David Kelly IDEO introduced mind maps in his book (see his diagram below in comments). Here’s a mind map for billionaire Richard Branson who’s very public persona helps make this relevant. Excuse the clip art gone wild.
A mind map is a diagram used to visually outline information. A mind map is often created around a single word or text, placed in the center.
Brandon’s focus on adventuring and daring earn him top respect.
Major categories radiate from a central node, and lesser categories are sub-branches of larger branches.Categories can represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items related to a central key word or idea. Mindmaps can be drawn by hand, either as “rough notes” during a lecture or meeting, for example, or as higher quality pictures when more time is available. An example of a rough mind map is illustrated.
Business Week said:
David Kelley, founder of IDEO and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford, uses mind maps to foster creativity. Mind maps are a popular thinking tool in Silicon Valley.
Example of mindmap (David Kelly thinking about K-12)
David Kelly
My mind map would look like a crazy mess. I am all over the place. Combine that with taking on too many projects, ambition and dissorganization. A toxic mix, for sure!
You sound just like me. I’m super scatterbrained… but that just means I’m brilliant in all things in life, right? 😉
I have never heard of mind maps but I think the concept is very interesting. It could not only be entertaining, but also used as a tool to maybe understand why we are where we are in life or even to help us take our personal and professional lives to the next level.
I really like this idea of mind mapping. I think it will help my students put the pieces together.