Getting Started with Sketchnotes [1]: Mike Rhode - The Sketchnote Handbook
[a snapshot]
Getting Started Series: A Primer
When I started to imagine this newsletter as a space bringing together [ever-so-aspiring] sketchnoters and anthropologists, I hit a small dilemma: how can folks who [probably] know nothing about the “science of wonder” (as I call anthropology) share space with those who [likely] know nothing about drawing—and vice versa?
To answer, let’s bust a few myths:
Myth 1: There’s actually a vibrant field called “graphic ethnography/anthropology” that combines these worlds. It’s legit, and I’ll gush more (much more) about it later.
Myth 2: Sketchnoting and anthropology do share some core qualities: bounciness (the ability to get creative on the spot) and curiosity (an endless openness to wonder about everything and everyone). They’re natural allies—but getting different practitioners on the same page sometimes feel like a challenge.
Myth 3: Sketchnoting and anthropology are not so much an art as they are an approach: you do it best by doing it over and over again, likely falling apart along the way, reconstituting yourself bit by bit again and again.
Myth 4: Both sketchnoters and anthropologists lean into lifelong learning. But venturing into the other’s field can feel daunting without a good guide (me volunteering here).
And this is how this series of posts, or “snapshots” (rather than the more pompous title “reviews) on “how to get started” came to mind. In this series, I alternate notes for beginners (or eternal returnees like me) in anthropology/ethnography and sketchnoting, including reflections on concepts and methods, books and courses, personal experiments grounded in red carpet gloriousness or charcoal-tumeric-toothpaste kind of fiascos.
Getting Started with Sketchnotes [1]:
Mike Rohde’s The Sketchnote Handbook
Why pick The Sketchnote Handbook?
When I started to think of a selection of materials on sketchnoting that I not only used for my own learning journey but also felt excited to share with the world, Mike Rohde’s “The Sketchnote Handbook” was one of the first to come to mind. I can’t remember exactly how and when I came across it but no doubt an internet rabbit hole on sketchnoting brought the book first and forefront.
While sketchnoting as a practice seems to have been around among designers for a while, Mike Rohde is often acknowledged as the person who coined the term, defining sketchnotes as:
“Rich visual notes created from a mix of handwriting, drawings, hand-lettering, shapes, and visual elements like arrows, boxes, and lines that do not require special drawing skills, but do require to listen and visually synthesize and summarize ideas by using writing and drawing”.
This playful approach to note-taking insidiously grew, as MR puts it, “out of frustration”. A thorough notetaker, he couldn’t stand the sight of lines of words across pages of piled notebooks anymore. It was time for a change, and so were born the sketchnotes. After years of attentive yet joyful practice that would later turn into teaching sketchnoting on a regular basis, MR published a light yet thorough guide into the practice of sketchnoting. His Sketchnote Handbook is now more than 10 years old and remains a classic evergreen in the world of sketchnoting: you can pick it up as a total newbie (like I did) to get an overview of the field and a walk-through on how to go about things, or you can return to it as an eternal dropout-returning-student (that I am) to start over, improve, refine and even regain inspiration.
What does The Sketchnote Handbook offer?
The book is a great step-by-step guide into sketchnoting. It’s an ideal companion if you want to teach sketchnoting to your very own self or use it as a reference in workshops and courses (I have used it in some of my classes where students commit to sketchnoting as a way to break down dense readings and complex ideas).
The book speaks eloquently to the mind and body connection in drawing, the slowing down that occurs in the process, and which therefore allows our thinking to slow down ponder, and filter (an essential quality in sketchnoting). Extremely important point: it reclaims the fun of doodling and liberates you from thinking of it as “an art” in which you haven’t excelled since your golden age of top six years old. It insists that you do not need any skills to get started, or rather, that everyone already possesses those skills. As MR reminds us:
“Kids draw to express ideas. They don’t worry about how perfect their drawings are, as long as their IDEAS are conveyed”.
And THAT is the whole idea of sketchnoting.
Just a teasy flip through overview of The Sketchnote Handbook
How does The Sketchnote Handbook work?
The Handbook is, as the name obviously indicates, quite hands-on and walks you step by step through the process of sketchnoting from preparation (if you intend to do this live in conferences, or lectures…), to layout, fonts, and colors, along with a lot of tips and practice for imagery. You leave the book fully equipped with the knowledge of what sketchnotes are but, as importantly, the possibility of getting started right away all by yourself.
One of my favorite parts of The Handbook is where my 6-year-old self and my fan-girl self get to meet: MR invited a dozen of sketchnoters to contribute to the book to tell why and how they do sketchnotes… through sketchnotes. I find myself spending hours on the couch just going through (and going back to) those sketchnoted self-portraits in which the authors write and draw in their own unique personal style the story of their sketchnoting journeys. It hones on a statement MR makes early in the book that “sketchnoters infuse their own sketchnotes with unique personality” which can really translate into “anyone can be a sketchnoter”. As a reader, this really invites me to grab a pen and try things out: it won’t be great (disclaimer: it still very much isn’t) but Oooooo the fun to be had along the way!!!…….
Just a much less teasy flip through of my studious notes on the book. Note the devoted attempt to work on some of the MR suggested icons for 21 days to create a good habit (no I didn’t spread those 21 days - no I didn’t spread the 21 days weeks apart …………………….)
More? Sure can do!
The Handbook was soon followed by The Sketchnote Workbook which aims not so much to develop the skills in The Handbook (although that will definitely happen if you do commit to the activities there), but rather to apply sketchnoting to a wide range of moments and activities in daily life (I unfortunately lost access to my university library copy and can’t recall all the details, but I do remember that it really does expand the spectrum of possibilities).
In addition, both The Handbook and The Workbook come with video versions (basically MR teaching each book). I really liked having access to both media options and so did my students: you can take a deep dive into the books and later play the videos as “refreshers” or as “do it alone” companions.
Lastly, MR created The Sketchnote Army Podcast which features conversations with sketchnoters from various fields and places. I have to be honest, this is something I really want to try but haven’t yet because I don’t know where to start: it’s 160+ episodes over 15 seasons!! A whole sketchnoting audio encyclopedia! So if you have tuned in and want to recommend an episode, I’ll take the rec (or: I know… I can just get started already!).
In the meantime, if you just want to dip your fingers in the ink of MR’s sketchnoting approach, you can check this YT 30mns Sketchnotes Mini Workshop covering all the basics, or check his Substack newsletter. And since I have yet to get cozy and read through it, how about I go do that now and put a final dot to this post right here?
Hope you enjoy this new series, let me know what you think!
I hope you enjoyed this reading. If you have comments or questions please feel free to leave them here, this page will feel less lonely! 👯
If you want to read more stories like this and learn about all things sketchnotes and all things anthropology, subscribe to The Sketchy Anthropologist, clicking sends a world of encouragements my way! 🙏
If you enjoyed this post you might enjoy more! Follow me on substack notes in the upcoming days and weeks to see frequent (dare I say daily?!!) snippets of my very own #inktoberwhenever.
And here are a few things to read if you dig this newsletter! (I sure hope you do!)
About me (in case you want to know the actual human behind all this, and see a few sketchnotes inspired by my favorite illustrators)
Why (aspiring) anthropologists should get cozy with sketchnotes?
Why (aspiring) sketchnoters should get cozy with anthropology?
#inktoberwhenever: How to Draw a Backpack (when you can’t start a drawing challenge on time but still have a few thoughts on backpacks as homes for day 1!)
Emiko, I’m so honored to have you begin this series with my book! Thanks for sharing your story and experience here because it’s always fascinating to see the sketchnoter’s perspective of experiencing my book and my work that followed.
Most of all I love that today I learned that anthropologists are natural allies for sketchnoting. It makes so much sense that a profession marked by observation and documentation would be ideal sketchnoters.
Thank you! I can’t wait to read the entire series.
Something I have come realised lately is that most anthropologists I know are very tactile note takers. They have journals, walls of post-its, physical copies of books and journals that have been scribbled on. I have always been more tech reliant as I am a person perpetually running out of time and typing is faster than writing. But I think what Mike said below makes sense. Sketchnoting and anthropology are natural allies for all the reasons he said, but also that the act of handwriting and sketching allows time for ideas and connections to coalesce. It is something I am aiming to do more of now that I am not currently studying and working to my own schedule.