playtime for serious professionals

Free community events where we get together, talk creativity, and doodle around.

Join us in-person in Pōneke/Wellington or online.

Doodle Cafe

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Black and white photo of Kate wearing a leather jacket, holding a book over her head like a roof, with a thoughtful expression, and colorful abstract graphic elements in the background.

upcoming events

DOODLE CAFE — ONLINE

Tuesday, 27 October

7:30 — 8:45 PM NZT

5:30 PM Sydney / 2:30 PM Singapore

Online

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DOODLE CAFE — PŌNEKE

Tuesday, 13 October

5:30 — 6:45 PM

Cuckoo Emporium, 57 Customhouse Quay

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What to expect?

  • a fun, low stakes, judgement-free zone where we exercise our imagination muscles

  • a monthly discussion theme

    This October our theme is Movement — using the wild Spring energy to dislodge creative paralysis and get started on new things

  • hands-on doodling time, with prompts and support to work through creative blocks

What to bring?

  • doodling materials — paper / pens / paint / pencils / whatever you’d like to work with

  • your curiosity

  • (optional) specific ideas and questions you want to doodle around with - work-related or otherwise

Abstract black and white art with bold, cursive lines and shapes.
A group of people are working together on a large sheet of paper with drawings and notes. Several hands are visible holding pens, and there is a coffee cup on the table. The photo is in black and white.

  • "Doodle Cafe has been so good to gently re-introduce art into my life. It had been years, and while I always wanted to come back to it, starting felt overwhelming. The way Kate runs Doodle Cafe helps it feel low stakes and fun, and I've been drawing in my own time for pleasure again."

    — Andy, Developer

  • “A great place to disconnect from my busy workday and connect with my creativity.”

    — Mariel, Teaching Fellow

  • "It was a really lovely evening and break from usual thought processes. I’m looking forward to the next one."

    — Grace, Law Firm Partner

Why invest in doodling?

Most of us have spent decades training our critical brain, but neglected our imaginative brain.

We need both of them working together in order to feel more creative.

So think about Doodle Cafe like cross-training for your brain.

It will help you feel sharper, more cognitively alive and flexible at work.

And you’ll be working to lower cortisol levels and strengthen your sense of agency.

A man in a business suit lifting a barbell with weights in an office setting, with a laptop open on the desk. There is a black and white abstract background with the text ‘It’s cross-training for your brain’.

“It turns out that doodlers are more analytical, retain information better, and are better focused than their non-doodling colleagues" 

— Your Brain on Art

FAQs

I don’t draw — Can I still come to doodle cafe?

100% yes. You don’t need to be good at drawing to come to Doodle Cafe. You don’t actually have to draw at all.

Doodling is really a state of mind. It’s about lowering the stakes and playing around, exploring and letting our imaginations wander.

At Doodle Cafe, you can doodle around in whatever way you like. Some people draw, but others write or paint or collage.

It’s also not at all about being good.

We have a mantra that every doodle is amazing, no matter what it looks like. The value is in the process, not the outcome.

How will I know where to start? And what happens if I get stuck?

Starting is often easier than people expect. We warm up with conversation, and there are always prompts and support to help get you going.

If you get stuck, you can take a break, turn the page or pick up another prompt. There’s no rush and no pressure.

I’m coming to an in-person Doodle Cafe, but forgot my materials!?

No problem! We’ll have paper, pens, pencils etc for anyone who needs them.

Can I come to Doodle Cafe on my own?

100% yes. It’s a great way to meet new people.

Black abstract brush strokes on a white background.

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