Sketchplanations
Big Ideas Little Pictures
Get the book!
Sketchplanations podcast photo of Rob Bell, Tom Pellereau and Jono Hey
Prefer to listen?
🎉 Help keep Sketchplanations ad-free by supporting me

Data sketches

Explore sketches, drawings, and illustrations that simplify ideas related to Data.

Chihuahua syndrome illustration: an analyst wonders at the number of dog breeds when most of them are misspellings of chihuahuaChihuahua syndromeAn employee is flummoxed by a set of opinions without data about how to proceed on a projectWithout data you're just another person with an opinionPeeling away the intent and subtlety behind what seems a simple metric. Next to an onion.The metrics onionSneaky averages: A statistician sinking in the deep part of a pond by a sign saying the average depth is 3ftSneaky averagesCorrelation is not causation illustration: A chart of the correlation between storks nesting on roofs and children in a household is shown above a street of progressively larger family houses with more and more storks and someone wondering if the storks are bringing the babiesCorrelation is not causationSankey Diagram illustration: a diagram shows an example of the flow of materials in a system. The example illustrated is the point of disposing of domestic waste. The jumbled, inbound mix of waste brought in on the left gets separated into outbound flows on the right including card recycling; plastic, glass & metal recycling; compost; landfill and directly re-useable items (such as milk bottles). The width of each outbound arrow represents size of flow. Sankey diagramLeading metrics and lagging metrics: illustrated by diet and exercise as a leading metric with weight loss as the lagging metricLeading and lagging metricsContent drift illustration: A cat-lover is seen on their mobile device, delighted at having linked to an online article containing pictures of cute cats. When they check the same link at a later date, they are confused / annoyed that it now navigates to an article with pictures of cute dogs! Content driftSampling bias: a presenter proudly shows the conclusion of a bar chart of responses from people who were asked if they love responding to surveys. A resounding 'yes'.Sampling biasA funnel of dots of information emerge as a shining ball of wisdom at the bottom — the DIKW chainData Information Knowledge WisdomA fisherman illustrates the parable of the fishing net by concluding a minimum size of fish because they never see any smaller in their nets — you get what you measureYou get what you measureThe BS Asymmetry principle, also known as Brandolini's law explained with one person struggling to persuade their friend that the moon isn't made of cheeseThe BS asymmetry principleAnalytics Maturity illustration: A young character is very happy, sat at their makeshift lemonade stand next to the sidewalk. When they close their stand, our young entrepreneur can assess their performance today using hindsight and insight to inform preparation through foresight for next weekend. Analytics maturityNet Promoter Score illustration: How to calculate NPS from the spectrum of responses to the question "How likely are you to recommend us to a friend?"Net Promoter ScoreThe Data Prison illustration: shows 2 tables with identical data describing a schedule of work and fun for every day of the week. The "imprisoned" data in the table on the left is separated by lines in a grid. The "freed" data in the table on the right has no lines, and instead uses shading and spacing.The data prisonBeyond developing and developed world views: a world of 4 income levels from Sketchplanations, Factfulness and GapminderA world of 4 income levelsThe Streisand Effect illustration: the attention of two passers by is drawn by a glut of warning and security signs mounted on a high security perimeter wall. The Streisand EffectGoodhart's law illustration showing a manager frustrated by 1000's of tiny nails when measuring on number of nails made, and pulling their hair out when presented with giant nails when measuring on weightGoodhart’s Law: when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.The half-life of caffeine illustration: showing the effect of caffeine rising then decreasing over timeThe half-life of caffeineA cheetah vs a horse showing the legs leaving the ground in the tucked position from famous photos by Eadweard MuybridgeDo horses' legs leave the ground at a gallop?Best travel choices in LondonThe lie factor in data charts and graphicsWatch for the lie factorWealth inequality in AmericaMaximise data-inkUnderstanding reliability and validityWhat gets measured gets better
Buy Me A Coffee