Flowcharts can be utilized to visually represent those solutions to the problem or the problem itself. It is a way to show people a step-by-step process of what needs to be done, what will be done, etc. However, if it is not properly drawn, it may be the cause of more problems instead of a solution. This is why it is so important to follow the rules of drawing a flowchart. If you cannot be bothered to learn these rules, you can try using an online flowchart maker.
But, if you are certain that you want to draw them on your own, you will have to learn all of the rules. To help you with that, we decided to write this article and provide you with the most important rules.
It must have a starting and an end point
The single most important rule for any kind of flowchart is the fact that it must have a starting and an end point. If you do not implement this into your drawing, it can be very confusing for your students, employees, or wherever you are showing it to.
To ensure that you never forget this rule, we recommend adding both the start and end points at the beginning of your drawing. When you are done, you can just move the end point to put it in the right place.
Always be consistent
When you use an online flowchart maker, you will notice that every single one you create will have one thing in common. The design style is always consistent.
What this means is that you have to pick one style and stick with it until the end. So, if you have decided to go with green, blue, and red, it is very important to stick with these colors, otherwise, you might end up confusing everyone.
Additionally, it is also vital to stick with the shapes you choose. If you want to go with rectangles, that is fine. But, it is never a good idea to just change the entire design concept and start using circles, ellipses, squares, or whatever else.
Always be consistent with your design.
Informative but simple
Explaining your complicated situation, your problem to several of your workers or students can be a daunting task. Explaining that complicated issue could take hours of your time. This is why flowcharts exist. The entire point is to simplify this problem or the solution to the problem with clean and simple visual representation.
What this means is that you have to be informative, but you also have to keep it simple. How can you achieve that? Well, if you stick to the rules of this article, you will manage. But, the most important factor is to try and keep everything on one page.
By fitting everything into one page, the visual representation will be much more efficient. Also, if you are trying to fit everything on one page, ensure that the text is readable.
It is a good idea to open up a flowchart maker which you can use as an example or inspiration.
Edit and review
Once you have formed the base of the flowchart and you know in which direction you should continue or once you are completely finished, there is one more thing you should do. Of course, and talking about the final editing and review.
Edit the fonts to make the text more readable, resizing the diagram to make it cleaner and more visually appealing.
Once everything seems to be in order, you could do a final review with the help of a colleague or a friend. A new pair of eyes can always look outside of the box.
There are probably a few more tips we could give you for drawing a flowchart, but these are the four rules you have to follow throughout this process.
