data

Building your Visual Model Mental Library

Michael King

13 Mar 2025 — 1 min read

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To become better at visually communicating (e.g., creating diagrams for technical documents, facilitating a meeting with a whiteboard or digital whiteboard), you should expose yourself to many different people visually communicate. This allows you to build a mental library of visual concepts you can use. Some examples:

Lucidchart has an impressive template library (free for people to browse) with hundreds of diagram type
Learn about various diagram types within domains relevant to you, such as DoD Architecture Framework's (DoDAF) Viewpoints:
- OV-1: High-Level Operational Concept Graphic
- OV-3: Operational Resource Flow Matrix
- OV-4: Organizational Relationships Chart
Graphic Facilitation thought leaders, such as Karina of ConverSketch, which is a domain of either "taking notes" visually from a meeting or facilitating/guiding a discussion in real-time visually (see also the International Forum of Visual Practictioners)
Process Maps and Flowcharts, Turtle Diagrams, etc.
Value Stream Mapping
Learn from the data visualization lessons learned from the Challenger Space Shuttle tragedy
Business financial data visualizations by How They Make Money
Review some of Edward Tufte's work on data visualization
PowerPoint SmartArt is a good way to explore some simple graphic concepts to look for inspiration
Org Charts
Follow the work of companies who focus on visual strategic communication, like Throughline in DC
O'Reilly's Head First Data Analysis is a great survey/introduction to data analysis techniques, that offers a less boring approach to communicating the domain

Over time, you'll build both a library of what you've been exposed to, but also identify your go-to diagram types, depending on the role and type of organization you're in. For building solution packages for technology solutions businesses, it seems like there's a core group of visuals of:

Concept of Operations (ConOps)
As-Is (Current) Structure/Architecture
To-Be (Future Vision) Structure/Architecture
Org Charts
Timeline/Milestones (e.g., Gantt Chart, Product Roadmap)

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