Friday, May 10, 2019

Book Review: The Art of Visual Notetaking

When I take notes, it's a wall of text; periodically, I'll see pictures shared of others who create this visually appealing record of a meeting, filled with images that complement the text. We have the same information, but mine is harder to navigate.

Enter the new book The Art of Visual Notetaking. In it, Emily Mills shares her insights in how to gain the ability to take visual notes. She stresses the purpose of visual notetaking is to present information in a way that encourages retention.

Mills sprinkles the text with regular illustrations to convey points. She recognizes most might feel intimidated by their lack of drawing ability, so she offers drawing advice and exercises. Every step of the process is covered, from possible layouts to selection of writing utensils to steps that can be done in advance and how and when to add color and depth. There are even suggestions for individuals who may want to take visual notes professionally, as she does.

In addition to giving exercises to practice the various techniques of visual note taking, Mills also offers practical suggestions for getting experience in a low-pressure environment, including taking written notes from a previous conference or talk and converting them to incorporate visuals, as well as watching a youtube video like a Ted talk to allow opportunities to create content as it's being delivered.

I went from thinking I could never be able to take visual notes to finding scenarios in which I want to attempt it, based on the guidance Mills offers. For instance, I imagine playing around with visual notes when it comes to my reading log - cataloging highlights of a book with a notable quote or two, author or genre information, and my impressions. For those who bullet journal, I imagine these concepts would translate well to travel or journal spreads.

This practical book is a useful resource to those who are inexperienced but motivated to learn the skill of visual notetaking.

(I received a digital ARC from Quarto Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

No comments: