Context Slice

Whiteboard Illustration Style Guide

What is a Whiteboard Illustration?

Whiteboard illustrations are clean, diagrammatic visuals that explain concepts through simple shapes, icons, arrows, and text labels. The style mimics hand-drawn educational content on a whiteboard or flipchart—clear, approachable, and focused on understanding over aesthetics.

The Aesthetic

Core Principles:

Clarity above all—every element serves explanation
Simple iconography over detailed illustration
Logical flow with clear visual hierarchy
Text labels that complement, not replace, visuals
Generous white space for breathing room

Visual Elements:

Clean lines (marker-style or vector)
Basic shapes: circles, rectangles, arrows, lines
Simple icons representing concepts
Connecting arrows showing relationships
Color used sparingly for emphasis or grouping
Hand-drawn feel vs. sterile perfection

Diagram Types

Type	Use For	Key Elements
Flowchart	Processes, decisions, workflows	Boxes, diamonds, directional arrows
Cycle	Iterative processes, feedback loops	Circular arrangement, curved arrows
Hierarchy	Organizations, taxonomies	Tree structure, levels, containment
Comparison	Pros/cons, before/after, alternatives	Side-by-side panels, contrast colors
Timeline	Sequences, histories, roadmaps	Horizontal line, milestone markers
Mind Map	Brainstorming, topic exploration	Central node, radiating branches
Venn	Overlapping concepts, relationships	Overlapping circles, intersection labels
Matrix	2x2 analysis, categorization	Quadrants, axis labels

Prompt Structure

Base description: "Whiteboard illustration explaining [topic]"

Diagram type: "as a [flowchart/cycle/hierarchy/etc]"

Style options: "clean vector style" or "hand-drawn marker style"

Labeling: "with clear text labels on each element"

Background: "on white/cream/light gray background"

Color approach: "using [accent color] for highlights" or "monochromatic" or "color-coded categories"

Example Prompts

Flowchart - Software Development:
"Whiteboard illustration of the software development lifecycle as a flowchart. Show stages: Requirements, Design, Development, Testing, Deployment, Maintenance. Use rectangular boxes connected by arrows, with brief text labels. Clean vector style, blue accent color for active stages, white background, professional educational aesthetic."

Cycle - Water Cycle:
"Educational whiteboard diagram of the water cycle as a circular flow. Include evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection stages with simple icons (sun, clouds, rain, lake). Curved arrows connecting stages, hand-drawn marker style, labeled clearly, light blue accents on white background."

Mind Map - Marketing Strategy:
"Whiteboard mind map for digital marketing strategy. Central node: 'Marketing'. Radiating branches: Content, Social, Email, SEO, Paid Ads. Sub-branches on each with 2-3 tactics. Hand-drawn style, color-coded by channel, organic flowing layout, readable text labels throughout."

Comparison - Before/After:
"Whiteboard illustration comparing traditional vs. agile project management. Split panel layout with left showing waterfall (sequential boxes) and right showing agile (iterative cycles). Simple icons, clear labels, contrasting colors for each approach, explanatory annotations."

Matrix - Eisenhower Decision:
"Whiteboard 2x2 matrix diagram for the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. Axes: Urgent/Not Urgent and Important/Not Important. Each quadrant labeled with action: Do, Schedule, Delegate, Eliminate. Simple icons in each quadrant, clean lines, minimal color, clear readable text."

Labeling Best Practices

Keep labels concise (2-5 words ideal)
Position labels close to their elements
Use consistent font style throughout
Avoid overlapping text
Include a title at the top
Add a legend if using color coding

Color Strategies

Approach	When to Use	Implementation
Monochrome	Simple concepts, clean look	Black/gray lines, one accent
Category	Multiple distinct groups	Different hue per category
Emphasis	Highlighting key points	Gray base, bright accent
Sequential	Showing order or progression	Gradient or numbered colors