Creativity in 30 Days (Day 28) — Mind Map

​“Normal linear note taking and writing will put you into a semi hypnotic trance, while mind mapping will greatly enhance your left and right brain cognitive skills.”

- Tony Buzan

​Popularised in the mid-1970’s by psychology author Tony Buzan, who developed the system, Mind Mapping is a technique in which one captures information and can be used in studying, business and personal life, amongst others.

It can be used for a variety of tasks, including organisation, project management and teaching, and uses a combination of words, symbols and images in its construction.

Mind Maps can be used to describe something tangible (a product, project, artwork, etc. ), or something intangible (an idea, concept, etc.).

Mind Maps work for many people because they can take many forms and variations, although there are a few rules that you should abide by in order to make them work for you at their best.

They are an effective, colourful and fun way to capture your thoughts and bring them to life visually.

They can help you to remember more, become more creative and solve many problems (creative or otherwise).

Your Task:

Take a piece of A4 paper (although larger is better), and at least three coloured pens or pencils.

At the centre of your sheet in landscape mode, write in capital letters or draw an image that captures and represents the central idea.

Draw branches radiating from your central idea (these should be curved, not straight).

At the end of each of these branches, write down the words that you can think of that are associated with your central idea.

For example, if your central idea was New Car, your associated words could be performance, interior, colour, seating, etc.

Repeat the process, continually drawing branching lines emanating from your associated words to other associated words, and so on.

Use as many colours as possible in order to make your mind map pleasing to look at and to avoid confusion.

Extract from the forthcoming book Think It! Make It! by Richard P John of The Creativity Toolbox