Visualizing Cooking Recipes

Just the image of a great meal, with fresh, tasty ingredients, will get most of us salivating in anticipation. We are hooked on TV shows from top chefs — Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson guide us through delicious recipes that can be made right at home, and release cookbooks bursting with glossy food imagery. Advertisements use the best lighting and angles to present towering plates of tempting treats. Restaurants and fast-food joints add pictures of their best dishes to the menu — even if what you see isn't always exactly what you get!

ConceptDraw PRO and the Cooking Recipes solution allows you to create food illustrations for any occasion

While three square meals a day is still held as a traditional standard by many, inventive foodies the world over have found the ways and means to squeeze in extra snacks and nibbles into the gaps between breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dedicated eaters can enjoy Tiffin, brunch or elevenses as a second morning meal, go for Yum cha or take high tea in the afternoon, and follow dinner with supper or a midnight feast. Geographical context can also be important — in the UK for instance, depending on the area, tea, dinner and supper can all refer to the same meal, or describe three separate mealtimes traditionally offering different types of dishes.

We have created the dish for every occasion. A wedding or a birthday demands a frosted cake; Christmas and Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without roasted turkey and vegetables. A chef can spend their whole career dedicated to a single discipline — baking bread, carving sushi, curing meat — or dabble in an endless variety of combinations, cooking up entrées, amuse-bouches, desserts, haute cuisine, soups, pastries and petits fours, sometimes all for the same meal! The best chefs have never been afraid to innovate in order to create something truly memorable — Heston Blumenthal for instance can count snail porridge, meat fruit, and egg and bacon ice cream among his signature dishes.

There is an idea that part of our eating is done with the eyes — this is why the concept of plate presentation exists, why cookbook add pictures of the finished dish alongside their recipes, why a fast food outlet covers their walls with stock images of their most popular takeouts. Certain studies have been conducted that involve participants eating 'blind', suggesting the importance of visual cues to ascertain the nutritional value of the food in front of us — supposedly our mind can filter information regarding portions, fat content and carbohydrate levels with the quickest of glances.

Add graphics to your tasty recipe ideas with ConceptDraw PRO

It's a useful trick, and perhaps describes partly why posters or presentations containing healthy eating infographics are so popular and effective, or why certain restaurants favour big bold images over simple plain text.

For best results when creating food recipe graphics, infographics or presentations, as well as accompanying illustrations for all dicing and slicing, mashing and juicing, or grating and baking utensils and cookware, it's best to use full featured drawing software such as ConceptDraw PRO, in conjunction with its specialist Cooking Recipes solution. Along with the benefits of quick and easy graphic design that comes when using PRO, the Cooking Recipe solution offers a custom made selection of vector stencil libraries, covering a vast range of food items and kitchen props. From breakfast to dinner, starter to dessert, the solution contains a cuisine graphic for any situation, to help you make bright, inventive food illustrations.

The Bread and Baking icon library from the Cooking Recipes solution

To assist with your culinary efforts, the ConceptDraw website offers a selection of learning tools and help media that ensure users can turn food recipe concepts into striking imagery in a simple and intuitive manner. You can find a huge resource of how-to articles, instructional videos, and FAQs that give an in-depth look into ConceptDraw PRO, and its many solutions. With the Cooking Recipes solution, it's an opportunity to turn mouth-watering recipes into a feast for the eyes.

The Seven Basic Tools of Quality

Every business wants to run at its most efficient equilibrium, with maximum productivity from its workers, cost effective product design and manufacture, and smart strategic decision making regarding managements and HR processes. For this to occur there must be a constant monitoring of business activity, a way of breaking down an organization into its component parts in such a way that they can be analyzed and refined, where any faults, inefficiencies, or redundant processes can be determined and dealt with.

This is the essence of defining quality in the workplace, and the Seven Basic Tools of Quality were conceived as a generic, visual form of tackling these issues. They comprise of seven forms of diagram that are varied enough to be applied to any industry troubleshooting scenario, but simple enough that workers of all types can intuitively understand and implement them.

Despite the title, there are 3 possible options for the last diagram, making 9 in total:

Fishbone diagram

So named because they resemble the bone structure of a fish, fishbone diagrams are also known as Ishikawa diagrams, after their creator and quality control pioneer, Kaoru Ishikawa. Yet another name is a cause-and-effect diagram, and this better explains their purpose — you start with an identified problem, or effect, and work backwards to figure out every causal influence on that effect.

Check sheet

Check sheets are a simple way of making sure that a quality process is followed and standards are followed. They take the form of a grid, where each row is a step that must be checked off in real time as data is gathered.

A check sheet made using ConceptDraw PRO, that takes note of faulty car parts

Control chart

A control sheet records a certain statistic at different times throughout the day, and applies to it a mean data range. If data values fall well outside that range, it could be a sign of an inefficiency or some flaw in a business process.

Histogram

A histogram is used to show the frequency distribution of a specific variable. Visually, they are arranged something like bar charts, but differ in that they don't compare disparate sets of data against each other — instead they take one value, and show its frequency within predefined intervals.

Pareto chart

Pareto charts combines both a bar chart and a line graph, where the bar chart shows individual data values, and a cumulative total represented by the line. In quality control, it is a way of spotting the largest source of defects, complaints, flaws and so on.

This ConceptDraw PRO designed Pareto chart shows the frequency of each type of defect

Scatter diagram

By plotting against an X and Y axis, a scatter graph can show two variables of a set of data. You can then ascertain the relationship between the variables by how the data points are clustered on the diagram.

Stratification diagram

Stratification is a means of taking data from different sources, and instead of viewing it as a single group, the data is separated by source so as better to identify patterns. To make the data even more representative, the sample size changes according to source.

Made using ConceptDraw PRO, this stratification chart distinguishes sources by icon shape

Flow chart

Flow charts are common throughout business, as a way of representing steps in a process or workflow, shown on the page as boxes containing actions, instructions or decisions.

Run chart

A run chart displays recorded data over a certain time period, where the X axis shows the passage of time, and data points are plotted along the graph as they are observed. The often show some form of measurable manufacturing output, making it possible to quickly identify outliers and shifts in scale and frequency.

These diagram tools have become invaluable to modern business, and with so many cases for their use, it's important that workers of all experience levels can produce clear and effective examples that can be shared across a team and understood at a glance.

CS Odessa are the first to bring all these techniques together under one office solution, and further extend the performance of their diagramming software, ConceptDraw PRO. The Seven Basic Tools of Quality solution provides an extensive set of vector stencil libraries and individual sample templates for each form of quality control diagram, allowing workers to chose which diagram works best for their situation without switching software or searching for multiple add-ons. To compliment the solution, CS Odessa have a dedicated online help resource, referencing specific quality diagram examples, teaching new users how to get started with their design, and offering tips and tricks to more experienced workers.

A company's success relies on quality assurance and quality output. With the Seven Basic Tools of Quality solution for ConceptDraw PRO, you have the diagramming power to reach that standard.

Business Process Mapping

We use the phrase business process to define a particular set of tasks or actions undertaken by an organization, that lead to the production of goods or services for the customer base. It's a flexible term — one that can be used to describe the most menial or idiosyncratic of assignments, or as a way of describing a company in its entirety.

Critical study of each facet of a process is imperative for maintaining high standards within a company, and to allow management to spot any flaws or inefficiencies in its day-to-day business. The most common way of condensing a process down into an organized format is to use a visual solution — one that allows each point to be represented clearly and succinctly, giving those that are unfamiliar with the process an unambiguous interpretation of events.

To support this visual style of quality management, a number of transferable methodologies have been developed — generic diagramming solutions that act as a framework around which unique and disparate processes can be formed. The collective term for this practice is business process mapping, and here follows a brief description of some of the more popular approaches to it.

• SIPOC Diagrams — SIPOC stands for suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, and customers, and it is a style of diagram that has a clear focus on the quality of what is going in, and what is being produced from a business process. It has a simple visual form, a segmented table that produces comprehensive lists for each category. With a SIPOC diagram, the start and end of a process is clearly defined, and the relationship between a company and its external suppliers is easily identified. SIPOC diagrams form a key part of the Six Sigma methodology, which are a set of techniques and tools to help improve quality output and minimize variability within repeated tasks.

A SIPOC diagram created with ConceptDraw PRO, showing all elements involved in hiring a candidate

• Business process flowcharts — A flowchart is the go-to tool for representing any basic process that involves a series of steps or decisions, particularly processes that are repeatable. Also known as a process flow diagram, these charts act as a solution model to a given problem, telling the user exactly which steps can be taken at what time, and the impact of choices made within the workflow. As with SIPOC diagrams, a flowchart can show the input and output of materials and services in terms of the customer, as well as being used to define processes from other areas of a company, such as management or human resources.

Flowcharts show repeated processes, like this sequence of doctor appointment procedure

• Swimlane diagrams — If a business process crosses over multiple departments, in can be easier to define using a flowchart that has been divided into distinct sections, or 'swimlanes'. These lanes distinguish which persons, groups, or location influence a particular step of the business process. They are useful for explicitly stating each stakeholders responsibility, and the actions each employee is expected to complete, before the process can continue to the next department. Other terms for these type of diagrams include 'deployment flowchart' and 'cross-functional flowchart'.

This swimlane diagram was created using ConceptDraw PRO, and shows the steps that each division is responsible for in a customer order

• IDEF3 — The IDEF business process modelling language is used in slightly more specific scenarios than the previous examples. IDEF3 in particular is a scenario-driven description capture method, that has the ability to define the state of the same system or process under a variety of conditions. While flowcharts can allow a certain amount of artistic license in their design, IDEF3 uses standardized process schematic symbols — a more complex and comprehensive set of icons than found in flowcharts, and more precise in their definition.

• Value stream mapping — A value stream map takes a wide look at the relationships between manufacturing, production control and shipping processes. They follow the value chain through an organization, from supply until it reaches the market. Like IDEF3, standardized notation is used to facilitate understanding between workers and workforces.

To achieve the professional standards required for these diagramming styles, it's best to use specialized drawing software, and a supply of the correct graphical notations. There are a number of software capable of this, but the only one that contains solutions for all the techniques listed above, extending and enhancing an already powerful diagramming platform, is ConceptDraw PRO. With the new Business Process Mapping solution, joining previous solutions such as IDEF Business Process Diagrams and Value Stream Mapping, ConceptDraw PRO offers a comprehensive selection of process mapping tools to aid quality management within an organization and help refine workflows.

Sales Process Flowcharting

Should a business or government agency need to visualize a solution model for a some aspect of their business, there is a good chance that resulting diagram will take the form of a flowchart. They are an invaluable tool when charting a sales process — they give you the opportunity to visualise and understand the process, and also serve to highlight any issues or bottlenecks that might occur throughout the workflow. As an example of how ubiquitously intertwined flowcharts are with business process, here are a number of synonyms that may also be used:

• Flow chart
• Process flowchart
• Functional flowchart
• Process map
• Process chart
• Functional process chart
• Business process model
• Process model
• Process flow diagram
• Work flow diagram
• Business flow diagram

In its most basic form, a flowchart consists of a series of steps that act as a diagrammatic representation of a simple problem or process. Each step is represented graphically by a box — most commonly a square (representing processing steps or an activity), or a diamond (representing a decision). These boxes are linked by arrows, that indicate the direction of the workflow.

A flowchart doesn't so much represent the flow itself; rather, it focuses on the controls that govern the flow.

In practical terms, individual algorithms, workflows or processes can require a specific approach when designing, documenting or analyzing a flow chart. This has resulted in a widened selection of boxes and icons to cater for more niche controls and commands, and several flowchart variants stemming from the 'classical notation' style (the basic style outlined above). For instance, you can make a flowchart 'cross-functional', by introducing swimlanes that divide a process into organizational units. You also need to decide on your chart's perspective — is it from a managers, system analyst, or customer's point of view? A workflow diagram connects multiple processes, and allows you to define execution responsibility.

Flowcharts can be subdivided even further in accordance to what type of process they describe:

• Decision
• Logic
• Systems
• Product
• Process
• Program
• Document
• Data

The Sales Process

For most commercial organizations, the sales process is inherent to its existence and ability to create profit. Although each company will achieve this aim in its own way, the core selling process remains similar throughout — a potential buyer or prospective customer exchanges money with an organization in return for goods or services. Despite this rather simplistic definition, there exists huge scope as to which approach is taken. Indeed, it is not uncommon for the sales division to be the largest within a corporate structure, employing a team of salespeople, analysts, and the sales managers, who are in charge of sales division operations.

Sales operations is an umbrella term for all the processes and business activities that a key to running a sales division. The sales operation team is responsible for its smooth and efficient running, and to act as a liaison between other parts of company structure, such as IT, Legal, HR, Finance, or Marketing. There is a continual focus on sales process engineering, which is the analysis and refinement of a sales process in order to increase its efficiency or to identify problems within the workflow; other benefits might include the ability to standardize customer response into the form of a process, or as a platform to conduct buyer and seller risk management. A sales process itself is defined by strategy, sales targets, quotas, forecasting and demand; some theories also ascribe to a generic framework to build your process around — Rich, Spiro and Stanton identify 8 steps that make up a sales process in Management of a Sales Force (12th Ed. p. 66). They are as follows:

• Prospecting/initial contact
• Pre-approach — planning the sale
• Identifying and cross questioning
• Need assessment
• Presentation
• Meeting objections
• Gaining commitment
• Follow-up

The ideal method with which to represent these step-by-step processes is through the flowchart medium.

Charting The Flow

The practical applications of sales process flowcharts are numerous and wide ranging. At sales level, you might map the process of customer interaction, from first contact to sale. Or a system flowchart, that depicts the flow of actual physical elements or company resources. A program flowchart can be used to process map a software system for an online shop. For a manager, a sales process can generate key performance indicators, that allow senior management to discern the effectiveness of a process, and take corrective action if needed. The main aim is ongoing quality and margin improvement, process refinement and study of effectiveness. To take this concept even further, there are a number of 'doctrines' that some practitioners will apply to business process mapping.

Six Sigma is not only a set of tools and techniques to assist with your sales process diagrams, it is more like a doctrine for the whole company to follow. It shares the main ideals of process analysis and refinement, but adds focus on financial return, emphasis on strong leadership, and a rule to only ever make decisions based on verifiable data and statistical analysis. Following a similar pattern is ISO 9001, which represents a quality management system with a strict set of guidelines. Now adopted round the globe, it has become the de facto quality standard for business, and its application is routinely assessed by a third party. What both of these systems do is apply process mapping theory to every aspect of an organization; flowcharts provide the flexibility with which to do this.

As you can see, a simple premise like a sale process flowchart can culminate in an almost endless array of options and elements, not to mention the constant need for updating and refinement. Once again, ConceptDraw have produced a solution that allows you full freedom of expression when creating your sales flowcharts. The Sales Flowcharts solution for ConceptDraw PRO provides you with six sizable vector stencil libraries, including the full set of classical flowchart notation symbols, as well as stylized pictograms and arrows that bring energy and color to your design. It is ideal for users of all experience levels — beginners are catered for with handy templates and lessons that help you get the most out of the solution. Leave no process unmapped with the Sales Flowcharts solution from ConceptDraw.

States and territories maps of Australia

When European explorers and settlers reached Australia's shores, they brought with them the style of social structure, politics and governance from their homelands. Early settlements became colonies, some of which would form the foundations of modern day Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. These colonies began to divide the mainland (and certain surrounding islands) into distinct territories — initially their boundaries were ever-changing, but by the end of the 1800s they eventually settled with the formation of six states that have remained largely unchanged to this day.

With Australia no longer serving solely as a penal colony for British convicts, and more and more migrants reaching the country, population and infrastructure expanded rapidly, leading to a call to unify the individual territories under one flag. After some negotiations, the six member states were ratified under the Commonwealth of Australia, that although still holding strong ties with the United Kingdom, would be largely self governing. In the 120 years since this unification, the political map of Australia has been consistent; the following is a list of the six states that comprised the nation then and now:

• South Australia
• New South Wales
• Queensland
• Victoria
• Western Australia
• Tasmania

There are also 3 self governing territories — Northern Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory, which is something like the USA's Washington DC. Over the years, Australia has also grouped several island chains under the Commonwealth, resulting in seven extra external territories.

Australian map was created with ConceptDraw PRO, it shows states and territories of Australia

The distinct and long standing territories, aligned with interesting geological features across a wide expanse, make thematic maps an ideal way of presenting geological, geographical or political information relating to Australia. A thematic map studies a particular theme or subject area in relation to a particular location — often the focus is on the distribution and spatial variation of whatever data is being analysed.

Thematic maps lack a certain level of detail — they often do not show features such as road networks or contours, but instead tend to use a basic political map as the foundation, with an added layer of data to give context. A common example is a map of population density. Using Australia in this instance, the map would consist of a basic outline with state borders, and some form of dot distribution to indicate population. The more dots condensed in one area, the more populous it is — looking at Australia we would see a large collection of dots spread along the (particularly South) coast, while the center of the map (the Australian Outback) would be relatively clear.

A geospatial infographic goes one step further than a thematic map, in that it can tackle a broader range of subjects and use a more dynamic visual style to get its message across. The idea behind an infographic is to tell the viewer a story about that subject, perhaps answering a posed question or using statistics to back up a more general statement. Rather than just focussing on one set of data, such as Australia's population density as used in the last example, an infographic can expand on linked causes and effects — health issues, pay disparities or political leanings for example.

There are few limits on how this information is presented, only that visual techniques are used to present the data in a way that is easily identifiable and understandable, and that a coherent argument is made.

The way geospatial and social data is collected now results in reams of data that is impenetrable to a casual viewer. Thematic maps and infographics have risen to prominence as effective ways of collating this data, and breaking it down into manageable pieces that are conducive to sharing through social media streams. At CS Odessa, we recognize the fact that working with complicated data while trying to express this creatively through original diagrams represents a challenge, particularly with the fast moving trends and deadlines that many are bound to. We constantly endeavour to provide the solutions to these problems.

The Australia Map solution for ConceptDraw PRO is our latest solution for knowledge workers and business people. We try and make every step of the creative process as simple and intuitive as possible. Inside the Australia Map solution you will find templates and samples to get you started, a library containing vector graphics representing each Australian state, and if you're still struggling for inspiration then there is our comprehensive help and video tutorial section to explain some tips and tricks. Used in conjunction with other ConceptDraw PRO solutions libraries, our vector graphics allow you to create rich and varied infographics along any theme. For a more concentrated map, these images allow extra levels of detail — you can choose to display your map with county borders, named geographical regions, and major towns and cities.

Once you've finished you design, we offer a full range of import and export capabilities, including exporting to different file formats, or sharing your creativity through presentations.

The Australia Map solution for ConceptDraw PRO is part of an ever-growing collection of visual solutions from CS Odessa — aiming to provide inspiration and productivity at every stage of the design process.

Business process modelling using IDEF0 and IDEF3 diagrams

Originally developed and research funded by the US Air Force, Integration Definition, or IDEF, refers to a family of modelling languages that are used in the fields of system and software engineering. The key aim of IDEF was to devise a method for modelling data subsystems in a generic fashion; a way of sharing information and defining business processes between associated agencies and suppliers. The first language of this form, IDEF1, was initially concerned with data storage systems, and the ability to represent data regardless of how it is physically stored and used. Other IDEF languages were soon developed - 0, 1X, 2, 3 and 4 are considered developed in full (a further 10 exist no more than beyond initial definition), and focus on applying the same methodology to all aspects of business process modelling (BPM), such as business operations, functional modelling, and process flow descriptions.

Since the late 1960's, Douglas T. Ross had been developing a systems engineering and software engineering methodology called the Structured Analysis and Design Technique (SADT), with its intention being to describe a system as a hierarchy of functions. With backing from the US Air Force, this would eventually be formalised as IDEF0, a function modelling language capable of analyzing and communicating the functional perspective of system.

The methodology identifies the prime function, and displays it on the 'Top Level Context Diagram' using a standardized set of symbols. From this diagram, diagrams for lower level processes can be produced. The language is now established enough to be used by a wide variety of businesses and organisations to show dataflow and business process using precise and strictly defined diagrams and graphical notations.

Fig. 1. IDEF0 Diagram Example


According to IDEF.com, these are the communicative concepts to be followed when creating an IDEF0 diagram:

• Diagrams based on simple box and arrow graphics.
• English text labels to describe boxes and arrows and glossary and text to define the precise meanings of diagram elements.
• The gradual exposition of detail featuring a hierarchical structure, with the major functions at the top and with successive levels of sub functions revealing well-bounded detail breakout.
• A "node chart" that provides a quick index for locating details within the hierarchic structure of diagrams.
• The limitation of detail to no more than six sub functions on each successive function.

Acting as a complement to IDEF0, the IDEF3 process description method records specific knowledge of behavioural aspects of a system or process. There are two modes in which it can do so, as described by Wikipedia:

• Process Flow Descriptions, to capture the relationships between actions within the context of a specific scenario.
• Object State Transition, to capture the description of the allowable states and conditions.

Whereas IDEF0 describes an idealized model of a system or process, an IDEF3 diagram provides a description of actual process flow within an organization or business, or the changes that occur to an object within that system. This method of knowledge capture is recorded in two different perspectives - users are able to create both process schematics and object schematics using the IDEF3 schematic symbols.

Fig. 2. IDEF3 Diagram Example

ConceptDraw has created a solution that collects all symbols necessary to create professional IDEF0 and IDEF3 diagrams, as well as templates and step-by-step lessons that help create your own process diagram from the ground up. The IDEF Business Process Diagrams solution for ConceptDraw PRO contains extensive libraries of vector stencils that allow users to create professional looking diagrams of any complexity. The power of ConceptDraw PRO means that recording a business process is a quick and painless task - smart connectors allow you to map your diagram on the screen almost as quickly as it comes to mind.

IDEF methodology is suitable for almost any form of business, and for anyone who needs to record enterprise architecture in a process driven manner. The IDEF Business Process Diagram solution and ConceptDraw PRO cater for these needs, giving both beginner and experienced users the tools they need to create effective business process diagrams.

Types of Organizational Structures

It is important for any organization or business to have a clear structure, that recognises and defines employees roles and responsibilities, and ultimately provides the framework for accomplishing the goals and aims of the company. There are a number of factors which decide how formal the structure needs to be, how complex, and which template it should follow — factors such as size and location of the company, how much management is needed, and the size and divisions of the workforce.

Organization structure types

The three main types of organizational structure are as follows: hierarchical, flat, and matrix. A smaller company, or one with few levels of middle management, might have a more organic structure — there is a shared knowledge base and centralized decision making; all parts of the workforce have common interaction with each other. But in a larger company made up of various divisions and teams, who may have only brief interactions and essentially work independently from each other, it is crucial to have a structure in place that clearly defines the decision making and supervisory process.

 

 

Hierarchical organization structure

Perhaps the most common form of organizational structure is hierarchical. This structure can be represented as a pyramid, with a single entity in authority at the top, with subsequent levels of power beneath them. Each member of the pyramid reports only to their direct subordinates or superiors, limiting the amount of communication overhead, which can be seen both as an asset or a limitation. It is easy to see where a hierarchical structure would be an effective solution; companies that have offices based in disparate locations, a business that focuses on diversified markets, any organization with need for multiple levels of middle management.

 

 

Flat organization structure

A flat organizational structure differs from a hierarchical one by almost entirely dispensing with middle management; rather than a pyramid, there is a 'flat' layer between staff and executives. In real terms, this means that almost all staff are involved in the decision making process and produce reports centrally — it can be viewed as a typically democratic structure.

 

 

Matrix organization structure

A third form of organizational structure can take the form of a matrix. This structure is commonly found in businesses that have more than one line of reportage. For instance, a company might contain an engineering department with engineering managers who workers report to. However, these workers might also have to liaise with different product or project managers depending on current tasks. Some form of matrix organization is found in most large-scale modern businesses.

Food Court Infographics

  

    Food is big business. We all need it, and we like variety in our diet — most people have, and expect, a wide selection of international cuisine available locally, through supermarkets or specialized restaurants. Increasingly, a further expectation is that food is prepared and served at a rapid rate, a by-product of the time constraints placed on us by modern living. It is no surprise then, that the last few decades have seen a dramatic rise in the number of 'fast-food' outlets, and shopping mall food courts, offering quick, cheap meals that can be delivered or taken away from the shop. Despite this (or perhaps because of), there always exists a huge market for healthy living, nutritional information, and diet methodology; juice bars, health food shops and vegan restaurants are some of the establishments that position themselves to provide services in this area.

    While large fast-food chain establishments have existed on the high street for many years, and street vendors operating from stalls or carts even longer, the growth of large shopping precincts and entertainment centres has seen the establishment of the modern 'food court'. The standard design is a selection of disparate cuisines being sold around a central eating area. In the Americas and Europe, it is common to find a few examples of the big chains — McDonalds, Starbucks, KFC — as well as more national-level eateries such as Greggs in the UK, or Dairy Queen and Orange Julius in the USA. Similar food attractions can be found in Asia, where they form something like an impromptu market, with vendors and street carts gathered around a covered pedestrian area decked with seating and tables.

Example 1. Food Court Infographics — Fast Food Menu

    Globalization has seen the export and import of the most popular cuisines from around the world, even to the point where a foreign meal can be adopted as a favourite national dish — such as in England, where a takeaway curry (originally from India) is often the evening meal of choice. Chinese, Indian, Thai and Italian outlets have all become ubiquitous and well-liked options for take-away food. In return, the West offers its fast-food chains — McDonald's alone has 31,000 restaurants, spread over 126 countries in 6 continents. Subway and Pizza hut operate in over 90 countries each, while the German company Wienerwald has entered into African and Asian markets.

    Another effect of globalization is that we are more well travelled now than ever before — and this means a lot of exposure to foreign tastes and delicacies, sometimes with little information as to what is actually on the plate in front of you. This is why most of the fast-food restaurants you are familiar with will make a point to provide visual displays; food related imagery that gives you a better indication of what meals are available. You can see it everywhere — on brand logos, in advertising, on menus and in leaflets, or used to illustrate food infographics. Using food art and imagery helps educate those unfamiliar with the cuisine, and adds a reference point to textual information.

    Here is a list of describing the sort of fast food places you can expect to find in a food court, or as an outlet on the high street, and some additional information on practical uses for food themed illustrations and infographics:

• Thai/Chinese
  East Asian cuisine is based largely around the staples of rice and noodles, which can be accompanied by meats and seafood, as is often fried. So common place is this type of food in the West, that it can be found in high-class restaurants, as well as cheaper takeout options. Noodle bars and fried wok stalls are becoming increasingly popular as smaller stalls in food courts.
  A food court in Thailand can contain a number of rice and noodle stalls, each offering a different cooking style or meat cut. For travellers, it's important that menus and displays are adequately illustrated, to save having a surprise meal of the local delicacy, such as larvae or insects!

• McDonald's/KFC/Burger King etc.
  Sometimes known as burger joints in the USA, the major fast-food chains are spread far across the world, selling largely the same menu, save for certain items that are specific to the country or area. As well as burgers, they offer fries, fried chicken, milkshakes and ice cream, generally processed and of a low quality, but cheap and quickly prepared.
  You will see examples of food art and illustrations throughout their stores. McDonalds add an infographic to your tray, showing calorie content and ingredients within their products. KFC brand themselves using cartoon depictions of fried chicken. Almost all will have a menu display behind the counter that groups pictures of food items together to represent the different meals on offer.

Example 2. Design Elements Food Court Infographics — Fast Food

• Indian
  As mentioned, the traditional Indian curry has become a national dish in the UK, and enjoys popularity elsewhere. It uses traditional Indian spices and cooking styles, to create dishes that can be measured by hotness — ranging from a mild korma to a hot and spicy vindaloo. Although originally made as vegetarian dishes, restaurants in the West add either beef, lamb or chicken to the meal.
  One very specific way you will see curry outlets using food imagery, is to denote just how hot a dish is — Indian menus often use a 'chilli system', where one picture of a chilli next to a menu entry means it's a mild curry; five little chilli icons means bring the tissues and milk!

• Juice bars and Salad bars
  We all know fast food isn't great for us, and it's not going to give you a very balanced diet. There are enough people concerned with what they eat to create opportunities for outlets that provide a more organic form of produce. Juice bars are something of an antithesis to the milkshake bar — a place where you can select from a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, which are then blended into a smoothie. Salad bars are a buffet selection for people who want to take the vegetarian option.
  Food infographics can be used in this style of establishment to promote healthy living, give information on invaluable 'super foods', highlight their nutritional content, and provide information on how to maintain an effective diet.

Example 3. Food Court Infographics — More Reasons to Eat Fruits

    Taste is obviously the final test, but how food is presented, it's visual appeal, is also a crucial factor in what we gravitate towards. The pictures in McDonald's will always look plump and delicious, regardless of how the burger actually appears. Food imagery can be found in branding, advertisement, menus and shop art, so it is important for companies to have the software and illustration library necessary to create professional, visually striking designs.

    ConceptDraw PRO, the award winning diagramming software from CS Odessa, provides a powerful platform with which to create graphic-driven works. To extend PRO's functionality, new solution are released regularly to help in a wide variety of illustrative fields. The latest, the Food Court solution, provides a bright collection of colorful food related images and icons, divided into themed libraries; suitable for use as menu graphics, on marketing leaflets, or accompanying text on an infographic. Also included are samples of food based drawings, a comprehensive help section, and video tutorials on a range of subjects, giving handy tips and leaving you free to concentrate on creating professional looking food art, suitable for any shop front, poster or menu.

Design your Landscape and Garden

    Landscape and garden design are umbrella terms for a variety of disciplines that focus on the practical, aesthetic and horticultural aspects of an outdoor area of land, generally attached to a property. Whilst having shared purposes, the two activities can be defined separately — landscaping focuses on the relationship of the garden with its surroundings, the integration of nature with man-made elements such as pathways or the home architecture itself, and the practical side of garden maintenance and upkeep. Garden design is traditionally concerned with the choice and distribution of various plants, flowers and shrubbery around the lawn area, but depending on the desired garden, can involve the planning and design of water features, patios, decking and garden boundaries.

When landscape or garden planning, there are key elements to be considered in each case:

Landscape Planning

•     Practical considerations such as climate, topography, soil and irrigation, planning permission and construction.
•     View the landscape in terms of things that need to be retained, modified or replaced — with attention given to how original natural features can act as 'borrowed scenery' for a garden.
•     The overall 'genius loci' — this term refers to the ambience or atmosphere of the garden area.

Garden Planning

•     What will the garden space be used for — i.e. raising vegetation, sports, relaxation.
•     If you are growing plants or vegetables, they need to have a cohesive growth cycle and bloom-time, to enhance the aesthetic or practical function of the garden.
•     What man-made elements need to be introduced? This can cover water features, raised flower beds, greenhouses, decking, paved or gravel pathways.

Planning your Garden

    Starting at the front of the property, it is important to remember that your front lawn provides the first impression of a property to any visitor. While a back garden is more secluded and normally has a number of utilitarian functions (clotheslines or tool sheds, for example), the front garden connects your home to the wider surroundings, and provides a platform for aesthetic display through flower and shrubbery arrangement. Decisions must also be made about human access from the street — will you need driveways or pathways? Do areas need to be covered by gravel, paved slabs, or tarmac?

    Generally the backyard is planned more with your personal recreation in mind. If you plan on entertaining guests in the garden, you might want to think about dining areas, seating, lighting and heating, and cooking structure like outdoor kitchens and barbecues. Having children can have a big influence on garden design — areas for sports such as basketball or soccer need to be devised, and the safety and positioning of elements such as ponds or pools should be a consideration.

    If you are a green-fingered gardener keen on raising flowers or vegetables, it's important to outline their arrangement before planting, to ensure maximum aesthetic value or harvest yield. You will also need to decide how to house your vegetation, whether in raised flower beds, rock gardens or greenhouses. Using the Landscape and Garden solution for ConceptDraw PRO gives you full creative control of all these factors before you even have to pick up your tools and get your hands dirty.

A Landscape and Garden Solution

    You don't need to be a professional landscaper to design a garden, and you don't need to a technical drawing expert to use the Landscape and Garden solution for ConceptDraw PRO. The hard work has been done for you — the solution collects various libraries full of professionally designed stencils and graphics, leaving you free to concentrate on the creative aspects of your garden plan. These libraries include graphic design elements such as bushes and trees, flower and grass, ponds and fountains, garden furniture and accessories, and paths, plots and patios. Using them in combination with the handy templates included with the solution is the quickest and simplest method of starting to plan your garden design.
    All this makes the solution ideal for those with any form of residential garden, and a head full of landscape ideas. Knowing that a well-designed front and back yard can really boost the resell value of your property means that proper planning and design is imperative, before you start digging holes and ripping up trees around your house. With ConceptDraw PRO you can find exactly what works for you, and works for the garden — The Landscape and Garden solution allows you to experiment with your design, and find out what it is possible to achieve with the natural space you have available.

Using Evernote with a Mind Map

   Evernote is a great choice of a tool to keep oneself organized. Notes, images, web sites and other information that you want to have at your fingertips is always available. Store your critical information for future reference and it is synced to all of your devices for ease of access. Now ConceptDraw MINDMAP supports sending the information from your mind map to your Evernote account. Want to send just a single topic from your mind map? Easy! Want to send a branch from your mind map to Evernote? Easy! Want to send an outline of your entire map to Evernote? Also, easy! Want to send an outline of your map, an image of your map, plus a copy of your mind map file? Done!

    Now critical information from your mindmaps can be accessed from almost any device using ConceptDraw MINDMAP and Evernote. Being organized and efficient has never been this easy before. Your information is available where and how you need it. All information you send from ConceptDraw MINDMAP is indexed for you by Evernote, making information easy to find and use.

   So you are familiar with Evernote, what is ConceptDraw MINDMAP? ConceptDraw MINDMAP is a powerful and intuitive tool that can be used to support brainstorming, organize notes, and create polished presentations. ConceptDraw MINDMAP has an inexhaustible number of uses.

     New to ConceptDraw MINDMAP is the Note Exchange Solution, a feature that allows quick and easy export of MINDMAP documents through Evernote. This powerful feature of ConceptDraw MINDMAP allows one to pair the power of MINDMAP with the accessibility of the world’s favorite human memory platform, Evernote. This Solution permits users to develop and organize notes and tasks in ConceptDraw MINDMAP and then,with a press of a button, allows the work to be accessed later, regardless of preferred platform.

     With a comprehensive list of platforms supported for the Evernote client (plus the option of web access of Evernote-based content) gives users access to important MINDMAP documents virtually on anything. With ConceptDraw MINDMAP Note Exchange Solution, users can upload to Evernote a single topic, selected topics, branch or branches (topics with subtopics), a whole single page mind map, or the entire multi-page document.

   ConceptDraw MINDMAP can be used for meeting agendas, note taking, to do lists, requirements gathering, decision support, project planning, presentation development, script development, writing organization, research, event planning, tracking progress, etc. ConceptDraw MINDMAP presents information in a manner that makes it easy for people to go from a 50,000 foot view and then with a single click dive into the detail as required. The ability to present a comprehensive high-level view with supporting detail is what makes ConceptDraw MINDMAP a real workhorse. Not only is ConceptDraw economical, but it gives users the ability to do more with increased efficiency.

Management Infographics

    Infographics, in one form or another, have been around for many years. They are used by businesses, media, government or brands to convey information, data or knowledge in a visual manner. The basic premise of an infographic is as follows:

• Condense large amounts of information into an easily absorbable form
• Display data and information through use of visual elements
• Combine these elements to present an overriding message or insight

    Two common examples of an infographic that you might see most days are a subway map, or the T.V. weather report. Both use graphical elements to represent things such as weather patterns and rail lines, and have an explicit, functional message they need to convey. They follow the archetype structure of the infographic, made up of three parts — the visual, the content, and the knowledge.

    Visual
This covers the colours and graphics used on an infographic. Graphics can either represent specific pieces of data (theme graphics), or point towards particular areas of information (reference graphics).


    Content
All the information you need to convey the main message. Facts, figures, and statistical breakdowns.


    Knowledge

This is the message you want to convey to the reader. In the two examples previously mentioned, this would be informing viewers of the coming weather forecast, and instruct commuters on how to reach their destination.

    Infographics have become ubiquitous with modern day communication. This can be understood as the internet and social media providing a great platform for a communication method that shows information quickly and simply in a visual manner; and also as a necessity due to a trend towards a lower attention span from internet users.

    It is no surprise that this effective form of communication is used in all forms of business, for a variety of tasks. An infographic is suitable for whenever you need to convey data or a corporate message to the workforce.

    A sales team might want to show their performance over a certain time period, with a breakdown of different products/divisions/locations. Charts, graphs, and other indicators can be used to display corporate data and statistics, and split information into clearly defined sub-sections.

    Management might want to communicate a basic workflow for each division of the company, visualise business strategy and decision processes, or display a certain business training concept. In this case, an infographic can be more text heavy, and use illustrations to establish a timeline, process, or step-by-step sequence of events.

    The marketing side of a business can use infographics to relay information and marketing strategies internally amongst the workforce, or as a tool to educate consumers about the business model or product.

    The benefits of using such a visual method to convey your business ideas are tied to what we know about human behaviour when learning or processing new information. The majority of people are termed as 'visual learners' — so infographics have a broader influence than other methods of communication. Vision is our dominant sense; we process images faster than text, and can much more easily retain information that is accompanied by a visual cue. So a well designed infographic has the power to be more persuasive and striking than a simple block of text. They are user friendly to design — large amounts of information can be divided and shown in a clean, effective manner. Graphics and icons are eye catching, and easy to understand without the need for too much context.

Communicate visually

    Since the beginning of our existence, humans have searched for ways in which to communicate ideas or information visually. Early man left cave paintings demonstrating hunting techniques and ceremony, while the ancient Egyptians created a writing system based around glyphs and symbols, using common cultural icons such as jackals or scarab beetles to denote a certain sound or meaning. As language has evolved, and the methods of delivery have become more technologically advanced, we have found ever increasing applications for visual communication. Now it is rare to find an instance of media, business reporting, or educational material without some element of illustration, icons, charts or graphs used to emphasise, or in lieu of, supporting text. Recent studies have proven that the brain retains information better when it is associated with a visual cue, but it seems like we have always inherently known this — after all, what serves a better purpose, a Wanted poster with a text description of the criminal, or the same info underneath an artist's impression of his face?

    Advertisement is a form of visual communication that we may see a hundred times a day without ever consciously acknowledging, but its effects are clear and powerful — everyone associates Nike with the tick, McDonalds with the golden arches. Iconic brands such as these show the strength of supporting a message with focused imagery, and demonstrate the key ideology that visual communication can be used to persuade, educate or inform to greater effect than text alone.

    There are other cultural memes that have become instantly recognizable in the modern age. A television weather forecast uses a combination of weather pattern symbols (clouds, sun, etc.), climate maps to show rainfall, and contour maps to show isobars. You could watch a forecast in any language, and you would have some idea of what weather to expect that day. Similarly, tube maps are designed so that a person might see them for the first time, and use the colour code and station key to navigate the platforms easily. Now, that might not always be the case, but certainly your average city-dweller will have some idea how to get around whether they are in Moscow or London.

Fig. 1. London Tube Map

    Universal symbols that communicate short, useful ideas or guidelines are on every corner. Fire escape plans, exit signs, road markings, are all designed to have maximum visual impact, to leave a lasting impression on the mind.

    Outside of the more social applications, various fields of business rely on visual communication for the effective planning, deployment, and reporting of business process. The Stock Market and other exchanges have long used different charts and graphs to display trading movement; statistical data is a lot easier to digest in proportional visual form than from a list of figures. A project timeline looks better in Gantt chart form than as a list of bullet points. The primary aim is to present visual documents that all stakeholders can view and take information from — bridging knowledge gaps and dispensing with overly technical terminology.

    Those working within computer network and system design often utilize modeling 'languages', a group of symbols or icons that represent certain aspects of network architecture. One such example would be the Unified Modeling Language (UML), which introduced a standardized set of symbols used to visualize the design of any computer system.

    Probably the first book you were shown was based entirely on the theory of visual communication. Most children's ABC books opened something like A is for apple, B is for boat — with a suitable picture to accompany. This is the beginning of a learning process that will rely heavily on visual stimulus, which in turn helps the comprehension, retention, and critical thinking of the students who learn that way. A visual aid is suitable for any subject; a diagram can map the solar system or the ocean floor, an infographic can display information on economic growth in Africa or transport habits in Australia. Mathematics would be rendered useless with bar charts, histograms and scatter diagrams, while geography would suffer without topological and thematic maps.

Fig. 2. Ranks US States by Peacefulness
We can see visual presentation is intrinsic to conveying information for a variety of purposes. Here are some examples of the many forms that can be used, and their key design elements:

• Charts, graphs and matrices — useful in showing statistical data, and able to present results in multiple visual forms. Pie charts and bar charts show data as proportional to the size of the bar, or piece of pie. Line graphs are used to compare two variables, while scatter diagrams display data as a collection of points to show frequency of a certain value. A key tool for project managers is the Gantt chart — a project chart that gives a detailed rundown on project completion, resource allocation and budgetary requirements.
  
  
  
  Fig. 3. MultiProject Dashboard
• Infographics — combines text with relevant icons and ideograms to illustrate a certain point or piece of information. They are a popular form of visual communication due to flexible design possibilities and the way they can be effectively spread through social media platforms. Infographics can be used in education, management or marketing for various purposes, but always in a manner that is easily accessible to all viewers.
  
  
  
  Fig. 4. International Education Infogram
• Geospatial visuals — these can relate to any map or chart that describes a geographical condition. Apart from standard road, transport, and topology maps, these are found in a number of fields; a weather analyst will use precipitation distribution maps and weather patter models, while a political scientist will have need for voter division diagrams and population density maps.
  
  
  
  Fig. 5. Mindmap Breakout Project
• Infographics — absolutely fundamental to any architect who plans on starting a large-scale construction. For just a single house you could produce garden design plans and property blueprints, wiring and plumbing diagrams, and diagrams showing interior decor and fittings. Business companies can require carefully outlined fire drill plans and building maps.

ConceptDraw's solution

    The suite of software products from ConceptDraw has been designed specifically to allow you to communicate visually with full freedom. For educators, accountants, students, computer engineers, scientists, managers, or anyone with an idea to communicate, ConceptDraw provide the tools and solutions you need to take an idea from conception to actuality.

    ConceptDraw MINDMAP is a launching pad for your ideas, and an effective method of presenting abstract concepts in a coherent visual manner, that has the option of running in group collaboration mode — where everyone can provide input, linking information together on the page as fast as it comes to mind. To allow mindmaps to be easily shared, ConceptDraw offer solutions that enhance compatibility with Twitter and Skype, giving direct access to social media platforms. There is in-house compatibility too, with the possibility to export your topic ideas from MINDMAP, and have them appear in ConceptDraw PROJECT as new projects, resources, or tasks.

    Project managers have to keep track of many different variables throughout a project's completion, and graphical data reporting is a key part of understanding whether it's running efficiently or not. ConceptDraw PROJECT provides a platform to visually manage a project portfolio using the Gantt chart format, and works in conjunction with ConceptDraw PRO to produce a project dashboard displaying diagrams relating to all aspects of project data and participants. PRO can also be used to create the Gantt chart in drawing form.

Fig. 6. Project Management Radial Tasks Diagram

    ConceptDraw PRO is one of the market leading diagramming and vector drawing software, continually extended with graphic solutions to give full freedom of expression with visual communication. Data can be represented using custom built Live Objects, through graphs, charts and dashboards. PRO can be used to create diagrams of any scale — from house and building plans, down to the computer network and software inside it. Should you just want to produce a picture just for the artistic sake of it, ConceptDraw provide libraries of vector stencil clipart on a wide range of themes, to help make a design bold and vibrant.

ConceptDraw Solution Park collects all these tools and extensions in one area, organized by subject or purpose. It is a largely free resource that is constantly updated and added to, and so provides ongoing value to the software. All users, whether they are designing complex schematics or simple charts or infographics, will find a solution to help them. ConceptDraw provides a complete visual communication package of professional software and effective graphic design solutions.

Computer Network Diagrams

When you walk into most modern work offices, there is a good chance you will be greeted by banks of computer screens and terminals, perhaps some sales points screens or server stacks, almost certainly routers and printers. A side effect of this amount of hardware is the amount of cabling necessary to connect these elements into an effective local area network (LAN). With technology and market forces demanding ever quicker business response times, a well-structured computer network is the foundation of positive communication between employees, and with the wider world.

As anyone who has struggled sorting out all the wires behind a television can empathize, it's good to know which cables go where, and what is their function. This is the idea behind a computer network diagram — it can show how a network is connected, how data transfers between those connections, and give an overview of devices and hardware used. To create a practical diagram, the user must adhere to the specified requirements and limitations of the office or building in which the LAN will operate — things such as hardware availability, company budget and customer needs must all be taken into account.

There are two main forms of computer network diagram:

Physical topology diagram

These diagrams show the physical arrangement of a network, the order in which devices are connected, and the cables used to connect them. Which cabling to use is determined by the type of topology employed, and there are three main forms in use currently:

• Star — by far the most common topology, most people at home on their personal computer will be using a very basic form of this. At the center of the network is a hub, generally a router, where each device connects to it only. Data transmissions between devices is managed through this central hub, and sent from it over wired or Wi-Fi connections.
  
  
  

  Fig. 1. Star topology

• Ring — as the name suggests, devices using this topology have two connections, joining with neighbouring devices to form a loop. Data passes through the loop, copying itself to any destination address.
• Bus — similar to a ring, but the data travels up and down a linear cable, copying itself where devices act as 'stations' along the route. This method is useful for small networks, or when adding an extra device to one, but should the main cable fail it can bring down the network.

Logical topology diagram

A logical topology adds a further level of detail to a computer network diagram, by showing along which path data is transferred around the network, the network protocols that govern it, and how it is received by the various nodes and devices. They can show elements such as firewalls or software specifications.

While the logical topology can mirror the form of the physical, it is possible for them to be different. For instance, data travelling through a physical 'star' topology will travel ostensibly around a 'ring' within the router, checking whether each device matches the destination address.

Fig. 2. Logical bus with physical star topology

Network architecture

Combining the elements from these topologies creates a layered picture of the network architecture, which can basically be defined as the design of a communications network — a framework for its physical components, and a clearly defined set of principles and procedures. Although these rules can often be quite rigid, a computer network diagram does not just to be a simple arrangement of lines and text — computer network diagram symbols can added and utilized to represent real-world locations, end-user interactions, or specific hardware.

Logical and physical topology diagrams are ideal for depicting LANs, but often business demands a network on a much larger scale. A global network connecting devices in disparate areas is known as a wide area network (WAN), and it will generally use a dedicated form of connection in order to keep up communication, for instance satellite or leased lines. They can be shown on diagrams using the methods outlined above — the diagram will show a 'step back' from a LAN, showing the structure of connections between LANs within the WAN.

Fig. 3. Computer Network Diagram

Drawing tools from ConceptDraw

For many years, the software engineers at ConceptDraw have dedicated themselves to releasing innovative and comprehensive diagramming solutions, adding extra functionality to their award winning software, ConceptDraw PRO. Each one contains libraries of graphic illustrations and symbols, together with user-friendly templates to help the user get started. With the Computer Network Diagrams solution, network architects and heads of IT departments have an all-in-one drawing tool that provides indispensable vector stencils depicting branded hardware, telecommunication devices, and logical symbols that allow freedom of expression in diagram, however complex the network might be.

The support from ConceptDraw doesn't end with the solution libraries. Apart from the quick-start templates provided, the dedicated solution page contains a set of network diagram samples, showcasing the options and styles available. There is also detailed 'How-to' section that goes step-by-step through the process of creating a variety of diagrams, and of course a wealth of video and text material can be found through the ConceptDraw 'Help' section.

Whether rapidly sketching out a personal network, or visualizing complex topology to share with a company team, the Computer Network Diagrams solution for ConceptDraw PRO has all the tools needed to make productive and professional network diagrams.

U.S.A. state maps

The United States of America; land of the free, home of the brave, fond of a cliché. A vast nation brought together under the Star-Spangled Banner, but split by state lines, political alliances, and cultural norms. To try and define the country as a whole is a futile task — it's often said the reason many Americans don't travel abroad is because they can experience anything the world has to offer within their borders. Perhaps it's not as hyperbolic as its sounds — sprawling metropolises are buffered by mountain ranges, deserts, forests and beaches; large immigrant communities have been established, including Latino, French, Irish and Caribbean; weather can range between freezing cold, to searing heat, with everything from hurricanes, tornados and dust storms in between. The U.S.A. is divided into 50 states, and the only two that don't border other states give a good example of the cultural and geographical juxtapositions found within the nation — Alaska to the North is a frozen tundra, shutting down in the darkness of winter, whereas the islands of Hawaii are a famed tropical paradise, attracting beach goers and surfers from the world over. They also both contribute to the ethnic diversity of the U.S. with their own indigenous peoples, the Polynesians of Hawaii, and the Eskimo tribes covering Alaska and Canada.

The Pacific states

The 50 states serve as the most recognizable form of geographical division within the U.S., but these can be broken down further into counties and townships. Certain states are officially grouped together into homogenous regions, comprising the North-East, Midwest, South and West. Furthermore, numerous colloquial regions have been identified and become a part of the national lexicon — the deep South, the Bible belt, the mountain states, New England or the Pacific Northwest to name but a few. Governing such an expansive and diverse populace is a challenging prospect. American politics are dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties, and broadly and historically speaking, it can be said the 'Yankee' North favours the Democrats, with the 'Confederate' South supporting the Republicans. Further nuance can be discovered by examining political preferences geographically between states and counties, and combining that data with social factors such as age or race.

Illinois Senatorial election results 2014

Any country can inspire a wealth of geopolitical statistical data, though America more than most. A common way of assimilating this data is to create maps that convey a particular theme or subject matter in relation to a specific geographical area. Known as thematic maps, they cover themes such as population density, average rainfall, or political allegiance, differentiating the data by using graphical elements and annotation. These are the main three uses for a thematic map:

• To provide specific information about particular locations
• To provide general information about spatial patterns
• To compare pattern between two or more maps

Thematic maps contrast general reference maps, which tend to display information on a variety of subjects — vegetation, topology, roads and highways, for example. A thematic map will always focus on one particular subject matter. When designing these maps, cartographers use five main techniques:

Choropleth mapping — this technique assigns a colour hue or shade to a particular region on a map, that corresponds with a data value. For instance a map of the U.S.A. might colour each state red or blue, to show whether they support the Democrats or Republicans.

Florida population by county

Proportional symbols — these maps use symbols that vary in size depending on the data they are representing. So a U.S. map showing cities might mark them using a skyscraper symbol that grows in size the larger the cities population.

Isarithmic maps — also known as contour mapping, this methodology is used to depict continuous, smooth elements such as elevation levels across a land mass, or a barometric pressure indicator, similar to what you might see on a T.V. weather programme.

Dot distribution maps — in these maps, one dot represents one incident of a certain event or condition. A map focusing on a particular United States region might use a dot to represent each sighting of a grizzly bear in the Pacific Northwest. You will know to avoid travelling to places where the dots are tightly clustered!

Dasymetric maps — similar to a chloropleth map, but doesn't divide the area arbitrarily, instead showing levels of density in reference to the geography of the land. This method can be used to show density of forestry over a large area for example, with a green hue that becomes darker where the concentration of trees are highest.

ConceptDraw have created a new solution, this time offering accurate vector stencil maps of all 50 U.S. states. These can be used as the base for any thematic map of your choosing. The U.S.A. Maps solution for ConceptDraw PRO contains 9 libraries, each covering a certain region of the U.S., and each state map contained within gives the option of adding further detail — an action menu allows you to show or hide county borders, their names, as well as capitals and major cities. Used in combination with ConceptDraw PRO's other features, cartographers are able to annotate their maps, adjust the colour and shading of different areas, and add icons and graphics to enhance a professional looking thematic map.

With major geographical features accounted for, and accurate scaled U.S. state maps, the U.S.A. Maps solution saves time on information sourcing, and makes graphic map design a quick and easy process.

Business process modeling with Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) v2.0 diagrams

The key to an effective and smoothly run business is the efficiency and cohesive integration of its business processes. A business process describes the steps taken to complete any objective, task or service within a business. Processes can be divided into three distinct categories:

• Management processes — processes that describe business strategy and organizational structure.
• Operational processes — interaction between business and customer, core business activity.
• Supporting processes — e.g. health and safety, accounting, recruitment.

Business processes are born from business process management (BPM) strategy, which is the overall strategy for all company operations. BPM is responsible for a business process from its design, through to modeling, to execution. It also covers optimization or re-engineering of current processes.

The most effective method of creating or analyzing a business process is to visually interpret the steps using a business process diagram, flowchart or workflow. This is known as business process modeling, and will be performed within a company by a team who have detailed knowledge of company process, and analysts with expertise in the modeling discipline. The objective is often to increase production or lower costs — by modeling the process initially using a flowchart, inefficiencies and problems can be spotted before committing to a decision or strategy.

Example 1. Business process diagram

Given the fluid, global nature of business at present, it is perhaps a necessity to have a standardized notation system with which to describe the steps that make up different business processes. Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) v2.0 is a method for visualizing information in a way that's intuitive for business analysts, and also allows existing processes within a business to be compared and integrated effectively.

The aim of BPMN is assist in creating a diagram that is immediately understandable to all business stakeholders, with graphic elements that can be adapted to represent any form of function, decision, work or data flow. The symbols and structure it uses to do this can be divided into a number of categories:

• Flow objects — includes Events, which are parts of a process that happen automatically, denoted by a circle; Activities show work that needs to be done, shown as a round-cornered rectangle; Gateways show a splitting or merging of paths, using a diamond shape.
  
  

  Example 2. Flow objects

• Connecting objects — used to connect flow objects, either as Sequence Flow, which indicated the order of activities; Message Flow, a dashed line that shows interaction between organizational boundaries, shown on diagrams as 'Pools'; Association is a dotted line used to connect an 'Artifact' or text to an activity.
• Swim lanes — the widest possible overview of a process involving different organizations is known as a Pool. Different organizations each have their own Lane within the Pool, and are connected using Message Flow connecting objects.
  
  

  Example 3. Swim lanes diagram

• Artifacts — Artifacts are pieces of information added to certain Activity flow objects to giver better understanding to those viewing the process diagram. They can be data required or produces, extra activities, or simply explanatory text.
• Choreographies - These symbols allow the opportunity to show an activity or step that describes the behavior between business participants.
  
  

  Example 4. Choreographies object

• Expanded objects — these symbols can be used to expand one area of a process, and see an activity or function at a higher level of detail.
  
  

  Example 5. Expanded object

ConceptDraw have designed a solution that combines BPMN v2.0 methodology and graphical notification into one powerful package. The Business Process Diagrams solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park provides a comprehensive collection of vector stencil libraries that contain pre-designed, standardized BPMN v2.0 symbols, as well as a number of templates that help you map out business processes and strategy in a variety of styles.

ConceptDraw PRO is the ideal software solution when working with process diagrams or flowcharts. Thanks to the intuitive and powerful RapidDraw interface, activity and workflow shapes and symbols can be generated on the page with a single click of a button, allowing you to map your process as quick as it comes to mind. If you get stuck at any stage, help is at hand from our tutorial videos, that can be found in our help section.

To create professional looking, informative workflow diagrams, and obtain a full library of BPMN v2.0 graphics, download and use the Business Process Diagrams solution from ConceptDraw.