World Sketchnote Week 2026: My Personal Journal
Some visual notes from the few sessions that I could attend as part of World Sketchnotes Week
World Sketchnote Week happened online Jan. 12-17, 2026 thanks to Ashton Rodenhiser and friends.
Especially of interest for those of you in Houston who peek over my shoulder while I am scribbling in my Leuchtturm 1917 notebook with a Lamy Safari pen. 📕 🖋️ 👀
Zhuzh Up Your Handwriting
For me, the week started with master calligrapher and handwriting expert Heather Martinez.
After studying with master sign painters, graffiti artists, and calligraphers—which she continues to do today—she decided to translate what she learned to teach other visual practitioners the tradecraft of breaking down any lettering styles into the tools we use when leading from the front of the room.
Heather emphasizes:
“Our handwriting shapes the voice of our sketchnotes — it’s how our ideas speak on the page.“
In this session, we built up from the basics to quickly improve, integrate, and elevate our natural handwriting so it becomes both functional and fun.
While also learning some fun typography terms, like tittle. (The dot of an “i“ :-)
Mirror, Mirror, on the Napkin: What Visual AI Reveals About Us
In this electrifying session with Dan Roam, we traveled from the 1850s with Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage, and the first analytical machine to energy-slurping data centers. He asks:
“How might Sketchnoters, Visual Thinkers, and Graphic Recorders
reframe AI as a mirror of ourselves?”
🧠 🤖
The author of many books on thinking and drawing, Dan demonstrated how he uses Midjourney as a collaborative tool for image-making, storytelling, and problem-solving with humans.
Even with all of the concerns about Gen AI, he laid down Four Principles for us to consider:
I. Steal with honor.
II. Add your own soul.
III. Become irreplaceable.
IV. Dream BIG and generate with intention.
Draw Your Future: How a Simple Picture Will Change Everything
Speaker, actor, facilitator, and strategist, Patti Dobrowolski says:
“Imagination is the path forward; your drawing is a portal to your future!“
This high-energy session was a process for drawing out your future—and identifying 3 bold steps towards your future reality. (BTW, I am still trying to decide on my 3rd one. 😳)
Sketchnotes in the Classroom: Teaching and Learning
Lavanya Reddy is an IB MYP Math and Design educator, a visual thinker, and a sketchnoter in India.
Her session highlighted simple ways teachers can begin incorporating sketchnoting across subjects to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and joyful learning.
When I first started teaching at age 21, we were in conditions where textbooks were rare and very expensive. Although I had gone to art school, I was teaching English without any training.
I was teaching children in after-school programs without much funding. So, I had them draw and build their own “textbooks“ using doodles, collage… anything! It was a 16-year-old student of mine who introduced me to Tony Buzan's mind mapping.
I was blown away and exclaimed: “Why didn’t they teach ME this in school!?!?“
Kids usually don't need to be taught how to “do sketchnotes,“ only given permission, guidance, and some structure.
BIG THANK YOU to Ashton Rodenhiser and team for making this week open, accessible, and affordable... especially for educators and students who want to practice visual thinking!
