I used to be a big doodler — all over the production schedule in staff meetings, on the message pad by my phone, around the edges of the crossword.
Lately it seems I rarely have pen and paper in hand. All of my schedules are virtual. Phone calls have become texts. I read the news online, so no more newspaper.
I miss it, actually, and when I came across this Ted talk, I realized I should be making time for these random little drawings. Unlike the traditional definition of the word, Sunni Brown defines doodling as making spontaneous marks to help yourself think. That’s because doodling:
- affects how we process information
- helps us retain information better
- affects how we solve problems
- helps us from losing focus
Some of my favorite doodlers are:
- Ed Emberley: my daughter is a fan of his thumbprint books
- Austin Kleon: I love his blackout poems
- Jenny Doh: her instagram feed is filled with doodling/drawing/painting inspiration
more (with videos):
What we learn from doodles by Sunni Brown
Fast Company Most Creative People: Sunni Brown
InfoDoodler Showcase reader-submitted doodles
