/diagram-design

name: diagram-design
description: Best practices for creating research diagrams with Excalidraw MCP tools

Diagram Design Guide for Research

When to Create Diagrams

Create a diagram when your research findings involve:

• **Comparing 3+ options** — comparison table or matrix diagram
• **Process with 4+ steps** — flowchart or sequence diagram
• **System with multiple components** — architecture diagram
• **Chronological events** — timeline
• **Hierarchical relationships** — tree or mind map
• **Data flows** — data flow diagram

Excalidraw Workflow

1. **Plan the diagram** — decide type, elements, and layout before creating 2. **Create elements** — use `create_element` or `batch_create_elements` 3. **Arrange** — use `align_elements` and `distribute_elements` for clean layout 4. **Inspect** — use `describe_scene` to verify the diagram looks right 5. **Adjust** — use `update_element` to fix positioning or text 6. **Group** — use `group_elements` to lock related items together

> **Note:** Do NOT export or share links — the user sees a live embedded canvas that auto-syncs.

Color Palette

Use consistent colors across diagrams:

| Purpose | Color | Hex | |---------|-------|-----| | Primary concepts | Blue | #1971c2 | | Positive / supported | Green | #2f9e44 | | Negative / limitations | Red | #e03131 | | Warning / caveats | Orange | #e8590c | | Neutral / context | Gray | #868e96 | | Highlight / focus | Yellow | #f08c00 |

Layout Patterns

• **Top-to-bottom**: Process flows, decision trees, timelines
• **Left-to-right**: Comparisons, before/after, pipelines
• **Radial / center-out**: Concept maps, mind maps
• **Grid**: Feature matrices, comparison tables

Element Guidelines

Text

• Use short labels (2-4 words per element)
• Title font size: 20-24px
• Label font size: 14-16px
• Add detail in sub-labels, not element titles

Shapes

• **Rectangles**: Processes, components, entities
• **Diamonds**: Decision points
• **Ellipses**: Start/end points, concepts
• **Rectangles with rounded corners**: Groups, categories

Arrows

• **Solid arrows**: Direct relationships, data flow
• **Dashed arrows**: Optional paths, indirect relationships
• Label arrows to clarify the relationship

Spacing

• 40px minimum between elements
• 80px between groups
• Consistent spacing within a group

Diagram Types for Research

Comparison Diagram

[Option A]  [Option B]  [Option C]
   |            |            |
[Pros]      [Pros]      [Pros]
[Cons]      [Cons]      [Cons]
   |            |            |
   └──── [Verdict] ─────────┘

Architecture Diagram

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│        [System Name]         │
│  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐        │
│  │Comp A│──│Comp B│        │
│  └──────┘  └──┬───┘        │
│               │              │
│          ┌────▼────┐        │
│          │ Comp C  │        │
│          └─────────┘        │
└─────────────────────────────┘

Timeline

[2020]──[2021]──[2022]──[2023]──[2024]──[2025]
  │       │       │       │       │       │
 Event   Event   Event   Event   Event   Event

Tips

• Always call `describe_scene` after creating elements to verify layout
• Use `batch_create_elements` for efficiency (multiple elements at once)
• Group related elements before aligning for cleaner organization
• Do NOT export or share links — the live embedded canvas auto-syncs for the user
• NEVER use `create_from_mermaid` — it produces invisible results. Always use `batch_create_elements` with element JSON instead