by RaShell on 2008-10-10
…Something really beautiful takes place.
People who are not only creative by nature, but also work in the field that encourages and thrives on their creativity, tend to be the best doodlers. Case in point - Kurt Kland and his 52 Doodles. It’s a picture blog that displays (in a creative (of course), playful from of a sketchbook, filled with doodles) his scribbles that appear during weekly (hence number “52″) meetings at the design firm where he works. Below, in Kurt’s own words, his explanation of doodling, where it comes from and where it leads 
The nature of the doodle
There are several elements that define a doodle
1. A doodle is unplanned. You just pick up a pen or pencil and start to draw. You may have some thoughts floating around that lend content to the doodle, but you don’t go in with a preconceived composition or story. Sometimes I just start drawing shapes and let them become what they will. Other times whatever I’ve been thinking about lately, (e.g. drumming, sailing) immediately drive the direction of my pen.
2. A doodle isn’t overworked or revised. If you make a mistake you just keep drawing, or use the mistake as a catalyst to drive your creativity in a new direction.
3. A doodle is executed while the doodlers attention is divided. In my staff meetings, I’m listening to what’s being said about the jobs, listening for my own jobs so I’ll know when to speak, noting my coworker’s reactions to things being said, all this while doodling away. A great time to doodle is while speaking on the phone. In fact, I really can’t speak on the phone at all without a pen in my hand and some paper handy.
Kurt’s doodles are fun, funny, sometimes a bit creepy, lots of times - very “tongue in cheek”, and by his own admission, they’re a little glimpse into his unconscious 
Hope you enjoy them and, like me, come back to 52 Doodles for a weekly dosage of pure doodling joy.
I get in trouble when I doodle in meetings… I get too absorbed and forget to listen for my topics! Either that or I am listening but the only indication I get that my opinion is requested is a glace, which, of course, I’m not watching for because my paper is far more interesting
Hehe, in the staff meeting today, I was drawing little buggies and square-shaped monsters. Maybe I just need to stop taking pens to my meetings! Hah
October 10, 2008 @ 2:52 pmLaurenMarie, It’s happened more than once that a pause comes up during a meeting, I look up to see others looking expectantly at me and all I can do is ask, “I’m sorry, which job are we talking about?” Fortunately, this is usually met with a few chuckles and we move on.
I certainly hope you don’t let the less imaginative hold you down!
October 10, 2008 @ 6:39 pmOhhhh I love Kurt’s doodles
I also love his doodle definition.
Doodling in class is getting me in trouble, as we are all training to be therapists. This leads to my doodles being analysed even by the tutor, hehe.
Another great find RaShell.
October 10, 2008 @ 7:39 pmI do my best doodling in meetings.
I have my own work doodle diary at http://doodlingatwork.blogspot.com/, though I’m not as good at keeping it updated. The pile of work doodles keeps growing and so does the scan/process time needed to get them on the web…..
October 13, 2008 @ 3:58 pm@Lauren,
I, on the other hand, don’t have any meetings and/or long boring phone conversations. So, hurray on one hand, and no doodling at work for me on the other 
October 14, 2008 @ 9:59 amThat’s kinda funny, yesterday, our neighbor was telling us a story about video-conference they were having at work, and how some guy “on the other end” was doodling on his notes and how they could see it
@ Kurt,
October 14, 2008 @ 9:59 amThanks for the inspiration. Now I kinda wish I had long boring meetings
@Claire,
Well, look who’s back
I tried to keep up with your tour, but you’ve been slacking off, didn’t write much about it, did you? But I saw that you liked it, so that’s the most important thing :)))
October 14, 2008 @ 10:02 amI love Kurt’s doodles too. And your latest class doodles too, btw. We’ll have to feature you here some day as well.
off-topic. You know, I never got your address for the CD-doodling prize…
@Cris,
Dude, you’ve got some nice doodles at your blog. Would you like to be featured here as well? Or you could write a guest post if you’d like. In any case, keep scanning them
October 14, 2008 @ 10:04 amOh noes! I am nowhere near good enough to be featured here.
I sent the address to you again, at least twice! Holy Moly I wonder who keeps getting those emails if your not?
Yeah I totally slacked off, so busy now too!
October 14, 2008 @ 10:25 am@ Claire,
Ah, don’t be shy, your doodles are absolutely perfect, cause they’re “the real thing.”
I can’t believe it either… we had some funky stuff going on with our email. I sort of wasn’t getting emails from myself either
I’m hoping this time it’ll finally go through and I’ll send you your rock (I actually doodled a whole bunch of them lately, so you’ll be getting something new).
October 14, 2008 @ 11:17 am@Claire,
October 14, 2008 @ 1:04 pmI agree with RaShell, you doodles are terrific! Never say, “not good enough”. Since doodles are free and loose and relatively spontaneous, I think they’re immune from the judgments we make about “serious” art. I don’t think “perfection” is even a relevant concept applied to doodles. Doodles are like kids; the fact that one runs a little slower or struggles with math doesn’t make them any less perfect than any other kid.
@RaShell awww thanks
Let me know if you dont get it.
@Kurt, did you just call my doodles the doodle equivalent of the special bus?
(you would be right)
Only joking, thanks for the compliments after seeing your awesometriffic doodlage that’s a massive ego stroke
Doodling is therapy for me and when I finally qualify as a therapist I will be actively encouraging my clients to doodle away.
October 14, 2008 @ 9:23 pm