When to effectively use a one-page diagram? This is a question I hear frequently when the topic of one-page diagrams comes up. One of the most important considerations when deciding to use a one-page diagram is the prior knowledge of your viewers. Using a one-page diagram is most effective if the members of your audience have prior knowledge of the content you are conveying.

What to do if that is not the case? Break the diagram into a sequence of diagrams. You can then walk them through the sequence and help them connect the dots one by one.

As always, knowing your audience is your most important tool to effective visual communications.