7 Brilliant and/or Baffling Flowcharts

In the 2007 post Fun with Flowcharts, we took a look at flowcharts and how people use them to explain widely varying processes from playing the pan flute to a dog's inner thoughts. That was followed by 7 Geeky Flowcharts in 2008. Since then, I've found even more strange flowcharts to give us a giggle or two.

The Flowchart of Should You Make A Flowchart

Miles Grover at Thinkin' Lincoln created this flowchart on the decision to make a flowchart. Now stay with me here. Since Grover decided to make this chart, the answer is yes, make a flow chart. However, since he's already made the decision about making this one, your process may vary. Follow the link to see the entire chart.

Understanding Flowcharts

Of course, it's difficult to make a flowchart if you don't understand flowcharts. So Randall Munroe at XKCD explains flowcharts for you, with a handy flowchart. Are you following this? As the previous flowchart explained, "people love that meta-irony stuff." Continue reading for flowcharts that are actually about stuff.

Create Your Own Star Trek Story

The best flowcharts are the ones that help you actually do something you enjoy. Stephanie Fox at io9 took information that is obvious to fans of the original Star Trek TV series and put it into flowchart form to help anyone make their own Star Trek: TOS adventure. The scriptwriters for the 1966-68 series were obviously constrained by budget, and often relied on what worked in previous episodes to construct stories. In this small section of the chart, the available set determines what kind of alien world the Enterprise will encounter.

Solving Valentine's Day

Funny, but still a bit sad when you reach the end of this flowchart on how geeks deal with Valentines Day.

The Financial Crisis

The main function of a flowchart (or any chart, for that matter) is to make information easy to absorb. Understanding the current financial meltdown requires such vast amounts of information even economists have trouble. But if you break it down into smaller pieces, such as unemployment statistics, and put it into flowchart form, even I can understand it. Even if it doesn't make sense.

Selecting a Medical Specialty

Few decisions in life wouldn't be easier with a flowchart. Here's one for medical students on how to select your specialty. It's based on your goals and personality.

Beer

McCann Ericson advertising in Tel Aviv designed a series of flowcharts to advertise Gold Star Beer. This one contrasts how men and women deal with the effects of beer drinking. Believe me, the woman's process goes a lot further! See more of the series here and here.

See also: Fun with Flowcharts

7 Geeky Flowcharts

Fun with Pie Charts

Fun with Venn and Euler Diagrams