When you’re designing a new layout, like a building plan or software architecture, things can get messy fast.
One person sketches ideas, another jots changes elsewhere, and soon, no one remembers how it all fits together. 🖌️
A solid adjacency matrix template comes in handy here. It gives you a clear, visual way to map out connections between elements, so you’re not relying on scattered notes or half-remembered discussions.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through 14 free adjacency matrix templates that make it simple to set up and customize your own. 💁
Free Adjacency Matrix Templates to Map Relationships and Optimize Design
What Are Adjacency Matrix Templates?
Adjacency matrix templates are visual tools that map relationships between elements in a structured grid format. They make it easier to understand how different parts of a system interact, influence, or depend on one another.
Each row and column represents a specific item—such as a team, task, or component. The intersecting cells show where connections exist, how often they occur, or how strong those relationships are. You can spot overlaps, gaps, or potential conflicts at a glance.
These templates simplify complex workflows and map dependencies that often get lost in linear documents.
Top Adjacency Matrix Templates at a Glance
Here’s a summary table with the best adjacency matrix and relationship mapping templates:
| Template Name | Download Template | Best Features | Ideal For | Visual Format |
| Adjacency Matrix Template | Get Free Template | Color-coded, drag-and-drop, visualizes spatial relationships | Space planning, system mapping | Whiteboard |
| Criteria Matrix Interior Design Template | Get Free Template | Custom fields, multiple views, requirements tracking | Interior design, layout planning | List, Board, Matrix |
| Entity Relationship Diagram Template | Get Free Template | Drag-and-drop, real-time collaboration, task linking | Database design, data modeling | Whiteboard |
| Kinship Diagram Whiteboard Template | Get Free Template | Color/shape/line coding, pre-labeled elements | Family trees, lineage mapping | Whiteboard |
| Traceability Matrix Template | Get Free Template | Custom fields, relationship mapping, multiple views | Requirements tracking, project alignment | List, Board, Matrix |
| Organizational Chart Template | Get Free Template | Drag-and-drop roles, visual hierarchy, easy updates | Team structure, onboarding | Whiteboard |
| Family Tree Template | Get Free Template | Photos, milestones, collaborative, multi-gen | Family history, genealogy | Whiteboard |
| Process Map Whiteboard Template | Get Free Template | Drag-and-drop, custom stages, status tracking | Workflow mapping, process design | Whiteboard, List |
| User Flow Template | Get Free Template | Labeled steps, shapes for actions/decisions, branching | UX design, product journeys | Whiteboard |
| Project Network Diagram Template | Get Free Template | Node-and-arrow, critical path, resource assignment | Project planning, dependency mapping | Whiteboard |
| Blank Mind Map Whiteboard Template | Get Free Template | Color-coded, drag-and-drop, open layout | Brainstorming, idea mapping | Whiteboard |
| Swimlane Flowchart Template | Get Free Template | Team lanes, standard symbols, process mapping | Role clarity, process mapping | Whiteboard |
| Dependency Mapping Template | Get Free Template | Assignable dependencies, risk tracking, single source of truth | Project risk management, delivery tracking | Doc |
| Bubble Map Template | Get Free Template | Radial format, color-coded, concept mapping | Brainstorming, category mapping | Whiteboard |
What Makes a Good Adjacency Matrix Template?
When your system grows—whether it’s a next project, a reshuffled break room, or a redesigned board room—keeping everything connected can feel like solving a puzzle without a guide.
And a cluttered matrix does more harm than good.
The right template makes complex systems manageable, giving you a clear view of how everything connects. Here’s what separates a good one from the rest. ⛏️
- Clear structure: Organizes rows and columns in a straightforward grid so relationships are easy to follow
- Custom labels: Lets you name rows and columns based on the elements in your process or system
- Defined relationship types: Uses numbers, icons, or color codes to show what kind of connection exists
- Editable cells: Gives you the flexibility to add, adjust, or remove connections as things change
- Flexible formats: Works across different use cases—projects, org charts, system diagrams, and more
- Legend or key: Explains what each symbol or value means so anyone can read it at a glance
- Integration-ready layout: Aligns well with other planning tools like flowchart templates or project boards
🧠 Fun Fact: Mind maps mirror how your brain naturally works. The concept is based on radiant thinking, where ideas fan out from a central point, just like your thoughts do when brainstorming.
14 Adjacency Matrix Templates
Whether you’re working using Carolyn Jean Matthews’ principles on space planning or tagging additional information as input, it all starts with clarity.
, the everything app for work, has a solid lineup of adjacency matrix templates to get you started. Here are 14 that are worth a look. 👀
1. Adjacency Matrix Template
The Adjacency Matrix Template helps you visualize how different locations or elements connect within a system. Labels along the X and Y axes form a grid where each intersection represents a potential relationship.
Using simple visual cues to highlight strong, moderate, or optional connections, you can drag and color-code circles to show how closely two points should be positioned. Red = must be next to each other, blue = should be close, yellow = nice-to-have.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Instantly visualize complex relationships with color-coded, drag-and-drop simplicity
- Eliminate confusion by mapping all connections in one interactive grid
- Adapt quickly to changes—just update the matrix and keep everyone aligned
📌 Ideal for: Visualizing spatial relationships and positioning elements accurately within an adjacency matrix diagram.
🔍 Did You Know? The global interactive whiteboard market is estimated to expand to $9,706.1 million from 2024 to 2034 with the mass adoption of advanced educational tools and collaborative technologies. The industry is foreseen to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%.
2. Criteria Matrix Interior Design Template
The Criteria Matrix Interior Design Template organizes your priorities, design requirements, and progress into one space.
Using pre-set Custom Fields, you can document all your design criteria—like square footage needs, required adjacencies, or special considerations. These fields help you sort, visualize, and update information as the project evolves.
You’ll also get access to helpful views like an Adjacency Matrix for layout planning, a Requirements view for quick reference, and a Getting Started Guide to kick things off with clarity.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Organize every design requirement, preference, and constraint in one place
- Prioritize and adjust criteria as your project evolves for maximum flexibility
- Access multiple views for quick reference, from adjacency to requirements
📌 Ideal for: Organizing design requirements, layout preferences, and project-specific criteria in a structured format.
3. Entity Relationship Diagram Template
The Entity Relationship (ER) Diagram Template is a handy way to visualize how your data connects before writing any code.
Built inside Whiteboards, the template allows you to drag and drop entities, define relationships, and even add tasks or custom fields to each one. It also helps you unlock new insights into your dataset and identify potential issues to improve data modeling accuracy.
Want to mark a status, assign subtasks, or loop in teammates? You can do all that inside the entity relationship diagram as well.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Build and refine your data model visually before writing any code
- Spot and resolve relationship issues early to avoid costly mistakes
- Collaborate in real time with teammates for faster, smarter database design
📌 Ideal for: Mapping data relationships, structuring databases, and identifying how entities connect within a system.
4. Kinship Diagram Whiteboard Template
The Kinship Diagram Whiteboard Template is your go-to tool for mapping family trees without confusion. Use its visual structure to trace multiple generations, highlight complex connections like remarriages or cousin links, and distinguish maternal and paternal lines at a glance.
Plus, you’ll notice how color, shape, and line styles signal gender, marital status, and life status. With pre-labeled elements like ‘uncle,’ ‘cousin,’ and ‘niece,’ you won’t need to fuss about formatting workflow diagrams either.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Map even the most complex family relationships with clear, customizable visuals
- Use color, shape, and line styles to instantly distinguish connections
- Easily update and share your family tree as your story grows
📌 Ideal for: Outlining complex family trees, tracking lineage, and illustrating generational relationships clearly.
5. Traceability Matrix Template
The Traceability Matrix Template helps you stay in control of complex project relationships without getting overwhelmed.
Custom Fields such as Business Objectives, Test Cases, Deliverables, and Importance help you document and visualize what really matters. It’s also easy to switch between detailed views like Relationship Traceability, Priorities, Board, and Requirement Information to keep everything structured and transparent.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Track requirements, deliverables, and test cases in a single, organized view
- Ensure every project goal is linked to actionable outcomes and proof of completion
- Switch between detailed traceability and high-level overviews with ease
📌 Ideal for: Tracking project requirements, linking deliverables, and ensuring alignment between goals and outputs.
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6. Organizational Chart Template
The Organizational Chart Template clearly lays out your team’s hierarchy—from the president down to support staff—so everyone knows who’s doing what. This makes it easy to represent roles, update organizational structures, and onboard new team members faster.
The template also includes a drag-and-drop legend for roles and a simple layout to show reporting lines between executives, managers, and staff.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Clarify team structure and reporting lines at a glance
- Easily update roles and responsibilities as your organization evolves
- Onboard new team members faster with a transparent, visual hierarchy
📌 Ideal for: Structuring team hierarchies, clarifying reporting lines, and visualizing organizational roles effortlessly.
🤝 Friendly Reminder: Don’t overlook partial or indirect adjacencies—they can support convenience without cluttering high-traffic zones. Use dashed lines or softer colors in your matrix for these.
7. Family Tree Template
The Family Tree Template helps you capture your lineage in a clear, visual format.
You can add photos, names, and connections across multiple generations using a structured layout. Each member’s place in the family tree is easy to identify, making tracing relationships and preserving history simple.
The template is built for collaboration so relatives can contribute details, share memories, and build the tree together. It’s ideal for organizing milestones like births, marriages, and family expansions while keeping everything neatly arranged on a customizable Whiteboard.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Capture and visualize generations of family history in a collaborative format
- Add photos, names, and milestones for a richer family story
- Invite relatives to contribute and keep your tree up to date together
📌 Ideal for: Capturing family history, preserving generational details, and visually organizing ancestral records in one view.
8. Process Map Whiteboard Template
The Process Map Whiteboard Template turns scattered workflows into structured, easy-to-follow visuals. With drag-and-drop functionality, you can map each stage—complete with goals, activities, and action items—across colorful columns that guide your team from start to finish.
The template also includes customizable fields and statuses like Open and Complete and offers multiple views, including a Getting Started Guide, List, and Whiteboard.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Break down complex workflows into clear, actionable steps
- Visualize dependencies and bottlenecks to streamline processes
- Customize stages and statuses to fit any team or project
📌 Ideal for: Breaking down workflows, mapping process stages, and visualizing step-by-step operational tasks.
9. User Flow Template
The User Flow Template is a standout visual tool for mapping intuitive and engaging user journeys across websites, mobile apps, or product experiences.
Each flow includes clearly labeled steps with a mix of shapes (rectangles for actions, diamonds for decisions), allowing you to lay out both linear and branching journeys. From designing a new website to creating a mobile app, this template helps you ensure your users stay engaged and keep coming back for more.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Map every step of your user’s journey for seamless experiences
- Identify friction points and optimize paths for better engagement
- Use intuitive shapes and labels to design both linear and branching flows
📌 Ideal for: Designing intuitive user journeys, visualizing product interactions, and improving the overall customer experience.
10. Project Network Diagram Template
The Project Network Diagram Template provides a straightforward way to plan, track, and manage task dependencies across any project. It uses a node-and-arrow structure to connect tasks, letting you see what needs to happen and in what order.
You can define durations, track progress, and identify the critical path so you’re always focused. Use built-in Custom Fields to assign resources, flag risks, and outline deliverables. Since the template lives in , updates are quick, and collaboration stays seamless.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Visualize all project tasks, dependencies, and milestones in one place
- Identify the critical path and focus on what matters most
- Update timelines and resources easily as your project evolves
📌 Ideal for: Planning project tasks, mapping dependencies, and visualizing task sequences and timelines.
11. Blank Mind Map Whiteboard Template
The Blank Mind Map Whiteboard Template gives you a clean, open layout to expand on a central idea and connect everything that branches out. Start with your main theme, then add related goals, action items, or notes, and link them visually to keep everything aligned.
Color-coded elements, floating tasks, and drag-and-drop editing make it easier to spot gaps, spark new connections, and create structure out of chaos. These mind maps ensure you’re not stuck in a linear process and clarify even the messiest brainstorms.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Brainstorm and organize ideas freely with a flexible, open layout
- Connect related thoughts visually to spark new insights
- Rearrange and color-code elements for clarity and creativity
📌 Ideal for: Brainstorming ideas freely, organizing concepts visually, and building structured mind maps with flexibility.
12. Swimlane Flowchart Template
The Swimlane Flowchart Template helps you break down complex processes by assigning tasks across lanes based on ownership. With clearly defined roles—like Assigned A through D—you can map out each step, decision point, and handoff without losing sight of who’s doing what.
This swimlane template includes standard symbols to keep everything easy to follow: rounded rectangles for start and end points, squares for tasks, diamonds for decision checkpoints, and arrows to indicate task flow.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Assign clear ownership by dividing processes into team-specific lanes
- Visualize handoffs, decision points, and responsibilities at a glance
- Standardize process mapping with familiar symbols and easy editing
📌 Ideal for: Clarifying roles, dividing responsibilities, and mapping processes across multiple teams or departments.
13. Dependency Mapping Template
The Dependency Mapping Template provides a structured way to document, assign, and resolve project dependencies. Housed in Docs, it combines clarity and accountability, making managing interdependencies across teams and timelines easier.
You can break down each dependency, assign owners, and list targeted action items directly in the doc. This makes it easier to identify potential delays early, align stakeholders on the next steps, and keep delivery on track without relying on scattered updates.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Document and assign every project dependency for full transparency
- Spot risks and potential delays before they impact delivery
- Keep stakeholders aligned with a single source of truth for dependencies
📌 Ideal for: Managing project interdependencies, tracking potential risks, and assigning ownership for seamless delivery.
💡 Pro Tip: Use color coding in your matrix. Differentiate desired, secondary, and undesired adjacencies using distinct colors; this makes interpreting relationships much faster, especially in large layouts.
14. Bubble Map Template
The Bubble Map Template turns abstract concepts into structured visuals. At the center sits your main category, branching into four subcategories—each linked to supporting adjectives.
Color-coded bubbles distinguish between the main idea, subcategories, and descriptors, making the flow easy to follow. The radial format keeps everything connected while highlighting key patterns or gaps.
💫 Why you’ll love this template
- Organize core ideas and supporting details in a visually engaging format
- Highlight patterns, gaps, and relationships with color-coded bubbles
- Perfect for brainstorming, categorization, and concept mapping
📌 Ideal for: Organizing core ideas and related details and mapping categories or concepts in a structured layout.
Connect The Dots With
Adjacency matrix templates help you visualize your ideas and process.
That means figuring out which elements are adjacent, which are secondary, and how everything—from file and table placements to client or marketing flows—fits together.
They’re great for space planning, workflow design, or even team collaboration strategies.
With ’s free primary and secondary adjacency matrix templates, mapping your system becomes smarter, simpler, and way more collaborative. Launch your action items directly from the whiteboard or doc and start executing right away!
Sign up for today! ✅
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