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.

New sketches by email

Learn something new in a sketch each Sunday

Recent sketches

3 visuals explaining: Ask open-ended questions, Listen way more than you talk, and Stay focused to the very end

Perform good social research

Ask open-ended questions. Listen way more than you talk. Stay focused to the very end. Thanks to Jump Associates and Peter Lyman.…

22 Oct 2013

3 Miscellaneous cooking tips

Never rush an onion (from Gordon Ramsay), avoid moving chicken if you can, and don’t stir fry too much - best keep stir fries to 1-2 person portions max.…

21 Oct 2013

Be real on the internets

Hi, I’m Jono, and I think, where possible, it’s important to be you on the Internet just as it is in real life. Perspective from Jaron Lanier. Masks and hoods insight from Philip Zimbardo’s Psychology of Evil, TED talk.…

20 Oct 2013

Why do birds migrate sooooo far?

tl;dr - ice ages.…

19 Oct 2013

A participant asks a question at a conference talk leading to chat with new people later

Ask a question early at conferences

There’s no point in being in a room full of interesting people and not being able to find each other. Asking a question early on can give you a good conference day by letting others know who you are, what you look like and what you're interested in. It's like sharing your bio, and sometimes agenda, with the room. This helps you stand out later for others to seek you out.…

18 Oct 2013

Share by Default

I’ve always been somewhat guarded about sharing, preferring to stick with close friends and family. This frame shift, provided for me by JP Rangaswami, was part of the reason for putting Sketchplanations up here. And it’s spot on. How could I possibly know who may find which sketchplanation interesting?…

17 Oct 2013

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