Do not fill the page from the top-left corner

Visual notes often fail because the page had no plan, not because the drawing was poor.

Make three choices before you begin:

1. One-sentence purpose — who should understand what?
2. Three content zones — no more than three main areas
3. Reading direction — left to right, top to bottom, or centre outward?

Draw three matchbox-sized thumbnails:

• A: three columns
• B: central theme with ideas around it
• C: a path from problem to result

Spend only 30 seconds on each. Choose the one that fits the relationship, then enlarge it.

Plan a page for a 30-minute meeting:

• top 15%: title and goal
• left 30%: context
• middle 40%: discussion and options
• right 30%: decision and next step
• spare area at the bottom: parking lot and unknowns