How to draw mind maps (by Sergey Shipunov)

The author of the article is Sergey Shipunov

Let’s analyze the basic laws of drawing mind maps

Rule of thumb: «NO RULES»

Express your ideas as freely as possible.

Be creative, bright, expressive.

The less you limit yourself, the better the card will turn out.

For the last principle — one amendment: if you draw a map not for yourself, but to show other people — then you should still adhere to the rules that are described below.

Style

Your own

Don’t try to imitate someone else. Each person has their own way of thinking. And since the cards reflect the style of thinking of a person, they will have to be different from each other! Look for your own style!

Exaggerate

If something is exaggerated exaggerated, then it is better remembered. Feel free to draw a person who is taller than a tree. Use the words: «super», «hyper», «mega» … it is not necessary to be close to reality. One can safely exaggerate this reality.

frivolous

Humor is a great power. If your card makes you smile or even laugh, then it evokes an emotion, on the wave of which the card remains better in memory. Add some light humor to the map! This will do her good.

Beautiful

A beautiful card is a beautiful card. She is more eye catching. She wants to study more. She remembers better. It evokes the necessary emotions and associations more strongly. Draw beautifully!

Paper

White

It is better to use white (or plain) paper. So that there are no extra cells, rulers, etc., which can compete with the lines of the map and make it difficult to study it.

A4 or A3

In fact, A2 is better, or a sheet of drawing paper. The map tends to fill up all the space allotted to it, so the more space you have, the more clever thoughts related to the main topic you will write. It is better to take a paper size with a margin!

landscape orientation

The card tends to grow sideways. Left and right. So there should be more space. Accordingly, we place the map horizontally.

Central image

in the center of the sheet

Usually in the center of the sheet. Although a frequent option, when drawn from the left in the center and the branches move to the right.

Bright. memorable

The image should immediately attract attention. Stay in memory. evoke the right emotion. To provoke the work of thoughts in a certain direction. To do this, draw it bright!

Colored (>3 colors)

We do not regret colors. A color image is better remembered, so we draw it with at least three colors.

Structure

Radial

We follow the principle of hierarchy. Closer to the center — more important concepts. Further from the center are less important concepts. Thanks to this «radial» distribution, it is easier for us to work with the map.

Clear

To improve the clarity of the map, we use the following elements:

Procedure: we number the branches with numbers — “1”, “2”, “3” … suggesting in what order they should be viewed.

3-4 branches: Remember the law of perception: «7+-2». We try to build the structure in such a way that a maximum of 3-4 branches depart from each branch.

Halos: We use halos to make the map easier to read.

Associative

Any two elements are linked by an association. This allows us to restore the map even if we only remember 20-30% of the map.

Words

Key

We write only keywords. As a result, we have 20-30 words drawn on the map, and these 20-30 words sometimes store information from 20-30 pages of text behind them. But from each page of the text, we took only 1 keyword, which allows us to restore information from the text in memory.

1-2 words

There is always a temptation to write down a whole sentence! We don’t do this. We isolate 1-2 keywords. This is usually enough!

In 1 line

If we have a multi-storey structure, then the eyes are forced to move left and right several times. If everything is in one line, then it’s easier!

Letters

We try to write in capital letters! Then they are easier to read! The size of the letters can already encode some information, for example, if the letters are “CAPITAL”, then they can write elements from the main branches. If the letters are «lowercase», then all the rest.

Colours

The bigger, the better

A person is able to distinguish the smallest shades of colors, so you should use this resource to the maximum! But you shouldn’t overdo it either. 4-8 colors are usually enough for most cards. If there are more colors, then from their diversity it already begins to ripple in the eyes, and the colors cease to carry the necessary semantic load.

Value

Colors can carry some meaning. For example, we have a project in which Ivanov, Petrov and Sidorov participate. If together they write a similar map, where they highlight themselves in different colors, then it will be easy for them to navigate who is doing what front of the work. And the colors will carry an important semantic meaning.

Highlighter

Sometimes, when elements of information that are important to us are on the periphery of the map — and we want them to attract attention — we can highlight these elements with a “highlighter”. It is also so convenient to mark those parts of the map that have already been completed (when it comes to planning and tracking the current state of the project).

Line

Central thicker

Lines of the 1st level are drawn a little thicker. This makes it easy to immediately understand which elements of the map are the most important. And it makes the hierarchy of the map more understandable.

Line length = word length

Extra non-functional lines only distract attention. Therefore, it is desirable that the line be equal to the length of the word it underlines.

Wavy (organic)

According to the classics, it is usually recommended to draw «wavy» lines. Although in my opinion both rectangular and angular lines are quite well suited. It’s quite normal.

Show connections

Lines also perform such an important function as they show connections between different elements of the map. Important note: no more than 3-5 arrow lines are desirable on the map. If more, then these lines no longer help, but on the contrary, make the map even more confusing.

Pictures

Use wherever possible

Pictures, drawings, visual images are remembered 10 times better than words!!! Therefore, wherever possible, we try to illustrate our keywords with pictures that suit them well!!!

Color

We draw colored pictures. The pen that we work with when drawing cards must be at least 4 colors!

Volumetric (3D)

Adding volume to our drawings. In this case, the images will attract more attention and remain in memory.

Symbols

If it is not possible to draw complex drawings, then we try to draw at least the simplest symbols illustrating a particular keyword. Symbols can be used both your own and generally accepted.

Final map

And in gratitude to the readers who have read to the end — I give a map that contains all the rules for drawing mind maps listed above.

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