The invention provides, in some aspects, a method of automated diagram generation that includes inputting a description of a plurality of entities and connectivity relationships in which those entities participate with one another; assigning the entities to each of one or more groups groups; assigning the entities to each of one or more columns, each of which has one or more lanes; determining a candidate layout of columns for placement into one or more workspaces based on widths assigned to those columns; assigning connectivity relationships of one or more entities in at least one column to each of one or more lanes based on the column(s) to which entities participating in those connectivity relationships are assigned; assigning widths to at least one of the columns as a function of those lane assignments; and outputting a representation of that candidate layout.