A big part of how we express on paper depends on what happens up in our heads. How we think, imagine, connect and make sense of the information we have access to.
This block is about the thinking that happens before the pen comes out - how to process, filter and find the core of any idea. Most people skip this step. It shows.
You'll walk away knowing how to: Trust your visual thinking process. Cut any idea down to its core. Stop over-explaining - for good.
Best for: Anyone beginning their visual thinking journey. Also surprisingly useful for people who've been doing this a while and still feel like something's off.
This is not about drawing well. It's about drawing fast enough to be useful.
You'll build a visual vocabulary you can reach for automatically - in a meeting, a classroom, on a call - and learn how to take it into the digital tools you already live in.
You'll walk away knowing how to: Draw any idea clearly and quickly. Use layout to tell the story before anyone reads a word. Move between paper and screen without losing your thinking.
Best for: People ready to put visual thinking into practice. Illustrators who want to apply their skills to communication, not just creation.
Anyone can make a visual. Very few make one you still think about a week later.
This block goes into metaphor, emotional resonance and personal visual style - the layer of meaning that turns a good visual into an unforgettable one. Three weeks because these things take time to develop properly. Worth every session.
You'll walk away knowing how to: Invent metaphors that make complex ideas click. Build emotional arc into your visuals. Develop a style that's recognisably, consistently yours.
Best for: Coaches, educators and illustrators who already have a visual practice and want to make it sharper and more distinctive.
This block turns your recurring thinking into a reusable visual system - templates you design yourself, built around how you actually work. Plus: how to give and receive feedback on visual work so it actually gets better.
Suggested Pre-requisite: Block 3: Make Ideas Stick
You'll walk away knowing how to: Build visual templates from the ideas you already teach or use. Create a system that gets sharper with every use. Give feedback that improves work instead of just commenting on it.
Best for: Teachers, coaches and managers who want a sustainable visual practice - not a new thing to maintain.
The hardest visual thinking skill there is - and the one that makes you irreplaceable in a room.
Real-time visual capture. Live facilitation. Using a half-drawn diagram to open a conversation instead of close it. I've spent six years doing this on stage. This block is everything I know about it.
You'll walk away knowing how to: Listen, process and draw at the same time without falling apart. Use what you draw to shift the energy in a room. Facilitate other people's thinking - not just your own.
Best for: Managers, coaches and educators ready to use visuals as a facilitation tool in live professional settings.
“I took this class and recommend it 1000%. Drawing helps me get my thoughts out of my head and start to become tangible. I loved this class and am still drawing daily as a way to engage my creative side and be more productive. I am NOT an artist...but am better at what I do when I can draw it out.”
Kira Kistner
External Services Project Manager at CIRA
“Thinking in visuals & drawing my thoughts is such a gain for me personally AND for work. Learning & being creative in DYT 1.0 & 2.0 really improved my quality of life! I loved the energy & good spirit of the group gatherings which motivated me to join all online meetings. We had so much fun–whata blast! with all the prompts we were amazed about the different angles to look at things. All the input from the participants made finishing my master project so much easier & better, thank you all for that! Will definitely join DYT 3.0!."
Ines Höfliger
Administrative Assistant at University Giessen
"I've had a long-standing desire to learn sketchnoting, and I'm thrilled that I joined DYT 2.0. The cohort experience has been instrumental in helping me recognize my strengths and work on my weaknesses. I've gained valuable insights not only from Tanvi but also from the fellow participants. The contagious energy and the learning opportunities provided by both the cohort members and Tanvi herself have been incredibly motivating, prompting me to attend every session and actively engage in enriching discussions. Personally, I find the exploration of metaphors to be the most fascinating aspect of this journey. I wholeheartedly recommend DYT to anyone interested in embarking on a sketchnoting/visual thinking journey."
Maithrreye S.
Associate ML Scientist @ Amii
“I am switching my career after DYT. I loved how complex concepts were explained in simple ways. My Visual Thinking skills grew from 5/10 - 8/10 in just 5 weeks and I have already earned the money I invested in this course by monetising my learnings. I 100% recommend this course to people.”
Tanvi Agarwal
Comic & Sketch-Note Artist
Maithrreye
ML Scientist at AMII
“I always wanted to learn Sketchnoting , and I’m glad I learnt it from Miss Sillystrokes. Tanvi was very encouraging and patient with all of us. Apart from regular session, we would also have doubt clearing sessions & timely check-ins (for homework). I learnt a great deal! So much so that I started my visual newsletter.”
Monica
Founder, Creators Nest
Udisha Misra
Marketing Maverick
Priya Lobo
CEO, ORMAX Compass
“I always sensed that I was visual thinker since a child. DYT helped in identifying my strengths, and areas of improvement. And helped me in making my thoughts towards my goals and my journey stronger. I am grateful to Tanvi for that, and for giving me this opportunity to learn, and interact with wonderful participants..”
Sudha
Artist @ The Drawing Board 24x7
"The DYT has been a gateway to a whole new world of possibilities for me. Tanvi's structured course not only broke down the basics that I would need to create sketchnotes but the well spaced guest lecturers and thought interventions & activities helped pave a way for a different way of thinking and imagining ideas. I've had some very simple yet profound takeaways from the DYT which I apply in reimagining data in visual form even now, months after completing the course!"
Gargi Shingte
Illustrator, Wall Muralist, Designer and Sketch-Noter