Chart Templates
The hard part of a chart is not usually drawing it. It is knowing which kind of chart fits what you are trying to show, and getting that kind built correctly so it reads the way it should. These chart templates handle that second part for you, with each type built on the structure it actually needs, so you choose the right chart and put your own content in. Find the type that fits what you are mapping and start there.
The first thing this collection asks of you is a choice about which kind of chart actually fits what you are trying to show, since a chart only works when its type matches the shape of the information. These templates cover the full range that question can land on, the diagrams that map processes and relationships and the graphs that plot data, so once you know what you are mapping, the type built for it is here.
Each type is then built around the structure that chart depends on, the part that is easy to get wrong on a blank canvas and tedious to repair once it is. A flowchart whose symbols follow no convention or a Gantt whose dependencies do not line up stops being readable, so that groundwork is set correctly for every kind here, leaving your work as the content and the thinking. You fill in your own data, steps, or relationships, the structure keeps it readable as it grows, and because the labels, colors, and shapes stay editable, you can shape the chart to the point you are making and present or print it when it is ready.
Worth knowing: The templates span the formats people work in, including PowerPoint, Google Slides, Word, Google Docs, PDF, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. Which apply depends on the chart, so each template card shows the formats available for that design. You can work in the program you already use.
What this collection covers
The kinds of charts and diagrams these templates span, grouped by the job each one does.
Flowcharts and decision trees that map how a process moves and where it branches, built on the standard symbol set so each step reads correctly.
Fishbone diagrams for tracing the causes behind a problem and work breakdown structures for splitting a project into manageable pieces.
Bar and line graphs for plotting values and trends, where the axes and the numbers make the point rather than the layout.
Gantt charts and roadmaps that set tasks, milestones, and initiatives against a timeline, so a schedule or a plan is visible at a glance.
Comparison charts and T-charts for weighing several options against shared criteria or setting two sides directly against each other.
SWOT analyses and Venn diagrams for structured thinking, the four-quadrant internal and external view, or where two and more sets overlap.
Mind maps and concept maps that lay ideas out around a center or in a linked web, for thinking that connects rather than ranks.
Family trees that trace generations and ecomaps that map who a person relies on, showing relationships rather than steps or data.
Every type keeps the structure its chart depends on and stays fully editable, so a template becomes your own chart once your content is in it.
New chart types and designs are added as new ways of mapping data and ideas come up, so the collection keeps growing rather than staying fixed. Whichever kind you need, you can start from a template already built around how that chart works.
Working with a chart template
Choosing the right type, filling it in, and finishing a chart you can present or print.
Begin with what you are trying to show, a process, a comparison, a trend, a set of relationships, and pick the chart built for it. The type you choose decides how well the chart reads, more than any styling does.
Tip — Comparing values points to a graph; mapping how things connect or flow points to a diagram.
Within a type, choose the layout that matches the scale of your data, a 2 or 3 circle Venn, a single or multi-project Gantt. The closer the starting design, the less you have to restructure.
Name the axes, circles, branches, or columns before filling in any detail. Clear labels are what let someone read the chart without you there to explain it.
Add your data, steps, or relationships, putting each item where the structure calls for it. Shared items go in a Venn overlap, dependent tasks along a Gantt timeline, sub-causes on a fishbone branch. Accurate placement is what makes the chart true.
Charts get crowded fast, so trim wording and use distinct colors per category to keep every part legible. When a section runs long, shorten the entries rather than shrinking the text.
Set the colors, fonts, and shapes to suit your subject or brand. Consistent color coding lets a reader follow one category across the whole chart.
Produce a clean copy to drop into a deck or document, or print it at the size you need. Each template lists the formats shown on its card.
FAQs
What kinds of charts and diagrams does this collection include?
It spans both graphs and diagrams. On the graph side there are bar graphs, line graphs, and Gantt charts; on the diagram side, flowcharts, decision trees, fishbone diagrams, work breakdown structures, comparison charts, T-charts, SWOT analyses, Venn diagrams, mind maps, concept maps, family trees, ecomaps, and roadmaps. Find the type that fits what you are mapping and start from a template built for it.
How do I know which chart type to use?
Start from what you are showing. To plot values or a trend, use a graph (bar, line); to map a process or decision, a flowchart or decision tree; to compare options, a comparison chart, T-chart, or Venn; to schedule work, a Gantt chart; to lay out ideas or relationships, a mind map, concept map, or roadmap. Matching the type to the job is the most important choice.
What file formats are the templates available in?
The collection spans PowerPoint, Google Slides, Word, Google Docs, PDF, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator, with the right formats depending on the chart. Each template card shows the formats available for that template, so you can work in the program you already use.
Can I change the structure of a chart, like adding a branch or a circle?
Yes. The shapes, labels, colors, and content are all editable, so you can add a branch to a tree, a circle to a Venn, or a row to a comparison chart. The template gives you a correct starting structure that you adjust to your own data.
Do I need design or charting experience to use these?
No. The structure each chart depends on is already built in, so the work is choosing the right type and filling in your content. You can produce a clear, correctly built chart without setting it up from scratch.