Last week The Next Web organized its yearly conference, where tech, innovation, and good vibes join for three days. I was asked to make visual notes of all the keynote speakers. This year all of my notes were shown on the big screen to recap, during the day. Did I say big screen? , the screen was ‘huge’ ! I enjoyed the enthusiasm of all of the speakers this year as well as the quality of the startups that presented itself this year.

My absolute favorites where  Howard Lindzon, Mark Randall and Pablos Holman ;

Howard Lindzon reminded us that there really never is a perfect time to start a business, we need to get started! His keynote actually sparked enthusiasm and ended up speeding through a whole list of tips.

Mark Randall’s presentation started a really businesslike ‘entrepreneur what is that’, really? one, but ended in an emotional call to action in using the technology we have now, to be implemented and used for the education of our children. ‘We’ as in us tech entrepreneurs can help change the way kids are educated and provide them with the tools they need to be able to learn about an unknown future…A day later a group of people approached me to ask for more help for they had actually reacted to this call to action right away.Randucation; (#randucation, @randucation) is planning to just get started. They need help in looking for a way to go ahead, tools and money.

The very last presentation of TNW2011 was that of Pablos. His passionate speech about the ‘hackers’ mindset and how they try what the system does if you do something with it it wasn’t designed for intentionally. Hacks that help improve security  ( because if companies claim something is save and wave their arms you can bet on it it isnt really). But also how the hackers mindset could even help solve problems in biological systems, like malaria for instance.  ’what is possible’

You can see the rest of the skethcnotes in highres here

First opening chat with Jack Dorsey who showed of his new and interesting mobile service with which  you can put on a “swiper” on your mobile to be able to swipe Credit Cards. His service ‘Square’ should roll out early 2010 for everyone to use ( pay and sell) via mobile. The question of how much the ‘swiper’ would cost the public was answered with a surprising -’nothing’! Of course the free dongel should stimulate use of the service. The rest of the morning continues to be all about (iPhone) apps and their potential.

You can see my sketchnotes of the two days on Dutchcowgirls

You can find my posts at Dutchcowgirls here.

I was very pleased to be able to attend another of Robert Rice’s presentations on the future of mobile. His view on the future is allways one you tend to see actually presenting itself sooner than you think it might have. Nick Bilton was another surprise. His presentation on what new things are being developed in the labs of the NewYork Times was a fascinating one. Especially the awareness, ‘its all just a new way of storytelling’ . The energizing closure of the day was that of gary Vaynerchuk. His message to all of us; ‘Love what you do and know who you are’.

The original sketchnotes;

Be creative, think connected. Well, see for yourselves:

The why is easy, my notes have always been in sketches, quotes and nodes to make connections or draw relations. It makes me remember things more easy. When it proofed helpful to others I simple gave some more attention to them so that others would be able to read them as well.

The how takes a bit more explaining. They are not just sketches, neither just notes. A sketchnote takes me as long as the speaker is talking. I listen to the story and make it my own. My interpretation and all what I pick up while listening will appear on paper.. In every sketchnote I usually pick up on insights or relations. I sometimes even relate outside the speakers story, just because this is how my mind works. In a way every sketchnote is my version of a blogpost of a presentation all wrapped up in one drawing.

I enjoy making sketchnotes when passionate speakers speak about things I relate to. So web and social media is my favorite subject. I relate and understand this. So I can make connections and insights. Sketching The Wext Web ’09 in Amsterdam was a great thing to do. And judging on Boris’s Flickr stats (where my skethcnotes where posted) -as well as my own- other enjoyed them too! I’ll just keep on sketchnoting, hoping others will keep enjoying them. So that one day, I’ll be the official sketchnoter for Leweb in Paris. Or other big influential conferences. Making me a very happy sketching @wilg!

Interview on Girlygeekdom

pictures; @silvertje and @jeeem.

links to several articles; Contentgirls

the next web by quotes; @timanrebel

and my own overview in sketchnotes:

The sketchnote illustrating this article I made for an article in “de Volkskrant”

Andrew Keen:

Chris Sacca:

Jeff Jarvis

Matt Mullenweg

and Ricardo Beaza Yates