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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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Learn something new in a sketch each Sunday

Recent sketches

Party Bottle Sizes illustration: a series of increasingly large green glass bottles are shown in a row with their formal names and comparative size in relation to a standard wine bottle. From a Demi (half a standard bottle) to a Nebuchadnezzar (20 standard bottles).

Party bottle sizes

These large bottles are seriously impressive to see. They also have neat names from biblical kings for reasons I don’t know. There are a few more gradations, and some sizes and names are only for sparkling wines like champagne and some not. And there are some that even get significantly larger than the 20 bottles in a nebuchadnezzar, though I’ve never seen one.
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Mean world syndrome illustration: showing how those who watch more believe the world is a meaner place

Mean world syndrome

Mean world syndrome is the name given to the observation that people who watch more TV seem to believe the world is a more dangerous place than people who watch less. It's likely due to the prevalence of violence on TV and coverage of extreme events that are actually quite rare in most people’s lives. The term comes from cultivation theory — broadly the study of the long-term effects of television — which has a more general idea that people who watch a lot of TV tend to see reality more like the reality they see on TV. Term coined by George Gerbner. Also see: Addiction Languishing Psychic numbing
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The 10 Essentials illustration: a list of essential bits of kit for camping and being out in wilderness is laid out; compass & map, hat and sun cream, a warm jacket, head-torch, first-aid kit, lit match, tape & knife, food and snacks, full water bottles, a tent or tarpaulin.

The 10 Essentials

What should you make sure you have with you when you head out to the wilderness? A lot of stuff may prove handy, but perhaps the best checklist to start from for stuff that may get you out of a fix is the 10 Essentials by the Seattle-based Mountaineers group. This is a version of their systems list which focuses on what the objects need to do rather than specifically which objects you should bring. So, for example, insulation may be warm clothes but could be a wind breaker or waterproofs for snow or rain rather than cold. Check out Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills PS I modified it very slightly for space and simplicity. Don’t blame me if you are stuck in the wilderness without the right kit.
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How to remember if you did something illustration: a person does a star jump as they leave the house and lock the front door. Later on, remembering that they did a star jump helps remember that they locked the door.

How to remember if you did something

A simple way to remember if you locked your car, turned the gas off, watered the plants or whatever, is to do something unusual around the time that you do it. When you find yourself thinking back to whether you did it or not, you will know for sure when you remember the strange thing that you did that is connected to it. The only limit is your imagination. Ironically, I can’t remember where I learned this — I must not have followed this tip.
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Johari Window model illustrating self-awareness through feedback and disclosure in four quadrants: Open Self, Blind Spot, Hidden Self, and Unknown Self.

Johari Window — A Model for Self-Awareness, Feedback, and Personal Growth

The Johari Window is a model for understanding self-awareness and improving relationships through feedback and sharing. It divides what we know about ourselves—and what others know about us—into four quadrants: 1. Open Self – Things you and others know about you. 2. Blind Spot – Things others see about you, but you don't. 3. Hidden Self – Things you know but choose not to share. 4. Unknown Self – Things about you that neither you nor others know. Most people won't be aware of much that you know about yourself —through sharing or disclosure, you help others understand more about you.  Conversely, some aspects of yourself are invisible to you, and only others can see them clearly—you need to receive feedback to learn about these. Over time, this process can lead to deeper self-awareness and personal growth. Other aspects of yourself, especially when you are young, may remain buried in your unconscious mind and are thus unknown to you and others. The size of each quadrant varies in different relationships. If you join a new team at work, your hidden self may be large since colleagues don't yet know much about you—there will be a lot you need to share with your colleagues to help them understand you better. In contrast, your oldest friends may know how you'll act before you do yourself. The Johari Window is widely used in team development, personal reflection, and communication training. It helps build trust, improve feedback culture, and uncover hidden strengths or challenges. Related Ideas to the Johari Window Also see: The Learning Pit Give good feedback Feedback Fear Feedback Analysis A spectrum of feedback quality Origins of the Johari Window The model was created in 1955 by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, who developed it as part of a study on group dynamics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The name "Johari" comes from a combination of their first names—"Hi, Jo, Harry!". Today, the model is a well-known tool in psychology, leadership training, and self-improvement. Nicola Rowledge shared the examples in the quadrants with me.
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Santo Libre & Cuba Libre illustration: a dark drink on the left is a Cuba Libre (rum & coke). A clear drink on the right is a Santo Libre (rum & lemonade)

Santo libre, cuba libre

I first had a santo libre in Belize and, given how popular cuba libres are, I was surprised I’d never heard of it. Basically, it’s rum + Sprite or lemonade + a little lime juice. I am hereby spreading the word of this excellent drink.
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