Organize Your Thoughts Using Mind-Mapping

Throughout the WebSavvy 2009 online course, I used "Mind-Mapping" software to present ideas and concepts in an organized and logical way.

Many people have asked me what I used for this.

I use a FREE web-based program from www.MindMeister.com. Another free web-based mind mapping program is also available from www.bubbl.us.

Here's what Alan Henry recently wrote about mind-mapping software for the blog AppScout.com:

"The premise of mind-mapping is simple: Start by getting down a big idea or project, and then branch off your idea with complementary ideas or smaller projects that help you attack the big one. Before long you'll have a detailed map with lots of small projects, tasks, and to-dos that can help you make progress towards tackling a big goal.

The beauty of mind-mapping software is how it encourages you to document your train of thought.

If you're a visual learner, or just someone looking for an easier way to brainstorm ideas and quickly set in to work on them, mind-mapping software can help you organize your train of thought into discreet and organized projects and ideas.

If you have a hard time getting notes into task lists and to-dos, mind maps can help you keep your thoughts together and connected so you'll be able to tell at a glance what task or to-do reminded you of another idea or project."

So how can you leverage this technology as a landscape designer?

Here are just a few uses of mind-mapping:

• Developing a "Design Program" for a new design project.


• Organizing a plan set. How many sheets will you need? What will they contain?


• Organizing and managing installation projects.


• Developing and managing your annual marketing plan.


• Brainstorming ideas and new projects.


• Presenting ideas- this is how I used mind-mapping for the WebSavvy course.


• Managing your To-Do's.

In this short video, I show you how you can use mind-mapping in your design process.

Here's another video explaining mind-mapping: