How to Achieve Almost Any Org Chart Design with OrgChart JS

When it comes to visualizing organizational structures, one of the biggest challenges is flexibility. Every company, team, or project has its own way of thinking about hierarchy and relationships. Some want a clean top-down org chart, others prefer side layouts, matrix designs, or even unconventional structures that mix reporting lines with functional connections.

This is where OrgChart JS shines. With its wide range of built-in functionalities, you can create almost any org chart design and layout without being boxed into one rigid template.

Let’s explore how.

1. Multiple Layouts Out of the Box

OrgChart JS supports various built-in layouts like:

• Tree layouts (top, bottom, left, right)

• Mixed layouts where different branches use different directions

• Sublevels and many more

This means you’re not stuck with a single “corporate” look. Whether you want a compact side tree for a product team or a full top-down org chart for a company overview, the options are already there.

2. Subtrees for Complex Structures

Sometimes one branch of your organization has a very different structure than others. With subtrees, you can:

• Show one department expanded while keeping others collapsed

• Apply a different layout just for a subtree

• Control spacing and alignment for specific groups

This flexibility makes it possible to represent departments that don’t fit neatly into a single style.

3. Partner and Multi-Parent Relationships

Real-world organizations often don’t fit a strict hierarchy. People may report to more than one manager, or there may be partnerships that need to be shown visually.

With partners and multi-parent features, OrgChart JS lets you:

• Connect an employee to multiple managers

• Show joint leadership (like co-founders)

• Represent matrix-style organizations

This allows your chart to reflect reality instead of forcing reality into a rigid chart.

4. Custom Styling and Templates

The appearance of your chart is just as important as the structure. With OrgChart JS you can:

• Use built-in templates (like “ana”, “ula”, “olivia”)

• Customize node shapes, colors, and borders

• Add images, icons, and custom fields inside nodes

• Apply different templates to different branches

This ensures your chart matches your brand identity and communicates the right information.

5. Second Links (Slinks)

Not every relationship is hierarchical. Sometimes you need to show connections across departments or link two roles that collaborate closely. That’s where second links (slinks) come in:

• Create additional connections across the chart

• Highlight collaborations and cross-functional work

• Add context without cluttering the main hierarchy

This feature is especially useful for modern organizations that thrive on collaboration.

6. Expand and Collapse

Large charts can be overwhelming. With OrgChart JS, you can:

• Collapse subtrees to keep things tidy

• Allow users to expand areas they’re interested in

This makes navigation smoother while still keeping all the information available.

7. Export and Integration Options

Once you’ve created the perfect chart, OrgChart JS makes it easy to share it:

• Export to PDF, PNG, or SVG

• Integrate with frameworks like Angular, React, Vue, and plain JavaScript

• Load data from JSON, CSV, or your own database

This ensures your design isn’t just for show—it can become part of your workflow.

And Much More, Right Out of the Box

What’s powerful about OrgChart JS is that these are just some of the features available. Out of the box, you also get:

• Drag-and-drop

• Search and filtering

• Touch and mobile support

• Zooming, panning, and navigation controls

• Rich event API for customization

These extras make your chart not only visually flexible but also highly interactive and user-friendly.

The Bottom Line

With layouts, subtrees, partners, styling, second links, expand/collapse, and many more features, OrgChart JS gives you the building blocks to design almost any org chart you can imagine. Instead of forcing your organization to fit a predefined chart, you shape the chart around your organization.

Whether you need a clean executive overview, a detailed departmental map, or a creative hybrid design, OrgChart JS makes it possible.

👉 Explore the documentation and start building your own unique org chart today.