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What is Zettelkasten?

photo of Brandy Agerbeck with halo of markers around her head

by Brandy Agerbeck 

A modular notetaking system for long-term learning and connection-making.

Text reads: Want articles like this delivered to your Inbox every week? Click here to sign up. On the right, an icon of a yellow envelope with a white sheet of paper inside.

I'm answering the question of "What is Zettelkasten" using a sketchnote I created for our monthly Drawing Bee in our online community, Studio+. 

First, I'll guide you through the sketchnote I made watching Vicky Zhao's video Zettelkasten Method Explained: A Beginner's Guide. Adding a bit of additional research.

Keep scrolling to learn more about what the heck a Drawing Bee is.

And I'm sharing 2 members-only videos of how I created the sketchnote.

On the left a line drawing of a brain in a jar with a X through it. It is labeled Brain Bias. VERSUS. On the right a line drawing of a person with the label Whole Body

Zettelkasten is a modular notetaking system designed to consistently process your own internal thoughts alongside external learning.

Key strengths to zettelkasten: 

  1. One idea per card to make your thinking modular
  2. Processing first iteration of notes into "permanent notes" 
  3. Modularity opens up new connections and emerging patterns
  4. Emergent, bottom-up organizing instead of inflexible top-down structure

 

I'm answering the question of "What is Zettelkasten" using a sketchnote I created for our monthly Drawing Bee in our online community, Studio+. 

First, I'll guide you through the sketchnote I made watching Vicky Zhao's video Zettelkasten Method Explained: A Beginner's Guide. Adding a bit of additional research.

Keep scrolling to learn more about what the heck a Drawing Bee is.

I'm also sharing two members-only videos of how I created the sketchnote.

Want a closer look? 

Sign up for my newsletter, confirm your subscription, and I'll send you the download link for my zettelkasten sketchnote. 

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Behind the Scenes: Zettelkasten Sketchnote

I'm sharing videos normally only available to my community members. Enjoy this sneak peek into my process. 

I made this drawing for our January 2023 Drawing Bee in my online community. 

Once a month, I post a piece of content (audio or video). Each one of us makes a sketchnote of that same source. We post our work on a MURAL board in time for our live session. 

Live, we talk about our process, give and receive constructive feedback and learn so much from each other.  

I archive the replays in our shared space, along with walkthrough videos.

I describe exactly how I approached and executed my sketchnote. 

Here's an introduction to this sketchnote and the Drawing Bee process: 

An icon of a fearful face in purple
 

In the first walkthrough video, before our live session: 

  • How I wanted to approach this month's drawing. 
  • The materials and colors I chose
  • How I think I will layout the different areas of the page
  • What I capture during the 9-minute video 

Right: Progress of my drawing up until our live session.

sketchnote of Niklas Luhmann and the zettlekasten process
 

After our always-inspiring Drawing Bee session, I continued on the drawing in this second walkthrough: 

  • Opening up Luhmann's noggin to add process arrows
  • Turning the black rectangles into boxes
  • Improving and grouping the outcomes
  • Adding the topic across the bottom and labeling Luhmann
  • Using foam dots to add depth to the drawing

Watch below:

 

Thanks so much for watching. 

Are you a visual thinker, sketchnoter or graphic facilitator looking for:

✅ Consistent monthly practice

✅ Feedback on your work among welcoming peers

✅ Access to my process walkthrough videos

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