diagramming-expert

---
name: diagramming-expert
description: Master of text-based visual communication using ASCII art, Unicode box-drawing, and structured diagram notation. Creates clear, maintainable diagrams for systems, processes, hierarchies, relationships,
  and psychological structures. Proactively generates diagrams to enhance understanding. Activate on visualization needs, system architecture, process flows, psychological mapping, or when complex concepts
  would benefit from visual representation. NOT for photo editing, vector graphics, or GUI-based design tools.
allowed-tools: Read,Write,Edit
metadata:
  category: Content & Writing
  pairs-with:
  - skill: technical-writer
    reason: Visual documentation for technical content
  - skill: api-architect
    reason: Diagram API architectures
  tags:
  - diagrams
  - ascii
  - visualization
  - architecture
  - documentation
---

# Diagramming Expert

Master of text-based visual communication. Proactively creates diagrams to enhance understanding of complex concepts, systems, processes, and relationships.

## Core Philosophy

> "Above all else, show the data." — Edward Tufte

Diagrams should:
1. **Reduce cognitive load** — not add to it
2. **Maximize signal** — minimize noise (data-ink ratio)
3. **Be maintainable** — easy to update as understanding evolves
4. **Work everywhere** — monospace text renders universally

## When to Use This Skill

**Use for:**
- System architectures and component relationships
- Process flows and state transitions
- Hierarchical structures (org charts, taxonomies)
- Psychological structures (psyche maps, parts work)
- Decision trees and conditional logic
- Data relationships and entity models
- Feedback loops and causal systems
- Before/after comparisons
- Timelines and sequences

**NOT for:**
- Photo editing or image manipulation
- Vector graphics or GUI-based design tools
- Pixel-perfect mockups (use design tools)
- Complex 3D visualizations

**Ask yourself:** "Would this be clearer with a picture?"
If yes → diagram it.

## Diagram Types Reference

> See `/references/diagram-types.md` for complete taxonomy

### Quick Reference

| Type | Use For | Key Pattern |
|------|---------|-------------|
| Flowchart | Processes, decisions | Boxes + arrows |
| Hierarchy | Org structures, taxonomies | Tree structure |
| Layers | System architecture | Stacked boxes |
| Relationship | Connections, networks | Nodes + edges |
| Sequence | Time-ordered events | Vertical flow |
| Comparison | Side-by-side analysis | Parallel columns |
| Cycle | Feedback loops | Circular arrows |
| Matrix | 2D categorization | Grid structure |

## Character Reference

> See `/references/unicode-characters.md` for complete character set

### Essential Characters

```
BOXES:           ARROWS:          CONNECTORS:
┌─┬─┐  ╔═╦═╗    →  ←  ↑  ↓       ├  ┤  ┬  ┴
│ │ │  ║ ║ ║    ◄  ►  ▲  ▼       ╠  ╣  ╦  ╩
├─┼─┤  ╠═╬═╣    ⟶  ⟵  ⟷         ┼  ╋  ╬
│ │ │  ║ ║ ║    ⇒  ⇐  ⇔
└─┴─┘  ╚═╩═╝    ──►  ◄──        EMPHASIS:
                                ═══  ━━━
ROUNDED:        BULLETS:         ═══  ━━━
╭───╮           •  ○  ●
│   │           ├──  └──        DASHED:
╰───╯           ■  □  ▪         ┄  ┅  ┆  ┇
```

## Design Principles

### 1. Tufte's Data-Ink Ratio

```
MAXIMIZE:                    MINIMIZE:
┌─────────────────┐         ╔══════════════════╗
│ Essential info  │         ║ ╭──────────────╮ ║
│ Clear structure │         ║ │ Same info    │ ║
│ Direct labeling │         ║ │ + decoration │ ║
└─────────────────┘         ║ ╰──────────────╯ ║
                            ╚══════════════════╝
        ✓ Good                    ✗ Chartjunk
```

### 2. Cognitive Load Management

```
CHUNKING: Group related elements

BAD:                         GOOD:
┌─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┐           ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐ ┌─────┐
│A│B│C│D│E│F│G│H│           │ A B │ │ C D │ │ E F │
└─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┘           │ (1) │ │ (2) │ │ (3) │
                            └─────┘ └─────┘ └─────┘
```

### 3. Gestalt Principles

```
PROXIMITY:      SIMILARITY:     ENCLOSURE:
○ ○   ● ●      ○ ● ○ ● ○      ┌───────────┐
○ ○   ● ●      ● ○ ● ○ ●      │ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ │
Groups by      Groups by      │ (grouped) │
nearness       appearance     └───────────┘
```

### 4. Visual Hierarchy

```
EMPHASIS LEVELS:

═══════════════════════    Level 1: Double/Heavy
───────────────────────    Level 2: Single
- - - - - - - - - - - -    Level 3: Dashed
. . . . . . . . . . . .    Level 4: Dotted

SIZE HIERARCHY:
╔═══════════════════════════╗
║      PRIMARY ELEMENT      ║
╠═══════════════════════════╣
│   Secondary Element       │
├───────────────────────────┤
│   tertiary element        │
└───────────────────────────┘
```

## Common Patterns

> See `/references/patterns-library.md` for comprehensive patterns

### Process Flow

```
┌─────────┐    ┌─────────┐    ┌─────────┐
│  Start  │───►│ Process │───►│   End   │
└─────────┘    └─────────┘    └─────────┘
```

### Decision Tree

```
                ┌──────────┐
                │ Decision │
                └────┬─────┘
           ┌─────────┴────────┐
           ▼                  ▼
      ┌────────┐         ┌────────┐
      │  Yes   │         │   No   │
      └────────┘         └────────┘
```

### Layered Architecture

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│          PRESENTATION LAYER         │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│          BUSINESS LOGIC             │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│          DATA ACCESS                │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│          DATABASE                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Feedback Loop

```
        ┌──────────────────┐
        │                  │
        ▼                  │
    ┌───────┐          ┌───┴───┐
    │ Input │─────────►│Output │
    └───────┘          └───────┘
        ▲                  │
        │                  │
        └──────────────────┘
```

## Anti-Patterns

### Chartjunk
```
✗ BAD: Excessive decoration
╔══════════════════════════════════╗
║ ╭━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╮ ║
║ ┃ ★ ★ ★  IMPORTANT INFO  ★ ★ ★ ┃ ║
║ ╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╯ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════╝

✓ GOOD: Clean and direct
┌──────────────────┐
│  Important Info  │
└──────────────────┘
```

### Spaghetti Arrows
```
✗ BAD: Crossing lines, unclear flow
    ┌───┐     ┌───┐
    │ A │──┬──│ B │
    └───┘  │  └───┘
      │    ╳    │
    ┌─┴─┐  │  ┌─┴─┐
    │ C │──┴──│ D │
    └───┘     └───┘

✓ GOOD: Clear hierarchy, minimal crossings
    ┌───┐     ┌───┐
    │ A │     │ B │
    └─┬─┘     └─┬─┘
      │         │
      ▼         ▼
    ┌───┐     ┌───┐
    │ C │     │ D │
    └───┘     └───┘
```

### Information Overload
```
✗ BAD: Too much in one diagram
[Cramming 15 concepts with 30 arrows]

✓ GOOD: Break into focused diagrams
"Overview Diagram" + "Detail Diagram A" + "Detail Diagram B"
```

## Skill Integrations

Works with:
- **jungian-psychologist**: Psyche mapping, parts work diagrams
- **system-architect**: System architecture diagrams
- **backend-architect**: API and data flow diagrams

## Jungian Psychology Diagrams

> See `/references/jungian-diagrams.md` for psychology-specific patterns

This skill integrates closely with `jungian-psychologist` for:
- Psyche structure mapping
- Parts work visualization
- Shadow content diagrams
- Individuation journey maps
- Complex anatomy diagrams
- Ego-Self axis visualization

## Mermaid Integration

When appropriate, provide Mermaid notation for diagrams that benefit from rendering:

```mermaid
graph TD
    A[Conscious] --> B[Personal Unconscious]
    B --> C[Collective Unconscious]
    B --> D[Complexes]
    C --> E[Archetypes]
```

## Workflow

1. **Understand the content** — What are we visualizing?
2. **Choose the right type** — Hierarchy? Process? Relationship?
3. **Sketch the structure** — Start rough, refine
4. **Apply principles** — Data-ink ratio, chunking, hierarchy
5. **Test readability** — Would someone new understand this?
6. **Iterate** — Diagrams improve with revision

---

**Remember**: A good diagram is worth a thousand words. Create them proactively whenever complex concepts arise.

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