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

Remove troublesome lids

My dad often says my mum won’t survive when he’s gone as she won’t be able to open any jars for food. Maybe this’ll help. Warming up jar lids has saved me on multiple occasions. Fourth Try: Put folded dish cloth on counter and whack the edge of the lid against it. Boom. (courtesy @MrRobBell)…

5 Feb 2013

Scan your Oyster card while walking to avoid angry Londoners

This handy tip from @inventor_tom. People who halt progress at the barriers are not easily tolerated here it seems.…

4 Feb 2013

Run better

The best stuff I’ve learned from the chapter ‘Pursuing the perfect stride’ in Brain Training for Runners by Matt Fitzgerald and by reading Born to Run.…

3 Feb 2013

Why we sometimes walk in circles

Took me a long time to figure out why we regularly took a different route to and from certain places. I find that it also happens cycling due to avoiding difficult cross-traffic turns.…

2 Feb 2013

Connect with a colleague through affinities

Learned this lovely process at Jump Associates thanks to Sarah Singer Nourie. Do it, do it!…

1 Feb 2013

The best writing is re-writing

The best writing is re-writing. I learned this from On Writing Well by William Zinsser. It has two pages worth the price of the book alone. They show the same pages that made it into the book with editing marks all over them. At a glance, it made me understand the work and craft that goes into writing and that I can do it. As Paul Graham wrote: "The easy, conversational tone of good writing comes only on the eighth rewrite." It also helps me realise that the way to good is by starting with something that isn't good. Also on editing: The first draft is always perfect Micro-editing redundant words Short words Happy talk must die How to speak plainly By monkeys Short speeches…The best writing is re-writing. I learned this from On Writing Well by William Zinsser. It has two pages worth the price of the book alone. They show the same pages that made it into the book with editing marks all over them. At a glance, it made me understand the work and craft that goes into writing and that I can do it. As Paul Graham wrote: "The easy, conversational tone of good writing comes only on the eighth rewrite." It also helps me realise that the way to good is by starting with something that isn't good. Also on editing: The first draft is always perfect Micro-editing redundant words Short words Happy talk must die How to speak plainly By monkeys Short speeches

31 Jan 2013

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