Explainer graphic

Explainer Graphic

Create stunning infographics that explain complex topics using real-world analogies anyone can understand. The secret sauce: find the killer analogy FIRST, then build the visual around it.

How It Works

When you say "explain this visually" or "make an infographic about [topic]", this skill finds the perfect analogy, maps every piece, then writes a detailed visual brief you can build or hand to a designer.

Step 1: Find the Killer Analogy

The analogy makes or breaks the graphic. Search these categories for the best fit:

Category	Example Analogies	Best For
Everyday Life	Kitchen, closet, mailbox, filing cabinet, remote control	Organization, storage, interfaces
Jobs and Roles	Receptionist, translator, librarian, bouncer, air traffic controller	Routing, filtering, managing
Construction	Blueprint, foundation, scaffolding, plumbing, wiring	Architecture, infrastructure
Cooking	Recipe, ingredients, oven, blender, mise en place	Processes, combining inputs
Sports	Playbook, coach, referee, training camp, relay race	Strategy, teamwork, handoffs
Gaming	Skill tree, inventory, quest log, respawn, power-ups	Progression, upgrades, systems
Nature	Root system, beehive, food chain, ecosystem, seasons	Networks, hierarchies, cycles
Pop Culture	Swiss army knife, Netflix queue, GPS navigation	Multi-tool, curated content, routing

Analogy Selection Criteria

• Does it click in under 3 seconds?
• Would a 10-year-old get it?
• Does it map to at least 3 parts of the concept?
• Is it fresh? (Avoid "it's like a brain" for AI topics)

Step 2: Map the Analogy

Fill out this framework for your chosen analogy:

Real Concept	Analogy Equivalent	Visual Element	Connection
[Part 1 of concept]	[Analogy part]	[What to draw]	[Why this mapping works]
[Part 2 of concept]	[Analogy part]	[What to draw]	[Why this mapping works]
[Part 3 of concept]	[Analogy part]	[What to draw]	[Why this mapping works]
[Part 4 of concept]	[Analogy part]	[What to draw]	[Why this mapping works]

Every part of the concept MUST map to something in the analogy. If a piece does not map cleanly, the analogy is wrong. Go back and pick a better one.

Step 3: Choose a Layout

Pick the layout that best matches your concept type:

Layout	Structure	Best For
Split Panel	Two halves side by side	Comparisons, before/after, real vs analogy
Circular Flow	Elements in a circle with arrows	Cycles, feedback loops, recurring processes
Stacked Steps	Vertical stack, top to bottom	Sequential processes, hierarchies, funnels
Comparison Grid	2x2 or 3x3 grid of cards	Feature comparisons, category breakdowns
Before/After	Left side old way, right side new way	Transformations, upgrades, improvements
Pyramid	Layers building up from base	Foundation concepts, priority levels
Hub and Spoke	Central element with branches	One-to-many relationships, ecosystems
Timeline	Left to right progression	Evolution, history, step-by-step

Step 4: Write the Visual Brief

Produce a complete brief with ALL of the following:

Graphic Title

One punchy line (8 words max). Example: "API Keys Are Just VIP Wristbands"

Dimensions

Specify target size: social post (1080x1080), infographic (1080x1920), slide (1920x1080), or blog (800x1200).

Color Palette

Background, primary, accent, text, and secondary text -- all with hex codes.

Layout Description

Exact placement of each element and size relative to canvas.

Sections

For each section of the graphic:

• Label: What the section is called
• Analogy visual: What to draw (be specific -- "a kitchen counter with three bowls" not "cooking stuff")
• Real meaning: What it represents in the actual concept
• Text overlay: 1-2 lines max explaining the connection
• Icon or emoji: A supporting visual element

Connection Lines

Describe how sections connect:

• Arrow style (solid, dashed, curved, dotted)
• Arrow color
• Label on arrow (if any)
• Direction of flow

Key Insight Callout

One highlighted box or banner with the main takeaway. This is the single most important sentence on the entire graphic. Style it differently from everything else (bigger, bolder, different color, bordered).

Rules

• Every analogy must be universal -- no niche references only some people know
• Max 50 words of text on the entire graphic (less is better)
• Every section needs a visual element, not just text
• The graphic should make sense even without reading the text (visuals carry the story)
• One concept per graphic. If the topic is too big, split into multiple graphics

Example Usage

• "Explain how APIs work visually"
• "Create a graphic explaining how AI skills work"
• "Explain this visually: how a neural network learns"

Tips for Best Results

• If the first analogy feels forced, try a different category
• Simpler analogies always beat clever ones