Have you ever had your order or instructions (for a cake or otherwise) go hilariously awry? Oh dear... How funny. Never mind eh?!? I'm sure there's a lesson in these somewhere. In this episode, we discuss the phenomenon of 'Cake Wrecks,' where instructions for creating something go hilariously wrong, and how this applies broadly to miscommunication in product development. The conversation is joined by John Cutler, a prolific writer and ("on second") thought leader in digital product development. We delve into the importance of clear communication, prototypes, and iterative understanding in avoiding these 'wrecks' in both hardware and software realms. As always, we also touch on real-world examples, the role of user experience, and the necessity of involving all team members in the design process to ensure a shared and accurate understanding of project goals.Stay tuned for practical advice on improving clarity and collaboration in your projects.Topics Covered. 00:00 Introduction to Cakewrecks00:57 Everyday Essentials and the Magic of Three01:44 The Versatile Bic Four Colours Pen02:17 Reminiscing About Handwriting and Notes05:31 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest05:39 Exploring Cake Wrecks and Misinterpretation06:29 John Cutler's Journey and Insights13:47 Challenges in Product Development20:07 The Illusion of Fixing Decisions20:28 Challenges in Hardware Manufacturing21:13 The Importance of Clear Communication22:44 Prototyping and Specification23:46 Avoiding Misunderstandings in Projects25:20 Participatory Design and User Experience28:18 Embracing Diverse Perspectives34:48 The Role of Sketching in Communication37:55 Concluding Thoughts and ResourcesGet in TouchHave you ever had your instructions result in something way more literal than intended? Or did you mis-interpret the orders of someone else? Let us know:email us: hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteReference LinksIn this episode we also reference:YouTube clip of John's first digital product development project; the computer bar tending game, Last CallJen Yates' amusing blog on Cake WrecksJeff Patton's book; User Story MappingSpinal Tap's Cake Wreck moment when they accidentally order an 18" tall model of Stonehenge in stead of an 18' model. Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner's book, How Big Things Get DoneAll music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doesn't it feel good to be told something positive about yourself and vice versa if you notice something positive about others?So why wouldn't we compliment each other more often?In this episode, what with it being nearly Christmas, we use the metaphor that compliments are gifts - and not one you'd pick out of a lucky dip. These gifts have been made and wrapped especially for you. There's your name on the label and everything!Not only do we offer advice on noticing when you could give compliments more regularly, we discuss the etiquette in receiving compliments and make Tom feel very awkward with a little complimentary experiment!We apply our theories to the usual work, home and play scenarios and ponder why compliments from our parents mean so much.Get in TouchHow do you feel about compliments? Regular giver or a bit shy? How well do you receive a compliment?And if you want to rise to the challenge laid out in this episode and give 5 compliments you wouldn't have given otherwise in the next 2 weeks, then let us know how you get on.email us: hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteReference LinksIn this episode we also reference:Previous Podcast Episodes: 5 Ways to Wellbeing and Words & Language sketches compilation (@48m25 Compliment v Complement)Jono's sketch on how to Accept ComplimentsJono's sketch on Giving gifts others can giveJono's sketch on Extrinsic motivationAll music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have a story to tell, a presentation to pitch, or a product to sell; in this episode on The Golden Circle, we explore the importance of focussing on the why before you expand into the how and the what.There's the old mantra that people do business with people and there's something a lot more human and emotive about explaining why you want to do or have done something, than just saying what you've done.Our guest for this discussion is the co-founder of Marloe Watch Company, Ollie Goffe. Along with his co-founder and business partner Gordon Fraser (our guest for the episode on Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow) they design and make watches. And boy, do these guys always have a beautifully compelling WHY behind each of their watch designs.As business leaders Ollie and Tom explain how crucial it is to instil the WHY behind a business into every employee but how much of a challenge that can become as the number of staff grows.We offer up a number of examples in brands, in sports and in family life of when the WHY is kept crystal clear to great effect.We talk how purpose-driven work can sometimes be exploited.And how sometimes the WHAT and the HOW are so compelling that we allow ourselves to ignore the WHY - even if we're sometimes a little embarrassed by it - think buying cheap products off Amazon.Get in TouchAre you conscious of the WHYs that drive your work or activities?What examples can you share with us where you've been seduced by someone's WHY?Let us know:email us: hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteReference LinksIn this episode we also reference:Simon Sinek's TED Talk - How Great Leaders Inspire ActionPatagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard's book: Let my people Go SurfingNike founder, Phil Knight's book: Shoe DogTeam GB Rowing's Ben Hunt-Davis & Harriet Beveridge's book: Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?All music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is another episode where we were all a little sheepish about telling stories of when we've observed The Bystander Effect in our own behaviour.Between us, we had lots of examples of where it's been observed in others. Of course we did.We discuss theories of why this is a human phenomenon and even examples of when we've been at the sharp end of it.The most innocuous and probably most common example was the WhatsApp Group chat.Who in your group is the one to take charge and suggest actual dates for things rather than the very non-committal "yeah - we should do that"?Jono describes solid works of research using CCTV footage that backs up the hypothesis and we ponder whether the effect is different in cultures and societies other than our own.Tell us your stories or examples of The Bystander Effect:hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteIn the episode we reference the following which you might like to read more into:The Whose Job Is It poem sketchThe Accountability Ladder podcast episode and sketchThe Ask The Question At Talks sketchAnd in the Listener Comments section at the end of the show we talked about:The Gartner Hype Cycle sketchThe Long Nose of Innovation sketchThe Learning Pit sketchThe Optimism Bias podcast episode and sketchThe Dunning-Kruger Effect sketch is exclusively in Jono's book Big Ideas, Little PicturesThe Hofstadter's Law sketchThe Cat-filter lawyer zoom call that went viral during Covid as an example of a Human Risk fail.All music expertly provided by Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the morning of your company's massive online shop launch, the only person who knows the crucial password misses their alarm, sleeps in and everyone's left waiting.Oh dear.In this episode we speak with the tireless behavioural scientist and Human Risk expert, Christian Hunt who tells us about the fundamental elements of human risk and how to avoid it; with plenty of juicy examples to bring this topic to life. Whilst the majority of the episode focuses on Human Risk in the professional environment, we also talk about how we all experience it in our day-to-day personal and family lives too; in Christian's own words, we all do stupid things every now and then.When Christian talks with companies about their Human Risk and how to mitigate it, he talks about "getting people to do what you want without p*ssing them off" - which we do reference a fair bit in the podcast. [potty mouths].Get in TouchYou will definitely have examples of Human Risk in your own personal or professional lives, and we'd love to hear about them. Anonymous submissions very welcome :-)email us: hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteReference LinksIn this episode we also reference:Jono's sketch on PhishingAbsolute carnage at the Oscars when the wrong film was read out for Best Picture. Kinda funny. Hugely awkward.In our Listener Comments at the end of the episode we reference an awesome inforgraphic on "The Emotion of Colour" in reference to our episode with Lucia Fraser on The Basic Colour Wheel. It's well worth a look.Guest ProfileChristian Hunt has over 27 years of experience in Financial Services, working in Investment Banking, Asset Management and a Family Office. His work benefits from the unique perspective of having held senior roles as both a Regulator and Risk & Compliance Officer.You can find more information about Christian and his services and his book, Humanizing Rules at www.human-risk.comYou can peruse his collection of amusing "Compliance in the Wild" spotting on LinkedIn.You can also listen to the Human Risk Podcast. All music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you like the thought of heading off on an adventure but don't really have the time to see it through?Why not try a MicroAdventure?They're smaller, achievable, won't break the bank and will go a long way to scratching that itch you might never have reached anyway.In this episode we speak with the charming and inspirational Al Humphreys about adventures in his life, before focussing on the smaller, more achievable things we could all fit into our busy lives to keep our thirst for fun, physical activity and spiritual reward truly quenched. Al is the author of 14 books to date, is an accomplished and entertaining public speaker, podcaster and general all-round good guy. Our conversation is packed full of ideas for things you can do from your own doorstep that will ensure you have some great stories (and maybe photos) to share with friends and family - in fact, why not share your MicroAdventures with them too?I know for a fact that since this conversation, Tommy climbs a tree near his office once a month during his lunch break!Amongst many topics, we talk about the character traits of someone who enjoys adventure and adversity, what drives us to seek adventure and the legal & moral wrangling of responsible wild camping.Get in TouchHow important is adventure in your life?Do you have examples of your own MicroAdventures?Let us know:email us: hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteReference LinksIn this episode we also reference:Custom Made Ordnance Survey MapsThe Fun Scale podcast episodeSmall Little People TRIZ Tool podcast episodeThe book "As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning" by Laurie LeeExample of a simple Bivvy BagHow to find the halfway point between you and others to define the perfect place to meet.All music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colour.Life wouldn’t be the same without it. But there are so many to choose from, how do we know which is the right colour?eg. What colour car would you buy? What colour shoes? What colour paint for the new feature wall in the kitchen? Sometimes you just instinctively know what colour(s) to choose. It’s a vibe thing.Other times, it’s nice to get a bit of help. And in this episode we speak with celebrated artist and ceramicist Lucia Fraser about the Basic Colour Wheel: Bringing a bit of structure and dare we say it, science to proceedings to help understand how colours relate to and complement each other. We also discuss how colour can affect and reflect our emotions.I particularly enjoyed our discussion about how brand logos are different to art when it comes to colour and that the colours chosen often have clear functions to play.Get in TouchHow important is colour in your life?Have you ever used the colour wheel to help make a decision on something?Let us know:email us: hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteLucia Fraser profileLucia studied for her Honours degree in Fine Art at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She has since exhibited her work in galleries across the UK and has collaborated with iconic British design brands such as Hobbs and Heal’s Furniture. Lucia is a friend of mine, and I’m very proud to say that I have a few bits of her work in my house, like this gorgeous landscape-inspired ink canvas.For more information on Lucia's work visit LuciaFraser.comAnd you can follow her antics on Instagram.Reference LinksIn this episode we also reference:The iconic Gulf Oil racing liveryJono's Sketchplanation on Atmospheric PerspectiveAll music on this podcast is provided by the very talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just like Goldilocks' porridge, often the most enjoyable activities and tasks are those in the sweet spot; where the balance between competence and the difficulty of the job at hand is juuuuuuuuust right. Making it a challenge, but not too much so. We discuss our own tolerances for menial tasks (such as loading the dishwasher) and find examples of our own Goldilocks Tasks (like tough IKEA furniture builds). Through this, we dissect what makes us feel motivated in the work we do, and more importantly the work we enjoy doing. How do ours compare to your Goldilocks Tasks? Where have you found your flow? Let us know:hello@sketchplanations.comOR leave us a voice noteIn the podcast we reference the following which you might like to read more into:The Basic Colour WheelBiz Stone's Book: Things a Little Bird Told MeMatch challenge with skills to avoid boredom and anxietyThe concept of FlowAll music provided by Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How easy do you find it to step back momentarily to gather your thoughts when your world continues at 100 mph?So often in our professional and personal lives we're too busy to ever pause, reflect, and recharge before continuing.One of the key mantras from Stephen Covey's book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People is to stop and sharpen the saw every now and then to gain perspective, refresh thinking and re-prioritise.Jono & Tommy give examples from their lives about how this approach has helped them at work and at home.Rob brings the metaphor into the literal world with stories from his wood workshop.In our discussion, we mention the following items, which you might want to take a closer look at:This song, It Costs That Much did the rounds on social media a while back for frustrated makers and crafters. It made me laugh.We covered the 5 Ways to Wellbeing with wellness expert Nancy Hey in podcast #15 from Series 1.Here's an example of a 5-year journal that Tommy was talking about. (Tommy sent me one of these in the post after we recorded the episode! :-)Jono references Arnold Schwarzenegger's motivational speech. Here's a clipped edit of the 1-hour a day section.Sketchplanations referenced:Jólabókaflóð - Icelandic tradition of giving books at Christmas and staying in to read them.Forest Bathing - to soak in the atmosphere of a forestSolvitur Ambulando - It is solved by walkingFrom the postbag, Jono also references sketches to do with the dining / kitchen table:Kitchen Table Survival SkillsSet your table in time-honoured positionsTell us your stories or experiences with Sharpening The Saw.email: hello@sketchplanations.com or leave us a voice note by clicking the blue microphone button.All Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether it's a home renovation project, a presentation for work, a piece of writing or an actual race you need to train for, the thought of the finishing line can be the ultimate motivator to get you started.We chat with charming and witty, American author, illustrator, film-maker and ultra-runner Brendan Leonard about how he motivates himself to get going on various projects. Through his stories of physical adventure and creative endeavours we explore the different ways in which a definitive end-point to something (and sometimes a fear of it) can serve as the biggest kick.In this discussion we reference:Brendan's latest book; Ultra SomethingBrendan's book on the journey of creative expression; Make It - 50 Myths and Truths about CreatingBrendan's book on running; I Hate Running and You Can TooBrendan's film (and look out for the bit at the Finish Line that Brendan references in the podcast); How to Run 100 milesJono references his sketch on Forcing FunctionWe'd love to hear your stories of any experience with Finishing Lines. How much of a motivator are they for you? Ping us an email to: hello@sketchplanations.com or leave us a voice note when you click the blue microphone button on the website.All Music on this podcast series is provided by Franc Cinelli. Find many more tracks at franccinelli.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.