Markers, Memories, and Magic: My Dive into International Sketchnote Camp 2025 (ISC2025)

Taking the Leap into Sketchnote Camp

I’ve been sketchnoting for five years now, and during that time, I kept hearing about this amazing event called the International Sketchnote Camp. Every year, it pops up in a new location and I’d see posts from sketchnoters I admire, sharing their incredible experiences. It seemed like something I wanted to be part of, but I never quite made the leap.

Honestly, I was conflicted. I’d just come back from a holiday. It was my anniversary, and I wasn’t sure if I could make it work. But then I kept seeing all the posts about it and started feeling the pull to go. Something about it felt different this time, like it was calling me.

In the past, it was often about logistics, also not sure how valuable it would be so early on in my sketchnoting journey. The locations were further away, and with work commitments, it felt like a gigantic leap. This time, being in the UK made all the difference. It was so close to home, and while I love traveling and flying to new places, starting my business has made me more mindful of my budget. There were some last minute struggles—Ozzy Osbourne performed that weekend, so finding a hotel was tricky—but I booked one at the airport, and it all fell into place.

I’ve followed so many amazing sketchnotes online for years, and every time I saw those ISC things in the Visual communities all with their beautiful sketchnotes, I’d think, “Am I good enough to go?” That little self-doubt kept holding me back. But this year, something clicked. Knowing it was in the UK made it feel much more accessible, and I realised the community isn’t about being perfect—it’s about encouraging all visual thinkers, no matter where they’re at in their journey. I’m so glad I took the chance. Huge thanks to Paddy and Grant for allowing me in the last minute.

Arriving at the Camp: First Impressions

Walking into the venue felt overwhelming at first, especially with the “draw your own name badge” activity. Normally, I’d love such a creative task, but I wasn’t sure what to include. Beyond my name, what else did I need to include?. Being one of the first to arrive - what information do people usually include on their name badges at such events? My squirrel brain got distracted, before I could spiral and go completely blank. The distraction were Neuland markers, a favourite brand of mine. I just kept my badge simple: just my name, a flower, and hearts. The venue itself was modern, bright, and spacious, with a relaxing student union set up by a mini lake with geese. As a newbie, having calm spaces to ease into the event was a great for an introvert.

The Goodie Bag: A Treasure Trove for Sketchnoters

The organisers packed the goodie bag with awesome surprises! Highlights included a pen nib (perfect since Birmingham has a pen museum I missed) great as I am getting into ink pens. Of course I am a sucker for stickers, which I applied to my notebook, promo goodies, and new Neuland pens—much needed after my sketch marker nibs wore out that weekend. I loved the pen selection provided as they were ones I had on my wish list!

The cute illustrated doodle character cards tied into the event’s theme, reminding us about human connection. I even tried out digital sketchnoting with Concepts, thanks to the bag’s inspiration. Although I missed out on the concepts workshop, I am going to try it out with some links shared by the community in Padlet and WhatsApp.

The Community: A Warm Welcome for All

I didn’t know anyone but recognised faces online. Everyone was so warm, friendly, and inviting—it felt incredible to be welcomed by so many hugs! For the first time, I felt like I was supposed to be where I was. Seeing Axelle, someone I hadn’t met in a couple of years, only connecting in between via LinkedIn, so it was especially surprising as we didn’t know we were both going to be there. I attended one of her workshops, where I first saw graphic recording in action, and her work encouraged me to dive deeper into sketchnoting and using visuals. It was wonderful reconnecting with her such a great person and I always carry her pens with me - these were my first Neuland pens. I also met others I had connected with in community groups and online. Laura from Nifty Fox, Aston, Mike, Alejo, Andy Gray, and Pete Gray (no relation!)—so many incredible people.

The diversity in the room was awe-inspiring, with so many countries represented. I connected with teachers, psychologists, coaches, language experts, agile professionals, and more—each with unique and creative approaches to using visuals. Every conversation was rich with depth, sparking my curiosity as I listened to their perspectives on visual communication. Benefit was that if you missed out on a key note - you could open your sketchbook and share and talk through things together during the breaks.

“Human connection” was a powerful theme throughout. As a visual facilitator, I see how swapping PowerPoint for hand-drawn visuals transforms the energy in a room, creating a space for genuine connection. My own sketching journey hasn’t been without challenges (looking at you, stars, hands, lettering and portraits!), but it’s been rewarding, making it easier to grow together and have more meaningful connections with others.

The vibe of the event was magical—genuine, open, and inclusive. Families, kids, llamas and partners joined at different times, bringing a real vibrancy to the experience. And yes, there was even dancing—it couldn’t have felt more alive!!

The Agenda: A Visual Feast

The agenda posters were so cute! and the format of the sessions were perfect for learning more techniques, mindsets or visual applications.

All the speakers had wonderful materials posters and presentations that were so vibrant, easy to digest and enjoyable to look at.

Each day I appreciated the simplicity of having just two options for the smaller sessions—it made decision-making easier, but I still wanted to go to both tracks. Sunday stood out for me in particular, as it provided a perfect balance. After a packed schedule of learning and absorbing new ideas, the barcamps were an excellent way to process everything, tackle challenges, and exchange insights on using visuals in practice.

I gained valuable knowledge on topics like Adobe Fresco, process visual mapping, learning and development visuals, and speaking with others by going through people’s sketchbooks on display as a talking point. Thank you Ferry for this great barcamp idea! I would never of met these amazing people.

Having Andy and Reuben graphic record and colour was fantastic—it allowed me to focus on the key speakers while enjoying their creative interpretations of the talks on the largest board I’ve ever seen. It was fascinating to see how differently people visualised the same content. Everyone around me was sketching, myself included, and it felt completely natural. This was visual thinking on a community level and it felt so awesome. I felt at home here with others.

As a visual and kinesthetic learner, using markers and visual aids make it easy and enjoyable to absorb new information. I was in the ideal space for 3 days. If only traditional education was more like this, I might've paid more attention and recalled things better. I would of loved to be taught by these wonderful people!

Overcoming Doubts: Finding Your Place

When it came time for the visual check-in board, I froze. I forgot how to draw. Imposter syndrome hit hard as I looked around at all the amazing selfies people had drawn. Mine felt like it didn’t belong. But Ferry guided me through it, and I got my little portrait up there. A bit of shading here and there, and it was done. It wasn’t perfect, but next year, I know I’ll do better. I realised I spent so much time worrying instead of just doing. And you know what? Nobody cared how “good” it was. That’s where I am today—learning to let go of that self-doubt. Ten practise drafts on sticky notes later, I put my Angel selfie on the board.

Stepping out of my comfort zone was a big moment for me—I had never tried bhangra dancing before and I love dancing. The energy on the dance floor was incredible, and soon it felt like everyone was up there dancing together. It took me a few days to recover, but it was sooooo worth it. A big thank you to Paddy’s partner for the impromptu dance lesson in the middle of the circle—it was such a fun experience! All the family pulled in to help out and volunteer and it was a wonderful way to see how many people were behind the scenes having a fun time.

If you’re new and feeling unsure, just know it’s okay to feel out of place, to doubt yourself, and to try something new. That’s what makes the experience so special—leaning into those moments and realising you’re not alone.. there is always someone there guiding and supporting you. These wonderful superconnectors, got us doing things differently. Super talented and creative with their visuals at work.

Highlights and Memorable Moments

When Andy asked for volunteers to graphic record live, my hand shot up before I even realised it. I’d never done this on a large board before, but it was a challenge I’d always wanted to try. I’d been practicing at home and when and during webinars and conferences, but live sketchnoting was a whole new level!

It wasn’t just about capturing what I understood—it was about filtering what the audience needed. Those 15 intense minutes of listening, designing icons, and working on layout were a mental workout. My neurospicy brain in sensory overload, I was so focused on listening and wanting to capture everything. I forgot all the things I had been practising. My dyslexic spelling, how the heck do I draw a dog or paw, a bridge, a person? It gave me newfound respect for graphic recorders such as Andy, who did this for hours with focus and precision. Reuben’s colouring also brought the sketches to life—his work was fantastic (colour blind colourist). Further cemented my drive to carry on and work towards doing more of this together and as part of my facilitation work.

Thoughtful touches filled the camp, from the sweet bar and marker pens to handmade notebook stands. (I forgot to take a pic of Inky Thinking) too busy chatting and talking about marker pens and books!

Fun optional visual games helped us mingle and warm up, and I even won a book from Aston, who was kind enough to sign it—thank you!

The energy and hosting from Paddy and Grant were incredible, making everyone feel welcome. Even as they worked behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly, they had time to meet and greet everyone. The team of volunteers and sponsors added so much value, and even the raffle and nemesis competition, judged by Grant’s daughter. Seeing all the creative Padlet entries was inspiring, all the winners being so talented.

Having Mike Rohde as the keynote speaker felt surreal—he’s the creator of the term sketchnoting! The first book I bought to learn more about this technique.

His insights set an inspiring tone for the camp, making my first experience truly unforgettable. Human connection and our visual community who have been together for over 8 years.

Reflections: What Sketchnote Camp Meant to Me

The camp completely reinforced my love for sketchnoting and reminded me why I love it so much. I use it for so many reasons, experimenting with relaxation to unwind, storytelling, travel journalling or problem-solving, sketchnoting feels normal and fun. Visual note taking is so versatile—fitting into so many professions and areas of life.

Most importantly, this experience highlighted how much I value creativity to connect with others and share ideas. If you’ve read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, you’ll understand when I say—I’ve filled my artist cup!

The theme of “human connection” was at the heart of everything. From group activities to sharing stories, I felt this amazing sense of community, belonging, and human kindness. It was incredible to see how sketchnoting created a shared language. The camp showed me just how powerful visuals can bring people together across from so many countries.

Leaving camp feeling inspired and full of ideas. I’m looking forward to refining my graphic recording skills, exploring digital tools, experimenting with animations, and improving my techniques. Grateful for the experience and excited about the progress over the next year.

I learned I have so much room to grow, especially in exploring different software tools. I am favouring analogue but really want to try new things. So I am creating a lot of mini experiments to get visuals into my day to day work with people. Spreading the joy of visuals and their benefits. So I pact I have made myself is to do a visual sketchnote newsletter starting next week. Subscribe to see all the wonky drawings and musings as I navigate learning in public!

I wholeheartedly recommend this camp and community for anyone looking to explore sketchnoting or visual thinking. It’s more than just learning—it’s about experiencing the power of human connection at its finest. See you next year in Verona.

May you always have a pen in hand (full of ink), paper or tablet (fully charged)

With love and gratitude to every single one of you at ISC2025 you made my year!

Thank you to the ISC2025 Birmingham crew you made an epic event to treasure.