More Than Robots Sketch-notes

Jason doesn’t just deliver an illustration. He absorbs the complex ideas and helps you explore them in a very human way.

Cliff Manning

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I had the pleasure of being able to hook up as resident scribe/sketchnoter with Cliff Manning and his superb More Than Robots meet-up last week for the second time.

The terrific thing for me about this gathering is that it combines some personally significant strands. In Cliff’s own words:

Inspiration, evidence and ideas around digital engagement and participation. Irregular updates and quarterly meet ups for anyone interested in the tech/youth/support venn.

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Here are the finished panels:

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Some process notes

There is a weird time-related tension with scribing - trying to find the important ideas and portraying them without overdoing it. It’s a fleeting moment where you have to strike before the opportunity has gone. My preference is to combine some preparation with a live element.

Below are three snapshots from my work on one of the panels:

1. Roughs in my sketchbook while the presentation is happening

2. Some pencils as I process and refine things

3. Final tidy inks where I pull it all together

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Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism

Cal Newport’s most recent book really hit a sweet spot for me. I devoured it from the get-go. All of those tiresome lockdown months sat in front of google classroom left me desperate for some fresh reflective space. Newport certainly provided that for me!

In this (short) 26 minute video I run through the following: 

1. Introduction to the book (0-1:30)

2. Making the infographic (1:30-6m)

3. The Ideas in the book (6m - end)

Here is a quick summary of my process for this one:

• detailed notes on paper

• very early whiteboard composition

• Clip Studio Paint drafting using ‘pencil’

• back to CSP for more detailed inking

• initial shading and tone work using Affinity Designer

• final inking and composition in CSP

• Affinity Designer for colour/shading

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If you are interested in using my skills then get in touch or take a deeper dive into my infographics material.