Bubble Diagrams

Creating Bubble Diagrams

Inside

What I Need to Get Started

After ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is installed, the Bubble Diagrams solution can be purchased either from the Diagrams area of ConceptDraw STORE itself or from our online store. Thus, you will be able to use the Bubble Diagrams solution straight after.

How to install

First of all, make sure that both ConceptDraw STORE and ConceptDraw DIAGRAM applications are downloaded and installed on your computer. Next, install the Bubble Diagrams solution from the ConceptDraw STORE to use it in the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM application.

Start using

Start using the Bubble Diagrams solution to make the professionally looking diagrams by adding the design elements taken from the stencil libraries and editing the pre-made examples that can be found there.

HelpDesk

How to Create a Bubble Diagram

How to Install Paid Solution

Bubble and Circle-Spoke Diagrams

Throughout all stages of product or process design, in all forms of industry, a variety of diagrams are employed in order to model processes, explore improvements and solutions, and test design limits and parameters. From these, there are a particular set of diagrams used most commonly in the early, conceptual stages of design, that all follow a similar visual arrangement — that is, a central topic radiating lines that connect to several relevant sub-topics. Each topic is represented by a shape, and the connecting lines show the relationships between them.

Some of these types of diagram, such as brainstorm diagrams, concept maps, or mind maps, can be used a collaborative tool, where people share information and ideas and commit them to page as soon as they come to mind. The upshot of this method of diagramming is that you are left with a free-form map, full of relevant data but with little in the way of structure. Bubble and circle-spoke diagrams share the brainstorm aesthetic and are similar in creation, but differ in that they offer the designer a chance to show a certain level of hierarchy within a process.

Bubble diagrams

Bubble diagrams have a number of design features that set them apart slightly from diagrams mentioned previously. As the name suggests, each topic is framed on the page by a 'bubble' shape — the size of which is determined by the importance of the subject. Unlike a concept map, a bubble diagram can contain two or more central topics; position of the topic on the page initially isn't as relevant as the size of the bubble, and what other bubbles it links to.

A bubble diagram designed using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM, that can be used for HR

Both physical structure and abstract theory can be modeled using a bubble diagram. They are widely used throughout landscaping and architecture to give a basic visual representation of space required for functions throughout a building or developed area. For instance, an architect tasked with constructing a museum would show 'Exhibits' as their biggest bubble. A smaller bubble would be 'Toilets', which would need to be connected strategically to the exhibits and the gift shop.
Conceptually, bubble diagrams offer the chance to place greater importance on certain topics or processes, using multiple central topics to represent sales, marketing, and production divisions within one company for example.

In both instance, bubble diagrams offer a 'quick-sketch' way of structuring concepts, whereby a designer can work fluidly, moving and reshaping topics as their relevance and relationship with other ideas becomes apparent. For the architect mentioned above, their diagram will eventually take the shape of a floor plan, showing the flow between bubbles/rooms. In other types of business, bubble diagrams can show where separate team strategies have a shared influence, using a more free-flowing logic to describe relationships.

Circle-spoke diagrams

A circle-spoke diagram can be looked at as a simpler, less detailed variant of the bubble diagram. It again deals with a central topic or concept, however only factors directly associated with it are listed — the topics place in a wider process is ignored at this point. Relevant factors are arranged around the centre in a wheel pattern, joined to the main topic by 'spokes'. The circles that contain each topic are of equal size, to denote their equal standing in regards to their influence.

Exploring all possibilities of healthy living, using a circle-spoke diagram created with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM

Sometimes called circular hub diagrams, they are used in business to determine a finite number of possible factors that affect a central theme — a marketing team might use one to list areas of product promotion; TV, social media, magazines and so on. A key design feature is that no judgement is made as to the strength of a particular factor, that the spokes are set out at equal distance. A good example for clarity would be a diagram with a schoolteacher as the central circle subject, and each of their pupils is represented by a spoke.

From concept to ConceptDraw

Since creating their powerful diagramming software, ConceptDraw DIAGRAM, CS Odessa have remained committed to extending its usability and functionality with a series of solutions designed for workers and students from many diverse fields of industry. The tools provided in Solution Park help everyone from software engineers to sales analysts; school teachers to scientists. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM can be used across a business, to detail software systems, describe telecommunications, create business results dashboards, or depict management and sales processes.

With the Bubble Diagrams and Circle-Spoke Diagrams solutions for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM, you are given all the design elements needed to create bright, engaging diagrams that can be used effectively as learning materials, as part of a presentation, or simply as a method of visual thinking. Each solution comes complete with a library containing all the design elements needed to create a diagram of each type, and each solution page offers a series of samples to show the capabilities of the software. As always with ConceptDraw solutions, there is a wealth of learning material (FAQs and videos) to help any novice designer.

Used in conjunction with other solutions from CS Odessa, you can start to add bubble or circle-spoke diagrams to infographics, PowerPoint presentations, or as part of an educational resource. This unique cross functionality, both in terms of solutions and file export options, is what makes ConceptDraw DIAGRAM such a versatile diagramming tool — workers from all vocations can find a solution that will make their life easier.