How to Create Diagrams for Technical Blog Posts

September 13, 2024

Kirstin Spivey

6 min read

technical-blogs

TL;DR: Architecture diagrams help explain technical ideas in blog posts and documentation. Here are the key points:

Best Free Tools: Draw.io, ExcaliDraw, Google Drawings
Core Design Principles: Keep it clear, use consistent styles, and think about your audience
Success Formula: Practice often, use white space, align elements well, and maintain visual order

In summary, architecture diagrams are important for visualizing and explaining the details of systems and applications.

Writing technical articles or documentation is a complex process consisting of different components. You have to:

Research the topic
Create demo applications
Troubleshoot any issues
Write the final article

For some articles, including an architectural diagram can be helpful. It allows readers to understand the system structure, data flow, and interactions between different systems or services more clearly.

In this article, we’ll define what an architecture diagram is, explore different tools you can use to create them, and provide a few tips to help you get started.

What Are Architecture Diagrams?
What Makes a Good Architecture Diagram?
What Tools Are Used for Creating Architecture Diagrams?
Tips for Creating Effective Diagrams
Conclusion

What Are Architecture Diagrams?

An architecture diagram is a visual representation that shows how different parts of a system interact. It serves as a blueprint, mapping out connections between components like databases, servers, APIs, and user interfaces.

While it would be possible to communicate the complexity of this architecture with words, the diagram communicates more clearly and efficiently.

Architecture diagrams can also highlight dependencies, data flows, and the overall organization, making it easier to identify issues.

What Makes a Good Architecture Diagram?

A good architecture diagram clearly shows the design and structure of a system. It typically focuses on the following points:

Clarity: Use clear, straightforward symbols and labels to represent components. Additionally, make sure you use descriptive labels and annotations to clarify the function and purpose of each component.
Consistency: Arrange elements logically, with a consistent style and structure to make the diagram easy to follow.
Key components: Show all important parts, including how they relate and work with each other.

These elements ensure that the diagram is both informative and accessible, helping readers easily visualize complex concepts.

What Tools Are Used for Creating Architecture Diagrams?

When you have a good idea of what makes a diagram effective, it is time to explore the tools available for creating them. Each tool has its unique features and benefits, so consider your specific needs.

Google Drawings

Like many tools in the Google ecosystem, Google Drawings is simple to use. While it may not offer advanced features, its clear interface helps you to create basic and effective diagrams.

Google Drawings works in every browser, but if you’re using a Chromium-based browser like Chrome or Edge, you can type drawing.new directly into the address bar to open a new drawing.

ExcaliDraw

Sometimes you want something a bit different that resembles a quick sketch. This is where you may want to try out ExcaliDraw. It lets you create illustrations that looks like what you’d draw on a whiteboard.

Whether you use Google Drawings or ExcaliDraw mainly comes down to preference.

Draw.io

Draw.io is a free and easy-to-use tool that offers a more extensive set of features than Google Drawings and is designed specifically for diagramming.

It integrates well with cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox and supports real-time collaboration.

Inkscape

If you’re interested in making more complex diagrams, Inkscape offers precise control over vector graphics, enabling detailed and accurate illustrations. It supports a wide range of file formats and includes advanced features like layers, object grouping, and path manipulation.

It’s also free, open source, and available on Windows, Linux and Mac

Tips for Creating Effective Diagrams

Now that you know about the tools, let us discuss some tips for creating effective diagrams. These tips will help you enhance your diagrams and make them more engaging.

Practice

As with most things, creating architectural diagrams takes practice. At first, it may seem like making these diagrams is just about knowing the basics, but it actually requires skill. If you have not made diagrams before, do not get discouraged if your first few do not look great. Keep trying and you will be creating clear diagrams in no time.

Keep It Simple

Use consistent colors and fonts: Stick to a limited color palette and uniform fonts for a clean look. Also, make sure your color choices enhance readability.
Keep it simple: Avoid clutter by focusing on key elements and removing unnecessary details.
Utilize white space: Give elements room to breathe to prevent the diagram from feeling crowded. Along with that, don’t try to cram everything into the diagram, the content that goes along with the diagram can help fill in the gaps.
Align elements (when possible): Ensure that shapes and lines are neatly aligned for a clean, organized appearance. Don’t forget to think about the position of elements and texts. Make sure that the text accompanying an element is close to it, and is not ambiguously placed.
Use shapes: Standard shapes and symbols such as arrows and squares can help provide clarity.
Use visual hierarchy: Highlight important components with size, color, or placement to guide the viewer’s attention.
Maintain proportions: Keep element sizes proportional to their importance or relationship to avoid misleading representations.

Think About the Reader

Of all the tips in this article, this is probably the most important one: Do not forget who you are creating your diagram for. Consider your audience’s experience level. If your reader is a beginner, ensure your content is straightforward and easy to understand. For readers with more experience, you can incorporate more complex terminology and visuals.

To enhance your diagrams, take a moment to reflect on the specific needs of your audience. Ask yourself what information they require and how they prefer to receive it. This approach will help you create diagrams that are not only informative but also engaging.

Additionally, it may be helpful to gather feedback from a sample of your target audience. This feedback can guide you in refining your diagrams to better meet their expectations. By focusing on these aspects, you can create diagrams that truly resonate with your readers.

Conclusion

Creating an architecture diagram is not very hard, but it does need practice and careful planning. A poorly made diagram can confuse readers instead of making your points clear. To prevent this, always think about how your diagram fits with the content you are presenting. Good design can change a decent architectural diagram into an excellent one.

Need additional support for creating technical posts? At Draft.dev, we have 150+ articles for technical content creators—visit our blog here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What software should beginners use to create architecture diagrams?

Beginners should start with Google Drawings or ExcaliDraw because they offer intuitive interfaces with minimal learning curves. Google Drawings provides basic shapes and is accessible through any browser, while ExcaliDraw creates hand-drawn style diagrams that feel less formal and more approachable for initial practice.

How detailed should an architecture diagram be for a technical blog post?

Architecture diagrams for blog posts should focus on clarity over completeness. Include only the components essential to understanding your article's main point. Detailed implementation specifics can be explained in the accompanying text, while the diagram provides the high-level structure and relationships between major components.

Can I use the same diagram tool for both simple and complex technical illustrations?

Yes, tools like Draw.io offer sufficient flexibility for both simple flowcharts and complex system architectures. However, for highly detailed professional diagrams, specialized tools like Inkscape provide advanced features like precise vector manipulation and layering that simpler tools lack.

What file format is best for architecture diagrams in blog posts?

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is ideal because it scales perfectly at any resolution and keeps file sizes small. For compatibility, PNG works well as a fallback format. Avoid JPEG for diagrams because compression artifacts reduce text readability and line sharpness.

How do I make architecture diagrams accessible for readers with visual impairments?

Always include descriptive alt text that explains the diagram's purpose and key components. Use high-contrast colors (avoid red-green combinations), ensure text is readable at different sizes, and consider providing a text-based description of the architecture flow alongside the visual diagram.

Should I create diagrams before or after writing my technical article?

Create rough diagram sketches during the planning phase to organize your thoughts, then refine them after writing. This approach ensures your diagrams align perfectly with your final content and highlight the most important concepts you've explained in the text.