Once the first two steps of Design Thinking are complete, Empathize and Define, now the fun, but tricky stage of Ideation can begin. This is where you can open up your mind and begin to imagine fun ideas. However, this stage can be tricky when tasked with challenging assumptions or breaking through ingrained routines.
Thankfully, many people like Tony Buzon, inventor Mind Mapping, or Alex Osborn father of Brainstorming, have developed creative solutions to Ideation. The various methods of Ideation are designed to help push your thinking and look at problems in different ways to find new innovative solutions.
Recently, I explored dozens of ideations methods. With my mind still swirling with this new information, I created a Mind Map to visualize which techniques were the most relevant and valuable to me. My Mind Map was a very effective tool to categorize and organize everything I just learned.
Mighty Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping is a powerful technique that helps visualize everything your conscious and subconscious are processing on a given topic. Instead of writing a list of notes, it is a non-linear way to capture your thinking. You connect various ideas, much like the neurons in your brain make connections.
How Does It work?
- Start with a large piece of blank paper. Write the problem you are solving for large in the center.
- Begin branching out subtopics from the center. Keep branching more ideas from the subtopics.
- Use short 1-2 word phrases, plus incorporate symbols, sketches, and color where you see fit.
- Find and make connections across topics.
- When finished, go back and create explanations for your topics if desired.
My Mapping Experience
When it comes to ideating, especially alone, it can be a challenge to start. Mind Mapping is an opportunity to loosely let everything out of your head and enjoy the messy process. When I begin, I always have some anxiety surrounding the ‘look’ of my map. Then I remember that I can re-draw it later. This mental trick allows me to think more freely. Once the main idea is on the page, I move around the entire piece of paper, filling it in with whatever comes to mind. This stage is very fluid and quick. When I think I’m done, I start to re-draw it, and more ideas start coming to mind, so I keep filling the map in. Once I’m satisfied, I make connections across the various topics to show their relationship. I add color, drawings, and descriptions where needed to bring the map to life. When done, I feel I have uncovered every stone in my brain regarding the topic. I also have created a great visual reference tool for future ideation sessions.
My final Mind Map along with my first rough map
What You’ll Gain
Mind mapping is an excellent way to capture everything your brain is processing on a particular topic. Working on a plain piece of paper instead of lined paper is very freeing. You can jump around the page in the same way your thoughts hop from one to the next. The process of Mind Mapping is a great way to stimulate your brain and get your creativity flowing.