What is a mind map?

1. Mind maps always start from a central point, which is the main topic, and branch out into subcomponents. Aside from hierarchical lines (the main branches), mind maps can also have relationship lines. These can be shown as dotted lines that indicate relationships between elements that exist on different branches. Although not pictured in the example above, mind map nodes can also contain images or icons. There’s no rigid structure to such maps. That’s what makes them great. They should be as free-flowing as a person’s thought process. 

2. Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas. All that mind mapping is, however, is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper. There is no right or wrong way to mind map. It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head, and it often looks like organized chaos. 

3. Tony Buzan, who invented this form of diagram, describes a mind map as "a powerful graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlock the potential of the brain. It harnesses the full range of cortical skills-word, image, number, logic, rhythm, color and spatial awareness-in a single, uniquely powerful manner." You can think of a mind map as a sort of two-dimensional outline; rather than organizing ideas into a linear list, you spread them around the page and connect them. Mind maps can also use icons, graphics, fonts, colors, hyperlinks, and other techniques to include information that's hard to put into words. 

What mind mapping tool to be used?

1. There are several software packages out there to create mind maps, which is a good thing, because most developers don't have the graphic skills to create a nice one by hand. Here are some of the ones that I know about for Windows: 

• ConceptDraw

• FreeMind

• MindManager

• SmartDraw

• Visual Mind

1. Online mind map apps are recommended a lot more since it is free of download. You

can also share your work with others easily.

• Coggle

• Whimsical

• Tapamind

When to mind mapping?

1. Every software product starts with an idea: “I want to build an application to remind me of upcoming appointments” for example. But there's a big gap between the original idea and starting to code. Bridging this gap entails coming up with some sense of just what features the software will include, and how they'll relate to each other. On large, formal projects you might handle this with a requirements management tool such as Borland CaliberRM or Telelogic DOORS/ERS. But on smaller projects, you probably want to use a more free process to come up with your requirements. This article shows one tool for this job that I've had success with in the past: the mind map. 

2. When trying to understand a subject, mind maps can be used anytime during the research phase in the product design process. In the design thinking process, mind mapping is a useful exercise to do during the first three stages: empathizing, defining, and ideating. 

3. Often, the mind mapping exercise will help the team discover a lot of things that haven’t been thought through properly or that need a decision. This is also a great  time for designers to think about the problem to be solved, and whether or not the system being designed solves the problem. Jumping straight to wireframing and prototyping can often cause teams to get lost in the details, playing around with UI elements and text, trying to figure out the system architecture as they go.