Better Brainstorming with Mind Maps
Before beginning to design, it’s very important to give due effort to the research and brainstorming part of the design process. This discovery phase is an essential, incredibly vital step, because it is here where you may come across valuable nuggets of inspiration that could spark a brilliant idea.
One thing I like to do to enhance the brainstorming process is mind mapping. Mind mapping is a word-association exercise that is great for teasing out ideas. It really comes in handy especially when you’ve got creative block.
So, here’s a peek into my mind mapping process.
BTW:
Mind mapping is the exercise that you would conduct after doing background research and gathering information. It’s quite difficult to do a mind map without any fuel to feed it, so do your research first!
If You’re Ready, Let’s Begin.
I. Creating the mind map
- Nucleus — On a large, blank page, start by writing your subject down in the center.
In the explanations below, I’m pairing diagrams with an example of how I would do the mindmap. (Real mindmap, fake concept for a hypothetical cookie company.)
2. Nodes — Next, brainstorm words that relate to the subject, branching out from the nucleus first with the big ideas that are essential to the subject. A good place to start is to answer the 5Ws and H. (I didn’t quite do that in this example — instead I listed some main topics.)
3. Nodes — Then branch out from the first nodes, adding more details that relate to the node.
4. And More Nodes! — Continue branching out from nodes in this fractal-patterned fashion, attaching every detail, description, and memory you can draw out of your mind. The closest nodes to the nucleus would be the most general topics and important components. The further you branch out, the more specific the nodes become. This is where underlying symbols, themes, and ideas for visuals will reveal themselves.
Note: It’s ok for your mindmaps to get messy! Sometimes they’ll tend to start looking like webs instead. I also sometimes scribble tiny illustrations.
II. Think of it like a ‘word vomit’.
It’s important to just let your mind flow — spew out everything that comes to mind, and try not to edit your thoughts. It’s ok to list down seemingly stupid or random thoughts. You can get a little off-topic and abstract. Worry about the clean-up later.
III. Exhaust all the possibilities.
Squeeze your brains juices out to the last drop. The more you move past naming the obvious items, you push yourself to think more abstract and outside the box. I find that sometimes this is where the best ideas come from.
If you’re stuck…
- Think about:
- adjectives
- feelings, emotions
- associations
- synonymns, antonyms
- Maybe you need to go back and do more research! Sometimes you just need to gather a little more fuel for your design.
IV. Now, look for gold!
Last of all is my favorite part — looking for those precious idea-sparkers!
When you’ve finished racking your brains, it’s time to step back. Looking through your messy web of thoughts, and pick out key words that jump out at you. You could highlight or circle the words.
Pay special attention to words that spark:
- visual inspiration
- a sense of how the design should feel
- concepts
- connections between seemingly separate ideas
V. …And You’re Done! Next Steps
So now that we have some inspiration, what’s next? Creating concepts!
Use those nuggets of inspiration as a starting point for building some really substantial concepts. If you don’t have a revelation right away, don’t fret. What you do have at the very least are several potential directions that you can explore further.
That’s it folks! I hope you find this approach to brainstorming very useful!
