for this event. It’s the highlight of each year to attend!
Event Highlights
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your visual thinking journey, there’s something for everyone:
Networking: Connect with over 200 participants from around the world. Exchange ideas, share stories, and make lasting professional connections.
Talks: Get inspired by leading voices in sketchnoting, visual facilitation, and creative collaboration.
Mini Workshops: Hone your skills through hands-on sessions tailored to every level, from beginner to expert.
Community Spirit: Immerse yourself in the warm, inclusive ISC atmosphere—where creativity thrives and ideas come to life.
Evening Entertainment: Get your dancing shoes on for fun evening entertainment and celebrate the creative spirit!
ISC25 will take place from July 4th to 6th, 2025, at the Aston University Students’ Union in Birmingham, UK. This vibrant city is perfectly located for a truly unique and engaging event.
Tickets are £300 for the entire weekend. Tickets are selling fast, and onsite hotel accommodation spaces are limited, so reserve yours today! Follow event organizers Paddy and Grant on Instagram and LinkedIn for regular updates.
Last Month’s Sketchnote Lab Posts
Here’s what’s been happening at Sketchnote Lab since last month:
As a Paid Lab Member, you’ll support my work, have a 15-minute Zoom call with me, and have access to all Live Labs and recorded replays. Become a Paid Lab Member:
Custom Sketchnote Workshops
I love teaching teams like yours how to think visually and sketch simply with Custom Sketchnote Workshops.
I've presented workshops at schools: Drexel University, Marquette University, and The University of Michigan; Anne Arundel, New York City, and Fresno school districts.
I’ve also presented workshops for teams at SmugMug/Flickr, Hubspot, Northwestern Mutual, Johnson Controls, Dentsu Creative, and Sibley Memorial Hospital.
I’d love to teach your team, too. Let’s talk!
Thanks again for the chance to share something fun in your inbox!
— Mike
Sketchnote Lab is Mike Rohde’s space designed to bridge the gap between sketchnote theory and practice. The goal is to guide you in integrating sketchnoting into your everyday life. Learn more about Sketchnote Lab.
Mike is the author of The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, bestselling books that teach regular people how to start and keep sketchnoting.
He founded the Sketchnote Army and hosts the Sketchnote Army Podcast, where he interviews visual thinkers to understand what makes them tick.
Mike offers recorded, live, and in-person workshops to help accelerate your sketchnoting practice and coaching for personalized, 1:1 sketchnoting guidance.
Become a paid Lab Member to support Mike’s work.