Listen "Canal Locks with David Macauley"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, Jono meets one of his heroes, as we engage in a conversation with acclaimed author, illustrator and explainer, David Macaulay.We talk about David's journey from architecture to creating educational illustrations that make complex concepts understandable and engaging - and the Canal Lock is a great example of this from Jono's collection.We discuss the significance of sketching for understanding and teaching intricate ideas, and reflect on some of David's famous works, including his book, 'The Way Things Work.'David shares insights into his creative process, the importance of curiosity, and how integrating humour and playfulness in his illustrations can enhance learning.This conversation would not be complete without questioning David about his famous woolly mammoths - used in his illustrations to help explain machines, mechanics, physics and science. LinksSee here for more information about David as well as his bibliography.Jono specifically references David's maths book, Mammoth Maths, when comparing his own sketch on "Parts of a Circle".When addressing humour in Architecture, David talks about his book "Great Moments in Architecture".Summary00:00 Welcome to Sketchplanations - introducing David Macaulay01:30 David's Journey into Explanations03:42 The Way Things Work04:35 The Joy of Learning and Teaching04:47 Collaborating on The Way Things Work09:54 Exploring Canal Locks15:24 The Art of Sketching and Curiosity20:05 The Importance of Sketching20:34 Humour in Learning25:07 The Origin of the Woolly Mammoth in David’s drawings26:37 Balancing Humour and Information30:07 Encouraging Sketching in Education33:30 Everyday Wonders and Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More episodes of the podcast Sketchplanations - The Podcast
Family Tree Explainer
30/12/2025
Continuous Partial Attention
16/12/2025
The Pomodoro Technique
18/11/2025
Ordering Adjectives with Author Mark Forsyth
21/10/2025
Jevon's Paradox
09/10/2025
How to Instantly Feel Better
11/09/2025
The Virtuous Cycle of Exercise & Sleep
24/07/2025
Yes Sayers & No Sayers
26/06/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.