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Method

Mind map

A diagram that starts from a central topic and opens it up into branches of related ideas, from the general to the specific.

In Spanish
Mapa mental
Origin
Buzan popularized it in the seventies (Use Your Head, 1974)
Output
A diagram of ideas branching out from a central topic

What it’s for

Helps explore a topic and see its parts at a glance, without writing a list.

Key elements

  • One center

    The topic, in the middle.

  • Branches

    Each idea grows from another.

  • Keywords

    One short idea per branch.

How it’s done

  1. Write the topic in the center.

  2. Open branches with the main ideas.

  3. Keep opening ideas from each branch.

Applications in design

  • When to use it

    At the start of a project, to see everything the topic covers.

  • Avoid

    Confusing it with an affinity diagram: here the branches grow from a topic, not from the data.

  • Don’t fall for it

    If a branch grows a lot, give it its own map.

Connections

Related to

Authors and works

  1. 1974

    Tony Buzan

    Popularized it with his book and television series Use Your Head.

Sources

Original sources

  • Buzan, T. (1974). Use your head. BBC Books.

Last reviewed: