It's a pleasure to make it here. The rest look like the work of alchemists or gnostics of a Mayan warrior. If aliens find them they'll have much to think about, my napkin notes will prob be toilet paper ;) thank you
What an eclectic selection of notes! It is amazing the different styles people use. Some of these would never work for me as my head couldn't grasp them but that is why they are so wonderful and so personal! I love seeing all of these.
Great post Jillian! Thank you so much for including my 'notes'. I really loved the visual look of Lee's notes - what is he saying? I have no idea. Subscribe to my substack; https://www.touchonian.com/
Thanks, Cecil. My notes are often made during conferences, lectures and presentations. The images are of notes made during three different presentations; a Norwegian Risograph Conference organised by the Norwegian Riso Association, an academic conference focussing on practice-based research and an online lecture by designer Craig Oldham, part of a Design Dialogues Lecture Series.
So fun to see my note-taking method included in this fascinating list! I used to take for granted my habit of reading with a pen or pencil in my hand, but now that I have seen both of my children receive instruction on how to take notes in school, I realize that taking notes is a skill that can be studied and learned. Some of the other note-takers in this list have elevated it to an art! I look forward to sharing this post with my kids to show them that there's more than one way to take notes.
I feel very strongly that the best note-taking methods are the ones we develop ourselves. Still, we often need a foundation to work with. The best note-takers of the 19th century all started off using Locke’s very prescriptive method and then broke free and developed their own methods in their early 20s (Emerson did this). So I bet your kids will find their own methods when the time is right:)
I was so happy to include you, Sarah. And I'm excited to hear that your kids are learning note-taking in school. I honestly can't remember being taught (perhaps I was, but it didn't stick).
Me either! I think this is a new development. It’s cool in some ways—my daughter is proud of her neat numbered outlines. But I worry sometimes that it’s too prescriptive. My son’s history teacher has them take such detailed notes, it’s more like a summary of the text. I hope they develop their own methods over time.
My background is in mathematics, so my main focus on "thinking on paper" has to do with problem solving.
- What happens when we combine specific layouts and representation types (like mind mapping, or indented text, or diagrams) with explicit thinking tools (like collecting questions and finding answers to the most interesting ones, or using stimuli to generate ideas, or dividing a problem into smaller parts)?
- What happens when we form "units of thinking", for example by using 3 x 3 small boxes on an A4 sheet, and then move from box to box?
- What happens when we form a "dialogue" between a) boxes with forward thinking and b) boxes of reflective thinking?
- What "engines of thinking" (written collections of useful layouts, practices, thinking tools) can help us to speed up the co-evolution between us and our methods for thinking on paper?
Very interesting questions here. I use mindmaps to ideate and also for diving a problem into smaller parts. The grid method you have suggested also gives a lot of clarity. It could be the second level of development and analysis of ideas after mind maps.
I see a lot of lateral thinking here. These questions are really intriguing.
As an architect, one deals with many aspects of built environment like climate, context, function, form, materiality and so on. I use mind maps to analyse the existing information around these and come up with linkages and design solutions once these are analysed. Mind maps help me club details of different aspects together. I usually pour out everything into one or more mind maps and come back to it after a while with a clear head. Then use coloured pens or highlighters to build connections, or track emerging patterns. This process usually leads to possible design approaches.
These work very well on blackboards as there is more space and freedom to express. Use this a lot in discussions with students.
Thank you for these insights. Teachers that have the skills and the courage to make thinking processes much more transparent - the world could use more of that.
From online visits I have some superficial impressions of Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus, Newton's Waste Book, Darwin's notebooks, and I cannot even guess the volumes of profound insights created while people were interacting with a canvas - from Archimedes' sand drawings to the whiteboard sketches in Demis Hassabis' DeepMind offices.
And I wonder why we do not have much more emphasis in education on practices of "thinking on paper" in all its forms, by using it and by actually teaching it.
(PS. I'm thoroughly unimpressed by Rodin's Thinker statue with its complete absence of mind extensions. Resting your chin on your hand is arguably not the most productive way to create great ideas.)
Jillian, the variety of note-taking methods that you chronicle here is breathtaking, liberating, and above all inspiring. So much formal learning is prescriptive and disciplined; here we see learning unleashed! Maybe your next 30-day challenge for us could be a cross-fertilization festival, where each participant commits to trying out a different style of notetaking each day, from Jungian mandalas to runaway marginalia. What a fun way that would be to challenge (and change?) our habitual modes of thinking!
I love seeing so many different examples of notes. It gives me permission to use my notebooks (or lack thereof) the way I want to, and to not apologize for it, while also spurring me on to greater depths of thinking and creating.
I love ALL of this. In my journaling workshop one of the exercises we do is a mind map, so it's exciting to see how some people do this naturally just in the course of "taking notes". One thing I've loved seeing from the moment I started reading Noted is the endlessly different ways that people express themselves on the page. It will never cease to fascinate me!
I feel the same way, B.A. --just endless fascination. And I can imagine your students get a lot out of learning about mind maps from you. Looking forward to featuring you soon! (Probably in the next anniversary edition!)
I love Minaz’s mindmaps, I want to try Stephanie’s text rendering exercise, and I agree with Lee - I find it easier to recall and identify things in my notes when they’re visual - much more effective than trying to swim through loads of paragraphs!
I adore Allen's book. And, I've just had the opportunity to meet him and interview him on his note-taking habits. So now I also adore Allen, the person. All of this is to say, I'll be featuring him on here soon.
Oh my, I should have guessed you’ve perused his work on the notebook. What a great privilege to meet the man himself. I got to know him through that wonderful historical tour of the notebook.
It's a pleasure to make it here. The rest look like the work of alchemists or gnostics of a Mayan warrior. If aliens find them they'll have much to think about, my napkin notes will prob be toilet paper ;) thank you
Haha! I don't know...I imagine your napkin notes could hold some secret, long-lost alchemical recipe.
What an eclectic selection of notes! It is amazing the different styles people use. Some of these would never work for me as my head couldn't grasp them but that is why they are so wonderful and so personal! I love seeing all of these.
The variety of notes never ceases to amaze me. There are just so many ways to take great notes.
Great post Jillian! Thank you so much for including my 'notes'. I really loved the visual look of Lee's notes - what is he saying? I have no idea. Subscribe to my substack; https://www.touchonian.com/
Ha--the cryptic nature of notes always fascinates me. Thank you for contributing your fascinating take on notes. I really love your approach.
Thanks, Cecil. My notes are often made during conferences, lectures and presentations. The images are of notes made during three different presentations; a Norwegian Risograph Conference organised by the Norwegian Riso Association, an academic conference focussing on practice-based research and an online lecture by designer Craig Oldham, part of a Design Dialogues Lecture Series.
That's interesting Lee and makes sense! Lecture notes. Very cool. They are visually interesting enough to frame up the pages and have an exhibition.
So fun to see my note-taking method included in this fascinating list! I used to take for granted my habit of reading with a pen or pencil in my hand, but now that I have seen both of my children receive instruction on how to take notes in school, I realize that taking notes is a skill that can be studied and learned. Some of the other note-takers in this list have elevated it to an art! I look forward to sharing this post with my kids to show them that there's more than one way to take notes.
I feel very strongly that the best note-taking methods are the ones we develop ourselves. Still, we often need a foundation to work with. The best note-takers of the 19th century all started off using Locke’s very prescriptive method and then broke free and developed their own methods in their early 20s (Emerson did this). So I bet your kids will find their own methods when the time is right:)
I was so happy to include you, Sarah. And I'm excited to hear that your kids are learning note-taking in school. I honestly can't remember being taught (perhaps I was, but it didn't stick).
Me either! I think this is a new development. It’s cool in some ways—my daughter is proud of her neat numbered outlines. But I worry sometimes that it’s too prescriptive. My son’s history teacher has them take such detailed notes, it’s more like a summary of the text. I hope they develop their own methods over time.
Lee Shearman’s notes are remarkable. Art.
Oh, I know! Artists are really remarkable note-designers.
I’m very jealous. Tidy handwriting is one thing but this is next level.
I think your notes are gorgeous too. I would recognize them even if your name wasn't attached.
Very kind, Jillian, thank you 💛
Here are some questions I have experimented with.
My background is in mathematics, so my main focus on "thinking on paper" has to do with problem solving.
- What happens when we combine specific layouts and representation types (like mind mapping, or indented text, or diagrams) with explicit thinking tools (like collecting questions and finding answers to the most interesting ones, or using stimuli to generate ideas, or dividing a problem into smaller parts)?
- What happens when we form "units of thinking", for example by using 3 x 3 small boxes on an A4 sheet, and then move from box to box?
- What happens when we form a "dialogue" between a) boxes with forward thinking and b) boxes of reflective thinking?
- What "engines of thinking" (written collections of useful layouts, practices, thinking tools) can help us to speed up the co-evolution between us and our methods for thinking on paper?
Very interesting questions here. I use mindmaps to ideate and also for diving a problem into smaller parts. The grid method you have suggested also gives a lot of clarity. It could be the second level of development and analysis of ideas after mind maps.
Can you share some of your experiences with ideation practices?
Some of the most interesting experiments I've done over the last couple of months focus on "visual" stimuli for ideation on a topic:
- How could it make sense when placed on a geographical map?
- How could it make sense when placed on a timeline?
- How could a Gapminder visualisation (Hans Rosling) look like?
- How could it look in a fancy Virtual Reality app?
- How could a Christopher Nolan scene about this look like?
I'm bad at drawing, so in most cases I have to work with verbal descriptions of mental images.
I see a lot of lateral thinking here. These questions are really intriguing.
As an architect, one deals with many aspects of built environment like climate, context, function, form, materiality and so on. I use mind maps to analyse the existing information around these and come up with linkages and design solutions once these are analysed. Mind maps help me club details of different aspects together. I usually pour out everything into one or more mind maps and come back to it after a while with a clear head. Then use coloured pens or highlighters to build connections, or track emerging patterns. This process usually leads to possible design approaches.
These work very well on blackboards as there is more space and freedom to express. Use this a lot in discussions with students.
Thank you for these insights. Teachers that have the skills and the courage to make thinking processes much more transparent - the world could use more of that.
From online visits I have some superficial impressions of Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus, Newton's Waste Book, Darwin's notebooks, and I cannot even guess the volumes of profound insights created while people were interacting with a canvas - from Archimedes' sand drawings to the whiteboard sketches in Demis Hassabis' DeepMind offices.
And I wonder why we do not have much more emphasis in education on practices of "thinking on paper" in all its forms, by using it and by actually teaching it.
(PS. I'm thoroughly unimpressed by Rodin's Thinker statue with its complete absence of mind extensions. Resting your chin on your hand is arguably not the most productive way to create great ideas.)
What different styles! Lee Shearman's notes are so interesting and also aesthetic. I would try it, at least for artistic purposes.
Please do try it and then let us know how it goes!
Jillian, the variety of note-taking methods that you chronicle here is breathtaking, liberating, and above all inspiring. So much formal learning is prescriptive and disciplined; here we see learning unleashed! Maybe your next 30-day challenge for us could be a cross-fertilization festival, where each participant commits to trying out a different style of notetaking each day, from Jungian mandalas to runaway marginalia. What a fun way that would be to challenge (and change?) our habitual modes of thinking!
Oh, thank you, Helen. What a wonderful idea!
I love seeing so many different examples of notes. It gives me permission to use my notebooks (or lack thereof) the way I want to, and to not apologize for it, while also spurring me on to greater depths of thinking and creating.
I also find it so inspiring. There are no limits!
Thank you so much for sharing my notes! I love using sketchnotes to help me create and plan in a fun and more joyful way!
Thank you for sharing your sketchnotes--such a fun process!
I love ALL of this. In my journaling workshop one of the exercises we do is a mind map, so it's exciting to see how some people do this naturally just in the course of "taking notes". One thing I've loved seeing from the moment I started reading Noted is the endlessly different ways that people express themselves on the page. It will never cease to fascinate me!
I feel the same way, B.A. --just endless fascination. And I can imagine your students get a lot out of learning about mind maps from you. Looking forward to featuring you soon! (Probably in the next anniversary edition!)
Woot woot! Thanks Jillian! ❤️🔥
Beautiful, all of them!
I think so too!
I love Minaz’s mindmaps, I want to try Stephanie’s text rendering exercise, and I agree with Lee - I find it easier to recall and identify things in my notes when they’re visual - much more effective than trying to swim through loads of paragraphs!
I am not at all surprised to hear that you'd prefer visuals to paragraphs of text, Ed!
A rich piece. Will take a few readings to unpack.
If you or your readers haven’t read Roland Allen’s masterful, The Notebook, A History of Thinking on Paper, I highly recommend it.
You meet so many different and distant people, in their own words, lists, and pictures including a small sketch Rembrandt did of his wife.
I adore Allen's book. And, I've just had the opportunity to meet him and interview him on his note-taking habits. So now I also adore Allen, the person. All of this is to say, I'll be featuring him on here soon.
Oh my, I should have guessed you’ve perused his work on the notebook. What a great privilege to meet the man himself. I got to know him through that wonderful historical tour of the notebook.
Totally fascinating and fun to read. Now I have an urge to dig through my old notebooks, but I fear I’ll find them dull by comparison. Great column!
Oh, I'm sure your notes are not dull at all. We all take notes differently--that's all part of the magic!
Who would guess that notes could be so diverse, eclectic, and fascinating! Well done on showing us all this glimpse into others’ minds!!
Thank you, Kathy! I didn't realize you had a substack, or I would have linked to it in the original post. I'll add it in now.