How to Create a floating data stream Image like this?

Question

I'm working on a project and I need to create a vector image that includes a laptop, a man, and a representation of floating data streams. I have a basic idea of what I want it to look like, but I'm not sure how to create it using Inkscape.

1. Efforts Made: I've started by sketching out my concept and experimenting with basic shapes in Inkscape.

2. Challenges: My main challenge is creating a Sankey chart-like representation of data streams flowing between a laptop and a man within my vector design.

3. Consideration of Purchasing: While I could purchase an existing vector image, I have specific customizations and stylistic preferences in mind that may not be available in pre-made vectors.

4. Goal: I aim to create a vector image that balances stylized, illustrative elements with a touch of realism to convey a person interacting with technology and data flows effectively.

5. Experience: I'm relatively new to vector design but am eager to learn and improve my skills in Inkscape.

Here's a sample image of the image I'm aiming to create:

Answer 1

There's too much here to create a full tutorial, but here are the basics of how you could begin to create such a diagram. This is for Inkscape 1.3. Note that I assume a basic familiarity with Inkscape here, and this may not be suitable for a raw beginner. Might be better to do some basic youtube tutorials first.

1. Using the Pen tool B draw a curved line with a stroke and no fill.
2. Ctrl+D to Duplicate, then wwitch off all snapping
3. Select with the Selector Tool S, and move down while holding down Ctrl to constrain the move vertically
4. Ctrl+Alt+D to repeat the transform many times
5. Select all, and switch to the Nodes tool N
6. Click and drag to make a selection of all the nodes on the right edge
7. Open the Align & Distribute panel Ctrl+Shift+A
8. Under the Align tab, Set the Align Nodes realtive to: Middle of Selection, and hit the button that looks like this to "Align selected nodes to a common horizonal line"
9. Click and drag to select all the nodes which come to a point, and you can click and drag to move it freely.

Here's a screen capture

You can then delete some paths to make it look kind of random

For the rest, group the result after step 9 above, duplicate two times, change each group to different stroke colours. Adjust the point at which the nodes come to a point using the same techniques shown above in step 9. Groups will help you to arrange/organise everything. Here's an example created using the above technique. In the end I set each Group's blending mode to Lighten. Displayed over a black background