Visual Storytelling For WebDevs: Create Sketchnotes!
Tags: mscreate, sketchthedocs, webdev, beginners
Published: 2020-07-28 14:12:46

---
title: Visual Storytelling For WebDevs: Create Sketchnotes!
published: true
description: Visual Storytelling helps improve understanding and recall of complex concepts. Get started on your creative journey as we #sketchthedocs at #MSCreate. https://aka.ms/mscreate
tags: mscreate, sketchthedocs, webdev, beginners
cover_image: https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/vlgavdwhll7vmxixadsa.png
---


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> Want to do more with static web apps?

> _Join us at [CREATE:Frontend](https://aka.ms/createfrontend) on Jul 29 (8:30am PDT / 11:30am EDT) for a 4-hr free virtual event with 8 talks and a [90-minute hands-on workshop](https://dev.to/azure/free-workshop-on-azure-static-web-apps-1341) to jumpstart your static web apps journey_

> Bookmark [our anchor post](https://dev.to/azure/let-s-talk-about-everything-frontend-2o9e) and do check back for updates

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## Updated: Aug 4, 2020

### Talk Resources & Recording
You can check out the slides from the event here:
{% speakerdeck 899f1df14467467e9b28627102536b57 %}

I'm still waiting for the spliced up videos from the event, but you can see the archived video for the whole conference at the link below. 
{% youtube nCc-YPf9lAU %}

My segment starts at the 1:51:00 mark (or you can click [this link](https://youtu.be/nCc-YPf9lAU?t=6677) to load the player directly at that offset). It's a quick 10-minute segment and I hope you like it!

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#Visual Storytelling For WebDevs

If you follow me on dev.to, you might have read my previous post on Sketchnoting. Here it is for reference. In that I talk about the origins of my interest in visual storytelling, and why it matters. I recommend you scan it first. Go on. I'll wait.

{% link https://dev.to/azure/about-sketchthedocs-3ld9 %}

I've actually been doodling and sketching for years but I never actually tried to make talks on it, or teach other people to do what I did. Like many of you, I assumed doodling was just a hobby - and in my case, it was also a self-care strategy (focusing on drawing improves attention and avoids the stressful feeling I get in large conferences).

So here I am, about to do another 15-minute speed review on sketchnoting and visual storytelling at the Microsoft _Create: FrontEnd_ event on Jul 29. And yes, because it's so much fun, here is a meta-tweet about it.

{% twitter 1288086129749757953 %}

> I decided to make this post because in an utterly selfish way, I hope you will join me tomorrow and take the first steps to become a visual storyteller. The event is free and online, and my talk is 15 mins long. Once it is over, I absolutely encourage you to hop on here and chat with me, share your ideas or experience and just build your creative muscle!

##  3 Reasons Why Web Devs Should Explore Visual Storytelling

This particular event is focused on web developers (frontend devs will find all talks valuable) but my talk is meant for all audiences, at all levels. However if you *are* a web developer, here are three reasons why sketchnoting helps.

* *IT'S INCLUSIVE!* 
Think about it! You are effectively reducing long talks or pages of text to a simple sheet with visual cues that anyone can understand. Written or spoken materials may have cultural nuances and language-specific meanings. From the dawn of time, pictures have always been relatable!


* *IT'S FAMILIAR!* 
In my talk I explain that the visual storytelling journey benefits from metaphors and analogies to make complex concepts easier to understand and recall. The _web_ was born metaphor-friendly. It's a `web` and we have `spiders` crawling and indexing it, and we have `routes` to take us from page to page, and we start at a `home` page and have `visitors`. See what I mean? You have plenty of clay - you just need to mould it into memorable sculptures!

* *IT'S FUN!!* 
I can't emphasize this enough. Being in tech is stressful. If you are an under-represented developer in tech, or are stressed with all the things in our world today - you need self-care. The act of creating something visual can help you focus, relax and just bring joy! More importantly, visual notes often have more visibility and engagement than written ones. If you are new to tech and looking to connect with others and share your knowledge, this is a great skill to have.

> Update: Aug 4, 2020

This is one of my favorite talks to do because people enjoy it so much, and they engage. IF you have an event or meetup where you think this might be a good talk or activity, reach out via dev.to or DM me on twitter (@nitya) and I'd love to support it!

{% twitter 1288528792240050176 %}

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## Attendee Responses

I had a simple call to action. Sketch a concept based on what I shared, tag it with #SketchTheDocs #MSCreate and share it on Twitter. And some of you did just that. These are amazing!

{% twitter 1288946842441519111 %}
{% twitter 1288679192746430465 %}
{% twitter 1288723126709149696 %}
{% twitter 1288549384070795264 %}
{% twitter 1288529264191639552 %}

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## MSCreate: Frontend

If you want to learn more about the _MSCreate:Frontend_ event then check out this post with links to all the talks and speakers. And bookmark it to be notified of links to recordings and resources after the end!

{% link https://dev.to/azure/let-s-talk-about-everything-frontend-2o9e %}

Want to learn more about Azure Static Web Apps?
 - [Check out the docs](https://aka.ms/swadocs)
 - [Try out a learning path](https://aka.ms/swalearn)
 - [Watch talks on Channel 9](https://aka.ms/mscreate-ch9)

## Call To Action: Join me!
So what are you waiting for? Join me - and if you have ideas or want to share your own visual storytelling journey, just tag me in the comments below and I would love to talk to, and amplify, you!

Let's go #SketchTheDocs