---
id: articles/visual-grammar
about:
  label: A visual grammar for use cases
  description: >-
    One symbol and one colour per domain, and whole systems drawn as
    relationships among them.
  tags:
    - visual-grammar
article: {}
relations:
  - predicate: about
    target: domains
provenance:
  origin: survey
  author: Anselm Hook
  sources:
    - title: 'Digital twins survey, visual language page'
      url: 'https://digital-twins-survey.anselm52491.chatgpt.site/visual-language/'
      date: 2026-10-02T00:00:00.000Z
  status: proposed
---
Five rules, carried over from the survey:

- One symbol per domain, reused everywhere.
- Colour identifies the theme: a distinct pastel hue per pictogram, carried through its rules and outgoing relationships. Keep labels dark.
- Match visual weight: 48 to 72px symbols beside text, 80 to 96px in diagrams; judge apparent size.
- Keep the words: colour and shape reinforce a visible domain label.
- Connect the symbols: whole-system modeling is shown by relationships among domains; arrow labels describe the exchange or influence.

The ten domains, their symbols and colours are listed under [Domains](/domains).