The Power of the Doodle

A few weeks ago I included Dan Roam’s book Back of the Napkin as a class text meant to spur the students to use doodles in their driving change work.

This week a friend sent me this video by Sunni Brown (5:51) where she discusses the value of doodling in the workplace. I love her new definition of a doodle: to make spontaneous marks to help yourself think. I also treasure her assertion that when information density is high and the need to process that information is also high, you should turn to a doodle to communicate the message. I have found doodles to be a great tool for sharing ideas. If you haven’t discovered the power of doodles yet, check out Sunni’s video or if you’re really intrigued, pick up a copy of Roam’s book. It’s worth your time.

2 thoughts on “The Power of the Doodle”

  1. Yes, yes, yes. Very well done, lady!

    I’ve always doodled. I used to say, if I was to be stuck in a place for a long time with nothing to do, just give me a pad of graph paper and a handful of pencils and I’ll be happy.

    And nothing has more enrichened my ability to communicate effectively with a doodle, than a good grasp of drawing in perspective – at least having a good grasp of imagining an object first, picturing it in it’s most exemplary position, and “doodling” it on a napkin, your palm, a plywood panel, the boss’ desktop, or a bathroom wall.

    No doubt, the FIRST intent of a doodler is to communicate. How refreshing. A doodler doesn’t b.s. with a picture, or show off lingual dexterity or pompous expertise – indeed, the doodle itself keeps the speaker grounded.

    And, doodling is multilingual.

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