This is an old revision of the document!


A mind map is a radial diagramming technique where a central concept is drawn in the middle of a page, with closely related ideas radiating directly from the centre and secondary (and further) thoughts branching further outwards. Mindmapping helps deconstruct complex issues or questions without losing an overview of links between the different elements and keeping an overview of the whole. In futuring processes mindmaps can be useful in any stage of the process, whether done individually or in a group, but the most explicit use of mind maps is a futures wheel.

Process

Mind maps can be made on any piece of paper with any writing tool. For group processes it helps to have a larger writing surface and thick markers of different colours (for visual grouping and clustering), so that the diagram can be seen (and in some cases created) by all participants.

Step 1: Frame the discussion with one central issue or question. Write or draw this issue in the centre of your writing surface. The simplest mind-maps use only words, but you can use drawings, symbols, images or whatever else helps get the ideas across.

Step 2: Discuss the issue and while discussing note down key-words around the issue in the centre and link them using lines (try to distinguish the lines that are linked directly from the centre and the other branches). Try to sumamrise each idea in one or a few words, or one image.

Step 3: Discuss the relationships between the different concepts and if needed create links, circle concepts or use other visual grouping techniques.

  • futurist_fieldguide/mind_map.1433262842.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2015-06-02 16:34
  • by maja