Tools of Creativity
Part 1 — Mind Maps®
Some months ago, in Part 6 of my Nature of Creativity series — Something Must Be Made — I mentioned various tools and methods for assisting “interesting thinking”. Since I firmly believe that creativity requires that something be made, I try to steer clear of the popular term “creative thinking”. (see Nature of Creativity — Part 4 — Creativity Is More Than Imagination)
At that time, I mentioned my intention to write posts on these thought tools at a later date. That date has arrived.
The ability to think differently, or beyond general expectation, is undoubtedly vital to creativity. However, thinking is not creativity in and of itself, no matter how different, or brilliant. Creativity requires that something be made.
What most people term “creative thinking” is merely a tool, method, and/or stage in the process of creativity.
That having been said, purposeful creativity will not occur without the ability to think interestingly — outside the box, making previously unrealised connections, and/or seeing things in ways that others don’t.
The study, and purposeful practice of creativity has blossomed over the past seventy years or so. That study and focus has resulted in the development of a number of thought tools and methods.
My purpose, in this new, ongoing, Tools of Creativity series, is to explore the most well-known, and commonly used — and misused — of these thought tools.
I use, and/or have used all of these tools and methods over the years, in many different situations, and will thus attempt to include both explanation and personal experience.
As with most things in our competitive society, the question of which thought tool is best, is often asked, and argued. That is the wrong question. The correct question to ask regarding thought tools, is the same as one would ask of any other tools. Which tool, or tools is best suited for the specific job at hand?
There are many jokes about the universal DIY and engineering abilities of a hammer. However, no-one with a modicum of sense, seriously expects a hammer to be any good at fixing a computer, cutting glass, or tightening a nut.
Why is it then, that so many otherwise intelligent people, expect one thought tool to “be the best” for any and every eventuality?
As you will no doubt have noticed from the sub-title of this post, I’m going to begin with Mind Mapping. This is not a random decision, but rather a practical one, drawn from my experience.
Mind mapping is the Leatherman® — the multi-tool — of thought tools. While most thought tools focus only on either finding new ideas, recording ideas in a useful way, or remembering ideas, mind mapping does all three.
As such, I use mind mapping, as a stand-alone thought tool, and also as a thought tool to work on, and with other thought tools.
Background to Mind Maps
The practice of using radial, branching structures to diagram notes has been around for centuries. One extant example dates back to the 3rd century AD, when Porphyry of Tyros used this technique to visualise Aristotle’s Categories. However, such methods were undoubtedly used long before this.
The idea behind radial, branching, diagrammed note taking is built on the following:
- Radial, branching structures clearly show relationships within information.
- Images and diagrams are often easier to remember than words.
- Taking notes by means of easily related key words and/or images is often quicker, and more easily organised than doing it by means of lists.
- Colours help one to group, classify, and recognise information groups.
- Information overview is more easily achieved, while drill-down detail is still available.
- The more memory links/pathways to any information in the brain, the more easily it is recalled.
- More recently, research into physical brain structure, has shown that radial, branching diagrams mimic the neuron & neural network structures of the brain.
These are the primary reasons why radial, branching diagrams have been consistently used for centuries — for note taking, brain-storming, information classification, etc.
In the late 1950s & early 1960s, Allan M. Collins and M. Ross Quillian developed the semantic network (a fore-runner of Mind Maps), as a theory to further the understanding of human learning.
During the late 1960 & 70s, Tony Buzan developed and popularised mind mapping. As you can no doubt infer, from the sub-title of this post, he also registered Mind Map, and its variants, as a registered trademark.
Mind maps are similar to other radial structure diagramming methods, and build on many of those principles. However, mind maps further simplify previous methods. They are thus, easier to use, and even more effective than previous methods.
Here is Tony Buzan’s brief description of mind mapping: (bold emphases mine)
A Mind Map is 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, colour and spatial awareness — in a single, uniquely powerful manner. In so doing, it gives you the freedom to roam the infinite expanses of your brain. The Mind Map can be applied to every aspect of life where improved learning and clearer thinking will enhance human performance.
How to Mind Map
As with most things, when starting to mind map, start with the basics. As you go along, you’ll no doubt end up personalising the process to some degree.
So, here, in very un-mind-map, numbered-list style, are some mind map basics:
(I’ll give a mind mapped version as well)
- Every mind map starts at and with a central point/idea. This can be the name of a book to be summarised, a brainstorming topic, the concept under development, or anything at all. Structurally, this central concept is placed in the centre of the mind map.
- All sub-points/categories/chapters/ideas radiate, brachially (like arms or branches … you’re welcome) — first from the central point, and then from each other. These are termed “child” or “sibling” nodes. So, to outline a book, the chapters radiate from the book title. Main ideas/plot-points in each chapter, branch from that chapter, and so on.
- Categories are graphically differentiated. On the most basic level, this is done by means of branch-line thickness, and branch-line colour. In other words, sibling nodes, have the same colour, while child nodes are a different colour to their parent. e.g. chapters may be red — sub-points, blue, then green, orange, etc. Also, as far as is possible, the branch-lines to each node level, decrease in thickness (as far as is practical) as they move away from the central node. Category levels are thus very easily recognised.
- Information, as far as possible, is represented by single key words with single-word modifiers, and/or images. Firstly, the brain remembers images far more easily than it remembers words. Secondly, when it comes to words, single key-words are generally all that is required to recall information.
- Information Nodes can be linked by means of arrows, or grouped in clouds. This makes the display of related information very clear.
The key to mind maps, is simplicity. Whether one is recording information, or brainstorming new ideas, the aim is to quickly, and simply, record information in a format that is easy to remember, and that assists thought processes.
The mind map image at the start of this post is an excellent example of this. Even if you’ve never used a mind map before, the majority of information on that mind map will be quite clear to you.
While, at first, you may find it a bit tricky to break your mind’s linear note-taking habits, the effort is certainly worthwhile, and not as difficult as it may initially seem.
I have now been using mind maps for about twenty years.
- I use mind maps for outlining my writing, speeches, training programmes, and ideas. I am about to begin mind-mapping an outline for a novel, which is something I’ve never done before. (I’ve neither written a novel, nor therefore mind-mapped a novel-length story outline.) Even before I begin, I can see the advantages of being able to map, not only individual characters, but also their interactions, and the various plot-lines.
- I use mind maps for recording group brainstorming sessions, and I use them as a thought-tool to think up new ideas when working alone.
- I also use mind maps for taking lecture notes, and for outlining books that I’ve read, and want to study further.
When I began using mind maps, I worked almost entirely on paper. Working manually, on paper is how Tony Buzan originally specified working with mind maps. Although computer mind map programs have been around for some years already, they still have some limitations compared to working manually. iMindMap is Tony Buzan’s mind-mapping software, first released in 2006. (see software resources, below)
That said, most of my mind-mapping these days is done digitally, either on my PC, or on my tablet. However, I make a point of getting back to basics every now and then. I find that manually creating mind maps is a wonderful mix of intellect and art, that is really creatively satisfying.
There are a number of good, free software options, and even online websites for creating digital mind maps. I’ll list a few at the end of the post, along with some other mind mapping resource and information sites.
The idea of mind maps, and of so fundamentally changing the way you work, may seem daunting at first. However, I’m certain that you will find the less-than-expected effort well worthwhile.
After you’ve used mind maps for a while, you’ll find that the way you think will begin to change, becoming less linear, and less limited.
Resources:
Web Sites:
Software:
Freeplane — Free, open-source, java-based, mind-mapping software that runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux. My Software of choice on my PC, running Linux.
View Your Mind (VYM) — Free, open-source, mind-mapping software that runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Good software, but doesn’t suit my pesonal style of working as well as Freeplane, or Freemind.
Freemind — Free, open-source, java-based, mind-mapping software that runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Used to be my first choice, but the Linux version is no longer an active project.
XMind — Free, open-source, mind-mapping software that runs on Window, Mac, or Linux. Must admit that I’ve not yet tried this one. I discovered it only moments ago. (bills itself as “The most popular mindmapping and brainstorming software”)
MindJet Maps — Free, cloud-linked, Android, mind-mapping app. This is my app of choice on my tablet. It also has non-free, compatible Window & Mac software.
SmartDraw — Non-free, mind-mapping software. I’ve never tried it.
iMindMap — Tony Buzan’s mind-mapping software. I’ve never tried it, but assume that it will be good, since it comes from the “inventor” of mind-mapping.
Online Mind-mapping Software
GoConqr — Free to use online mind-mapping app. I’ve not yet tried it.
MindMaps (drichard.org) — Free to use online mind-mapping app. I’ve not yet tried it.
I hope you find this helpful. I certainly cannot too highly recommend the use of mind maps. They have become an invaluable tool in just about everything I do.
I’d love to hear about your previous, and/or ongoing experiences with mind maps. Please feel free to ask questions. I realise that I’ve covered the subject very lightly here.
Please do share, comment, and recommend.
