February 2026: Sketchnote Lab Dispatch
Five Cool Things, February Live Sketchnote Problem-Solving with Brad Did, Free Sketchnotes 101 foundational workshop replay, and the Sketchnote Lab 2026 Schedule.
It’s the Sketchnote Lab Dispatch for February, 2026!
Punxsutawney Phil says 6 more weeks of Winter ahead, darn it! I hope you are as well as you can be wherever you are. I know for some, there is chaos, fear, and trouble. I stand with you.
What’s in this issue?
5 Cool Things to share with you.
Sketchnote Problem-Solving with Brad Did Saturday, February 14th, for FREE! Sign up.
Sketchnotes 101 Video Replay the foundations of sketchnotes from January 2026. Watch.
Sketchnote Lab 2026 Schedule so you can plan your participation for the year. Read.
Five Cool Things
Here are five cool things I thought you would enjoy:
❥ 1. Sketch Your Mind Conference 2025 Videos! - My friend Zsolt Viczián hosted an amazing conference in late 2025 and has shared all eight session videos on YouTube. Say thanks to Zsolt by purchasing his new book, Sketch Your Mind!
❥ 2. How to look back at your year with visuals - It is not too late to reflect on 2025! Take a few moments to absorb Zsofi Lang’s wisdom in this gem of a post.
❥ 3. Why Sketching Is Becoming The New Digital Detox - So, the physical act of drawing activates neural pathways that digital input! In the chaos of our present moment, try sketching to unwind and relax. It’s been helping me.
❥ 4. Need to remember something? Draw it - This University of Waterloo study is 10 years old, but it still offers valuable insights into the power of drawing for memory. From the study overview, I love this quote: "We pitted drawing against a number of other known encoding strategies, but drawing always came out on top," — Jeffrey Wammes, Ph.D.
❥ 5. Inking Abroad with Ben Crothers and Axelle Vanquaillie - If you want to boost your creativity in sketchnoting like never before, and have a taste for travel (and great cappuccino), then you'll love this 3-day creative retreat in Florence, Italy! It’s hosted by my friends Ben and Axelle, so you get a special discount with code SKETCHNOTE for 200 Euros / $240 USD off. Bellissimo!
Here’s a sample video of Ben and Axelle’s teaching the SNAILS approach to drawing.
Sketchnote Problem Solving with Special Guest Brad Did
Special guest Brad Did will bring a problem to solve, and I’ll use sketchnoting to visualize the problem and brainstorm potential solutions with Brad. Watch and learn how to use sketchnotes as a visual thinking tool in this real-time, problem-solving session.
Here’s what sketchnotes from these problem-solving sessions look like:
You can sign up to attend the free problem-solving event right here:
The session is free to all subscribers, with the recorded replay video available exclusively to Paid Lab Members (along with all recordings since December 2024).
January Sketchnote Lab Live Video Replay: Sketchnotes 101
Watch me teach the foundations of sketchnoting in Sketchnotes 101.
Learn the foundations of sketchnoting so you can kick off your year sketchnoting! I’ll teach you how to create sketchnotes using the five basic shapes (square, circle, triangle, line, and dot), people, faces, and lettering. This video replay is free, and you can watch it right now.
By the way, Paid Lab Members get access to all video replays since December 2024. If you subscribe today, you get access too!
Sketchnote Lab Schedule for 2026
I have two focus areas for 2026:
Teaching the basics for people new to sketchnoting who want to try it in 2026, and
Live problem-solving sessions to show how you can use sketchnotes as a thinking and problem-solving tool at work and in your everyday life.
Check out the full 2026 schedule.
Last Month’s Sketchnote Lab Posts
Here’s what happened at Sketchnote Lab last month:
Become a Paid Lab Member, and you’ll support my work and have access to all Live Lab recorded replays since December 2024 to help build your sketchnoting practice!
Buy my Sketchnoting Workshops
Check out my sketchnoting workshop videos to build your lettering, layout, and icon creation skills in your sketchnotes, or to learn my reflective method for creating travel sketchnotes.
Custom Sketchnote Workshops
I love teaching teams like yours how to think visually and sketch simply with Custom Sketchnote Workshops.
I've presented workshops at schools: Drexel University, Marquette University, and The University of Michigan; Anne Arundel, New York City, and Fresno school districts.
I’ve also presented workshops for teams at SmugMug/Flickr, Hubspot, Northwestern Mutual, Johnson Controls, Dentsu Creative, and Sibley Memorial Hospital.
I’d love to teach your team as well. Let’s talk!
Thanks again for the chance to share something useful in your inbox!
— Mike
Sketchnote Lab is Mike Rohde’s space designed to bridge the gap between sketchnote theory and practice. The goal is to guide you in integrating sketchnoting into your everyday life. Learn more about Sketchnote Lab.
Mike is the author of The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, bestselling books that teach regular people how to start and keep sketchnoting.
He founded the Sketchnote Army and hosts the Sketchnote Army Podcast, where he interviews visual thinkers to understand what makes them tick.
Mike offers recorded, live, and in-person workshops to help accelerate your sketchnoting practice and coaching for personalized, 1:1 sketchnoting guidance.
Become a Paid Lab Member to support Mike’s work.