Architecture by Hand (an OmniGraffle stencil)

OmniGraffle is a great diagramming tool for Macintosh and iPad.  Architecture by Hand is a stencil for OmniGraffle that I designed to assist me when creating system architectures, software architectures, website wireframes and workflow processes for work and personal use.  It features common information technology iconography in a hand-drawn whiteboard style.

The combination of OmniGraffle for iPad (with its free-hand tool) and my Architecture by Hand OmniGraffle stencil is a superior virtual whiteboard experience. All of the control of the touch interface with the unique hand-drawn style of the stencil creates a result that are refreshing and engaging.

Icons include:

  • Document types
    • blank, text, xml, html, pdf, word, spreadsheet, zip, report, disk image file
    • folder, video, audio, email, compressed file
  • Devices
    • desktop, laptop, media computer, mobile, printer, video and dslr cameras
  • Storage
    • CD, DVD, external firewire and usb drives, SDHC/Compact Flash card, cloud disk, remote storage, disk array (NAS/SAN)
  • Servers & Network
    • server, web server, database server, FTP server, email server, LDAP server, back up server, back up tape library, server cluster, web farm cluser, database cluster, router, switch, wireless router, firewall, UPS,  internet cloud
  • Application
    • desktop and web applications, web service, service, event, plug-in, database, database cluster, dashboard report, queue, message bus, LDAP repository
  • Shapes & Callouts
    • squares, circle, triangles, arrows, text call outs
  • Form Elements
    • text box, text area, select box, checkbox, radio button, list box, scroll box, tabs, pop-up displays, video player, labels and text
  • Workflow
    • process, predefined process, decision, input/output, manual input, manual operation, start/stop, connector, display
  • Entity Relationship
    • entity, weak entity, attribute, weak attribute, relation, weak relation, relationship types (many-to-one, one-to-one, etc.)

I’m going to try something new for me.  I’m selling the stencil for $4.99.  All updates will be free.

If you have suggestions for new icons or improvements, please leave a comment and I’ll prioritize them for future updates.

  • Clif Smith

    I love this stencil and just purchased it. However, for my needs it's not quite complete. I'd like to request:
    – a circle
    – icons for a:
    – switch
    – firewall
    – backup server
    – tape array
    – ups

    Thanks!

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    Clif, thanks for buying! I'll add your items to the list.

  • http://twitter.com/kefoster Kevin Foster

    Thanks Clif for letting me know about this stencil. Jonathan excellent job! I just purchased it as well.

    I also agree with Clif I would like to see the shapes he requested.

    Thanks!

  • Clif Smith

    And another I just ran across, an icon for an air conditioner, chiller, etc. A couple of ideas would be to mimic the UPS icon and use a portable fan or even a window AC unit.

    Thanks, Clif

  • Clif Smith

    Um, a few more requests… :-)
    – fiber channel switch
    – ldap server
    – ldap repository

    Thanks!

  • Clif Smith

    Um, a few more requests… :-)
    – fiber channel switch
    – ldap server
    – ldap repository

    Thanks!

  • http://realurl.org/twitted.php?id=6720242967 Twitted by kefoster

    [...] This post was Twitted by kefoster [...]

  • clifsmith

    Any chance of a update in the works?

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    Clif, I'll get a update going. Here's a list of icons I'm thinking of adding:

    FTP server
    Hard Drive w/ cloud on side (cloud/remote storage)
    Upside-down callout bubble
    Circle
    Switch/Fibre Channel
    Firewall
    Backup Server
    Tape array
    UPS
    LDAP Repository
    LDAP Server

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    Reply test.

  • clifsmith

    Thanks!

  • http://blog.bernardes.org Rafael Bernardes

    Friend, can you send me the icons in JPEG? I plan to use in Microsoft visio. (up to Ipad comes to Brazil!!!)

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    Question for those who use the stencil: Do you prefer to keep all the icons on a single stencil like it is now, or should I create multiple stencils for each category?

  • http://blog.fmeyer.org Fernando Meyer

    Hey Jonathan,

    I'm really interested in buy your stencil, but I can't since Google checkout isn't available for Brazil(shame on them). Is there any other way to buy your stencils? maybe thought Paypal.

    Cheers

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    You can Paypal to jonathan.david.brown@gmail.com if you wish. I'll send the stencil via email w/ the code.

  • Clif Smith

    I'd prefer all on a single stencil.

  • http://cjs226.pip.verisignlabs.com/ Clif Smith

    Can you use this and other third party stencils with OG on iPad? What functionality do you lose vs. on the Mac?

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    Absolutely. I use the on my iPad with great results. OmniGraffle for iPad is a subset of features from the desktop version, but the stencil works fine.

  • http://twitter.com/kefoster Kevin Foster

    Checking in to see if an update will be available anytime soon. Thanks.

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    Very soon. Received icons for review from designer. Waiting to be stencil-ized. I've also added shapes, workflow shapes, form elements and entity relationship diagram elements.

  • http://twitter.com/kefoster Kevin Foster

    Sweet!

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    I've just updated the stencil to 2.0. Those of you who have purchased the stencil will receive an email shortly about how to get the new version of the stencil. Let me know if you have issues.

  • http://twitter.com/kefoster Kevin Foster

    Thank you sir! They look good!

  • http://cjs226.pip.verisignlabs.com/ Clif Smith

    Great job, thanks!

  • Reinis Traidas

    Hello and thanks for a great stencil.

    Here are some additions that I could wish for – Playstation3, Xbox 360, A/V receiver, LCD television.

  • Edwin

    Just bought it and did my first drawing. What I miss:
    * Loadbalancer
    * VPN server
    * iPad

  • Sylvain Chalifoux

    Hello,

    I didn’t receive update. Please send me.
    sylvain.chalifoux@gmail.com
    Order number : 428568520751038

  • Jamie

    Love the stencil, but I’m having trouble changing the color of the objects in OG for Mac. “Stroke” color doesn’t work, as that just adds a line around the item. Even if I ungroup the object from the text, it doesn’t work. Any suggestions? Is there a way to change the color of an object in this stencil? Are each of these effectively an image and therefore you can’t change their color?

  • http://jonathanbrown.me Jonathan Brown

    That is correct. The icons (files, servers, devices, etc.) are images, so Stroke will not work as intended.

  • Ghania

    Appreciate your sharing them at such a great price.
    They are most useful.

  • Jamie

    Could you please add support for changing the color of icons?
    And could you also add a “user” icon (some image of a person)?

  • http://cjs226.myopenid.com/ Clif Smith

    Any plans for v3?  If so, I’d be interested in the following:
      – VPN server
      – Configuration Management server (Chef/Puppet)
      – Monitoring server (Nagios/Zenoss)
      – Syslog server