If you need to show the relationship between concepts, then a Venn diagram template is the perfect tool to use.  Venn diagrams have been used by educators and business people for many years, as they’re a simple yet effective method to express comparison or contrast between two or more ideas.

However, making a Venn diagram can be tiresome and require extra resources. Instead, you can use a Venn diagram template to help you save time and effort.  Editing one of these templates is a completely free way to create an effective tool for research and presentation means.

You can customize your free Venn diagram template to help present relationships between ideas in a clear and simple way.

Venn Diagram Templates

What is a Venn diagram used for?

Created by English logician John Venn, Venn diagrams are used to show the relationship between data or ideas. They are a type of graphic organizer and can be used in a variety of ways, suitable for use with almost any topic.

A Venn diagram consists of two key elements:

  • Circles with data inside
  • An overlapping intersection of the circles

The circles are used to demonstrate the differences between each concept. In mathematics, the circles are known as the symmetric difference. Each circle represents a different idea, object, or concept. The overlapping intersection in the middle, however, represents the similarities between these topics.

They are used as graphic organizers to compare data sets and relationships, meaning they are simple tools that students, researchers, and employees benefit from using. The clarity of Venn diagrams is what makes them so accessible to use in both the workplace and the classroom.

Other things to include

There are often additional features used in a Venn diagram to help customize them. These include:

  • Images
  • Interactive features for online presentations
  • Different shapes
  • Labels to further analyze data

These features add more depth to a Venn diagram, and with a Venn diagram template, you can customize them to include these features if you wish.

Circle Diagrams

Is a Venn diagram suitable for me?

Venn diagrams can be used to illustrate simple concepts or more complex ideas. They have been widely used by mathematicians, scientists, and business people to display ideas to others. They also help you to plan and research your own ideas in a simple, presentable way that makes it easy for you to organize your thoughts.

Graphic organizers with circles are often used in marketing, market research, and, more recently, in the field of social media. Each circle represents a different topic, and they can therefore be used to compare and contrast different products, or a brand’s product vs. a competitor’s product.

Using a template is an excellent way to get started with mapping your thoughts and presenting ideas. You can download and customize our free Venn diagram template to save you the hassle of making your own diagram from scratch.

Indecisive? Try a Venn diagram

Venn diagrams are a fantastic tool to use if you’re struggling to make a decision. They can provide you with a visual representation to help inform your decision-making process. A Venn diagram template is an easy way to consider the pros and cons of potential ideas too, offering anyone who’s indecisive a handy solution.

Different types of Venn diagrams

Before using one of the templates, you should first consider the type of Venn diagram that is most suitable for you before deciding on which template to use.

How many circles should I use?

  • Two set diagrams. Two set diagrams are the classic examples of the Venn diagram. They are used to compare two ideas or sets of data, using two circles that overlap in the middle. The overlapping section of the circle is then used to show similarities between the two things.
    Two set diagrams are excellent for students in particular to use. For example, if a student has to write a book report comparing two books, using two circles is a great way for them to plan their thoughts and consider the similarities and differences between the two.
  • Three set diagrams. This style of Venn diagram includes a three-circle design, instead of the commonly used two-circle style. This is used to differentiate between three different ideas, with the overlapping parts working in the same way – to highlight similarities between these ideas.  Three-set diagrams are great to use if you have more data that needs analyzing, as the three-circle style provides more space to work with. For example, maybe you have two competitor brands and you want to compare their products to yours. This would work well for a three-set diagram.
  • Four and five set diagrams. Four and five-set diagrams are used to display complex comparisons between data. They will use four circles or five circles with text inside to share ideas. Examples of fields that use four and five-set diagrams include scientific research or detailed market research, in which researchers will consider the trends and behavior of a wider range of topics.

This amount of circles can be extremely useful to plan ideas, organize thoughts, and evaluate the relationship between four or five different topics.

Blank Venn Diagrams

How do you create a Venn diagram?

Although using circles can look simple, depending on your topic area, they can be customized to demonstrate more complex ideas. This means that creating a Venn diagram is not always as straightforward as drawing two circles. That’s why choosing a free Venn diagram template will help you to customize your diagram without any additional effort.

  1. Decide which data you will analyze.  The first step is to consider exactly what to compare and contrast in your Venn diagram.
    For students, this could be two characters in a novel, or two different historical leaders. For those in the workplace, your diagram could be used to analyze what the business wants vs. what the consumer wants, brand strategy and content, or almost anything needed to run a business smoothly. Using circles is a versatile diagram style, so you can use them for a wide range of topics.
  2. Draw a circle for each concept.  Using a Venn diagram template will help to eliminate this step for you. However, should you choose to create your own Venn diagram, you will need to physically draw the circles so that they overlap correctly. This could be done on paper or on the computer. Templates remove this extra effort for you.
    You can also use a Venn diagram maker to customize the diagram for you and create the circles.
    If you use choose to use a Venn diagram template – and I recommend our free templates below – you can skip to step 3.
  3. Start writing data about each concept in their respective circle. Fill in your Venn diagram with information related to each concept. This information should be characteristics of each idea that are unique to them. For example, the car in Circle A might be red, whilst the car in Circle B might be blue.
    You can use text boxes to input information if you choose to edit the template online. Adding labels to each circle can also help to display more complex ideas. A Venn diagram maker can help to do this for you, but it is important to check over the data that it inputs and ensure that it is correct, if you choose to use this online tool.
  4. Write the shared characteristics in the overlapping section or sections. Now it’s time to write down the commonalities between both sets of data. Using the car example, perhaps both cars are powered by electricity. This information would go in the overlapping section of the Venn diagram.
    If you are using the template for research purposes, you can always edit the diagram as your research progresses. You can create the diagram to suit your research style, and you should edit it accordingly. You can add labels to each circle to add additional information if this benefits your research.
  5. Share your Venn diagram. Once you have completed your Venn diagram template, it’s time to share it with the world (provided it’s not just for your own personal research). A Venn diagram can be shared in person, through a formal presentation with classmates or colleagues.
    Increasingly, however, Venn diagrams are shared online, either via one’s own website, social media, or, more typically, within an online presentation. With the increased use of Zoom and other online video discussion platforms, many people in business and education choose to share their research and ideas online. With this in mind, you could choose to make your Venn diagram templates interactive. This could mean adding animations or clickable features to the diagram template to make it functional during an online presentation. All you have to do is simply click and the diagram becomes more engaging than only showing two overlapping circles with information inside.
  6. Make your Venn diagram look presentable. If you are presenting the Venn diagram to colleagues or classmates, it’s important that the diagram looks the part.  Using one of our Venn diagram templates can help to ensure that your Venn diagram looks engaging and is clear to read. If there is a lot of information on the Venn diagram, it can be overwhelming if the circles are too small or if it is all written in black and white. You can use a Venn diagram template provided by us to help you create the perfect presentation.
    Even if you’re not showcasing the Venn diagram to anyone, it can help you to organize your thoughts if the diagram looks more engaging. Using different colors for different ideas, for example, is an easy and effective way to display your work in a way that is visually pleasing, but is also helpful for your research or planning.
  7. Customize your Venn diagram templates. Using a diagram template can help to provide all the elements of a visually appealing presentation.
    However, you should customize your Venn diagram template to make it unique to your ideas. If you are presenting the Venn diagram to colleagues or classmates, the circles should be contrasting or complementing colors to demonstrate your ideas in a clear way. You can also use images to express ideas and customize the templates even further. Images are an excellent tool to use when presenting relationships between two different subjects.

How are Venn diagrams used in education?

Students can use graphic organizers in a variety of ways to help benefit their studies. As an English teacher, I give my students a Venn diagram template for a range of activities, and they can also be used across a range of subjects.

  • Planning and research. Blank Venn diagrams can be used to effectively plan ideas and research for upcoming projects or assignments. You can download these as a PDF file and edit them online or print them instead. They are a great way to map out ideas that might otherwise feel complicated or overwhelming.
    A Venn diagram template is a simple tool to use to help students, especially those who benefit from a visual resource.
  • Presentations. If you have assigned your students to present their ideas to their classmates, then you could encourage them to use a Venn diagram in their presentation. Venn diagrams are an effective tool to explain complex concepts in a simple way, and they clearly highlight the relationships between two or more ideas, making them an excellent tool for presentations and meetings.
    For example, perhaps you have assigned students to research and present about two opposing political figures. Using a Venn diagram in their presentation will help students to clearly highlight the differences and commonalities between the two figures, whilst also allowing them to go through each point in more detail if they wish. This style of graphic organizer can be used as a guide to explore ideas in more depth.
  • Reducing workload for teachers and students. Using a Venn diagram template in education will help to save teachers and students precious time when planning ideas. I frequently use a Venn diagram template when considering topics for lesson plans, similar to a pros and cons list. It helps me to clearly identify which areas of the topic students would most benefit from.
    They can also be used as a great classroom resource when students are reading or watching something. For example, if you ask students to consider the differences between two characters, they can complete the Venn diagram as they are watching the video or listening to the story.
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Tagged:BusinessDiagramEducationvenn diagram
TemplateLab May 2nd, 2023
Eleanor Griffiths
Eleanor Griffiths