Explaining the world one sketch at a time

Sketchplanations makes complex ideas simple with clear, insightful sketches. Explore topics from science, creativity, psychology, and beyond explained in pictures.

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Recent sketches

Present bias

We have a tendency to think that we’ll be able to act differently in the future. So while this lucky chap plans to start his diet tomorrow having been presented with this giant cake, he underestimates his likelihood of not sticking to it on future days.…

23 Jan 2014

Shapes of Valleys

V-shaped, formed by a river and U-shaped after carving by a glacier. Plus variations thereof. I believe you get canyons when the land is going up and the river is cutting down. A nice frame shift I saw in a nature program was to not think of the river as moving, but instead think of the river as stationary and the land (the continental plates) as moving around it. You’ll get a canyon when the land is pushing up and the river is cutting down. Much like pushing a block of cheese up through a cheese wire. OK the cheese is my analogy which is why it’s not as good. Update Had a helpful comment from Austin correcting and explaining, “canyons are formed any time the weathering action of some force (i.e. a flowing river) greatly outpaces the surrounding environment’s eroding forces. For example, the grand canyon is so deep because it never rains in the desert, and wind doesn’t erode as quickly as water.”…V-shaped, formed by a river and U-shaped after carving by a glacier. Plus variations thereof. I believe you get canyons when the land is going up and the river is cutting down. A nice frame shift I saw in a nature program was to not think of the river as moving, but instead think of the river as stationary and the land (the continental plates) as moving around it. You’ll get a canyon when the land is pushing up and the river is cutting down. Much like pushing a block of cheese up through a cheese wire. OK the cheese is my analogy which is why it’s not as good. Update Had a helpful comment from Austin correcting and explaining, “canyons are formed any time the weathering action of some force (i.e. a flowing river) greatly outpaces the surrounding environment’s eroding forces. For example, the grand canyon is so deep because it never rains in the desert, and wind doesn’t erode as quickly as water.”

22 Jan 2014

The folk economics of ins and outs

The more you give, the more you receive. You only get out what you put in. Garbage in, garbage out. What goes up must come down Why fit in when you were born to stand out. (Dr Seuss)…

21 Jan 2014

9 Windows

Practise thinking in space and time. An alternative to Powers of 10 that encourages you to look at a situation in space and time. Helpful for getting a new perspective. The easiest way I know is to literally draw the boxes. Start with what you’re dealing with in the centre then start filling the rest out. Another tool from the TRIZ toolkit.…

20 Jan 2014

Powers of 10

A nice little framework for expanding the scope of your thinking and looking at a problem from a different angle: what if you approached from a different power of 10? Really it refers to the Charles Eames film Powers of 10 which seems to be remarkably popular. Watch the short film (a good way to spend a few minutes) or explore the Powers of 10 site.…

19 Jan 2014

The sun rises Early in the East

My own little mnemonic to remember which direction the sun rises and which it sets. Surprisingly helpful for figuring out what direction you are facing — by where the sun is and the rough time of day. Also, for figuring out what time it’s likely to be in a different country — is it earlier in the morning for them or later in the day? I’ve also always wondered if the East/West coast of America is fundamentally affected by the sun — the East coast gets the sea sunrises, great for early birds catching worms, and the West coast gets the sea sunsets, great for romantic evenings and all night parties. Who knows.…My own little mnemonic to remember which direction the sun rises and which it sets. Surprisingly helpful for figuring out what direction you are facing — by where the sun is and the rough time of day. Also, for figuring out what time it’s likely to be in a different country — is it earlier in the morning for them or later in the day? I’ve also always wondered if the East/West coast of America is fundamentally affected by the sun — the East coast gets the sea sunrises, great for early birds catching worms, and the West coast gets the sea sunsets, great for romantic evenings and all night parties. Who knows.

18 Jan 2014

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