How To Create a Mind Map in 2024 [+ Templates]

How To Create a Mind Map in 2024 [+ Templates]
Zain Zia

Written by:
Zain Zia

Oct 18, 2023
How to Create a Mind Map in 2022 [+ Templates]

Creating mind maps is an essential skill that can help you organize your thoughts and communicate creative ideas to your team.

But making a mind map from scratch can be confusing, especially when you’re not sure how to structure it or make it look good. Using a mind map template can accelerate this process.

In this post, we’ll show you how to create a mind map for business or educational purposes. We’ve also included engaging mind map templates you can edit and download in minutes.

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit mind map templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

 

 

Table of Contents

Quick Read

  • Mind maps are visual tools used to break down key concepts and generate creative ideas.
  • Mind maps visually organize information but don't show relationships between ideas. Concept maps on the other hand, illustrate the relationships between ideas and concepts using formalized notations and rules.
  • To create a mind map, select a premade template, choose your main idea, chart out the subtopics, continue to add specific details, customize your mind map design, make it interactive and share with your audience.
  • Tap into Visme’s extensive template library to create mind maps that are visually appealing and easily digestible.

 

What Is a Mind Map?

Mind maps are graphic organizers that help break down important concepts and brainstorm creative ideas.

It’s usually illustrated with a keyword or phrase (main idea) in the center with words (details) stemming out from it.

The connecting lines help our brains form associations between ideas and organize them in a memorable way. This entire process enables new idea generation, faster information recall, and improved learning and decision-making.

Educators, project managers, marketers, and creative professionals in all fields use mind maps to visualize information and make it easy to understand.

Mind Maps vs. Concept Maps

Mind maps are diagrams that organize and present information visually. However, mind maps do not necessarily establish relationships between ideas and concepts. For example, you can branch out subtopics from the main idea in no particular order or direction.

Made with Visme Infographic Maker

 

Concept maps, on the other hand, are specific types of mind maps that represent relationships between ideas and concepts. Subtopics and details branching out from the main idea are usually one-directional and represent a relationship.

Learn more about how to make a concept map in our complete guide.

 

Mind Maps vs Flowcharts

Mind maps and flowcharts are two different visual tools used for organizing and representing information.

Mindmaps are used to generate, organize, and explore ideas, concepts, and information in a non-linear manner. They help to visually represent complex information and relationships, stimulate creativity, and facilitate brainstorming sessions.

Mindmaps typically have a radial structure with branches extending from a central idea or concept to related subtopics. The branches can be further divided into sub-branches, creating a hierarchical tree-like structure.

Conversely, flowcharts are used to represent processes, systems, or algorithms in a linear sequence. You can use them to communicate steps and decision points in a clear and concise way. They help users understand how something works or how to solve a problem.

Flowcharts typically have a linear structure consisting of boxes, arrows, and other shapes connected in a specific order. Each box represents a step or action, and arrows indicate the direction of the process or decision flow.

Discover everything you need to know about creating flowcharts in our comprehensive guide. Tips and Templates are included.

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How to Create a Mind Map in 6 Simple Steps

Creating a mind map isn’t hard. You just need to organize your thoughts in a systematic way and use an efficient mind mapping tool like Visme.

You can also stick to good ol’ paper and pen if you want to create an informal mind map.

But if you’re mind mapping for professional reasons and you want to share your diagram with others, it’s ideal to use digital mind mapping software.

Follow the six easy steps below to create a mind map in minutes:

Step 1: Start With a Template

Creating mind maps from scratch sounds intimidating, but it doesn’t really have to be that way.

Start off with a ready-made mind map template so you have a preliminary structure in front of you and modify it as you go to fit your design needs.

Visme offers dozens of mind map templates in different styles and for various purposes. Choose from educational, business, project-based and other mind map templates.

You can also find fishbone diagrams, open mind maps, concept maps and more.

 

Step 2: Choose Your Main Idea

Before you start jotting down random information, it’s important to write down your main keyword or idea that you’ll be exploring further in the mind map.
This main idea could be a problem you’re trying to solve, a difficult concept you’re trying to explain or even a project you’re working on.

For example, let’s say you’re creating a mind map on market research. Your main idea, in this case would be, of course, market research. And that’s what you’ll write down in the center.

 

Step 3: Chart Out Your Subtopics

The next step is to brainstorm the various subtopics or sub-concepts related to your main idea and branch them out from the center.

Don’t go into too much detail in this step and simply focus on the various facets that tie into your main concept.

Going back to our market research example, the subtopics could include:

  • Problem identification
  • Research plan
  • Data collection
  • Data analysis
  • Decision making

You may find yourself dealing with more than a handful of subtopics at this point. Try to merge the similar ones and only stick to 3-5. This also depends on your topic, design and how complex or in-depth you want your mind map to be.

Step 4: Keep Adding Specific Details

Once you’ve visualized your subtopics, it’s time to go into the nitty-gritty. Branch out further and jot down any details, words and phrases related to each subtopic.

In our market analysis example, this could involve writing down the questions you need to ask yourself to execute or finalize each stage.

At this point, you could also get collaborative and have multiple team members work on your mind map together. This is a good way to get everyone on board and generate new, unique ideas that you could have otherwise missed.

Step 5: Customize Your Mind Map Design

Finally, it’s time to make your mind map look great and on-brand. Good design can also improve your mind map’s clarity and make it easier for people to understand the concepts.

Visme’s templates are designed by professionals, and you can use them as is. If you want to change anything, you can easily do so using the design options in the editor.

Resize, reposition, add and remove shapes, lines, text, icons and any other element inside your mind map. You can also add or replace background images, change colors and fonts, and even add animated assets using the free built-in graphic library.

If you want to add your company’s branding, upload your fonts, colors and logo to Visme’s brand kit and easily use your assets however you like. You can store your brand elements and use them in future design projects as well.

Bonus Tip: Make Your Mind Map Interactive

The best part about using digital mind mapping software is you can get creative and make your mind map interactive.

Visme’s mind map maker, for example, lets you add links, hover effects, pop-ups and even embedded content into your mind maps.

This is especially useful if you plan on sharing your mind map online. Readers can click on ideas and concepts to read more or go to an external web page.

Step 6: Download and Share

Visme lets you save your mind map in JPG, PNG, PDF and HTML5 formats.

You can also share your mind map directly using a live link. This way, you preserve any animation and interactivity. Make it indexable by Google or keep it private.

Plus, any changes you make reflect in the live version, which is useful when presenting to different clients, instantly correcting any mistakes, or simply updating outdated information.

Another way to share your mind map is to generate an embed code and add your mind map anywhere on a website or page using a snippet of code.

 

25 Mind Map Templates You Can Use

Here’s a round-up of 25 of the best mind map templates you can use for personal or business topics. These mind map designs are crafted by professionals to drive visual appeal and increase engagement. Feel free to customize them to suit your specific purpose and audience using our intuitive editor

1. Ebook File Formats Mind Map

Showcase different formats in which you can download your ebooks with the help of this colorful mind map template. It features stylized lines, creative shapes and content blocks, making it ideal for a variety of topics.

Ebook File Formats Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

2. Twitter Marketing Mind Map

Deliver meaningful messages to your target audience and impress them with your social media marketing knowledge using this eye-catching mind map template. This template is a great pick for showcasing the various steps involved in a decision-making process.

Twitter Marketing Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

3. Customer Journey Mind Map

Here’s a standout template among the mind map examples we’ve shared.

Share your knowledge about customer journey stages with your team using this creative mind map template. With engaging graphics like lines, vector icons and colorful shapes, this template breaks down ideas and components in an effective way.

Customer Journey Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

4. Logo Brainstorm Mind Map

Explain the process involved in creating a brand logo with the help of this stunning mind map template. It uses a mix of text and icons to outline the brand’s USP so the final logo can represent the brand in the best way possible.

Logo Brainstorm Mind Map Infographic
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

5. Brand Touchpoints Mind Map

Paint a complete picture of your brand's touchpoints so you can keep your team on the same page and improve your business decision-making. This branding mind map template uses a flowchart-style design layout fueled by Visme’s high-quality vector icons.

Brand Touchpoints Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

6. Mental Calmness Mind Map

Looking for mind map creative ideas? Show the activities one can follow to achieve a calm and positive mindset by using this stunning mind map template. It features creative colors, high-quality vector icons and shapes and a character in the middle to relay the template's topic.

Mental Calmness Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

7. Photography Mind Map

Looking for creative ideas for mind maps? This photography mind map is a perfect choice.

Highlight the major categories of photography with this mind map template. It features a flowchart-style design layout that divides each idea into subcategories. This makes it convenient for your audience to read through and understand the information.

Photography Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

8. Project Management Mind Map

Among the mind map types, we’ve shared. This is one to look out for.

Featuring a human figure on one side of the document and a listicle on the other, this mind map template will help you break down important topics in a creative way. The project management mind map template showcases an exciting color combination, dynamic content blocks and eye-catching fonts.

Project Management Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

9. Organizational Behavior Mind Map

Make sure your business-related content looks organized and professional by using this editable mind map template. This template is perfect for professionals, educators and students looking to break down their thoughts or research findings.

Organizational Behavior Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

10. Types of Content Mind Map

Immediately capture your audience's attention with the use of this colorful mind map template. It features a large circle in the center highlighting the main topic and several other content blocks highlighting each content type, making the template super easy to read.

Types of Content Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

11. Basic Business Plan Mind Map

Highlight the essential steps involved in creating a good quality business plan by using this simple yet engaging mind map template. It features small, orange circles to mention each step and a large blue circle in the center to bring attention to the main topic.

Basic Business Plan Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

12. Porter’s Five Forces Framework Mind Map

Use this mind map template to break down essential business concepts and ideas. The template has a modern design layout with a large circle highlighting the topic in the middle and smaller circles representing Porter's five forces.

Porter’s Five Forces Framework Infographics
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

13. Public Speaking Mind Map

Share public speaking tips and tricks with your audience and empower them for the better with this customizable mind map template. Featuring a minimalistic design layout, interesting colors and vector icons, this template is a great pick for a variety of topics.

Public Speaking Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

14. Company Culture Mind Map

Use this professional mind map template to highlight the basics of good company culture. The template features a circular design layout and uses a mix of exciting colors to attract attention to each subtopic of the main idea.

Company Culture Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

15. Market Research Mind Map

Use this mind map template to break down the essential components of market research and pinpoint the questions that need to be answered at every stage. This editable template is a great pick for students, educators and professionals alike.

Market Research Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

16. Cloud Computing Software Mind Map

Highlight the service models and usages of cloud computing with this customizable mind map template. It features a professional design layout with an eye-catching color combination, multi-sized content blocks and stunning fonts.

Cloud Computing Software Concept Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

17. Sprint Lifecycle Mind Map

This stunning mind map template is a great pick for anyone looking to break down technical concepts, decision-making processes or even work schedules. The template is fueled by Visme’s icons, stunning colors and dynamic content blocks of different sizes.

Sprint Lifecycle Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

18. Product Launch Mind Map

Jot down the steps of launching a new product using this creative mind map template. The professional color combination, vector icons and exquisite design layout will make a great impression in front of your audience and bring your content to life.

Product Launch Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

19. Research Mind Map

Break down multiple research stages and highlight the steps involved in executing them using this mind map template. The design layout has plenty of white spaces, stylized lines and a subtle choice of icons, making it ideal for several business topics.

Research Concept Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

20. Employee Onboarding Day Mind Map

Round up all the activities involved in employee onboarding by using this colorful mind map template. The template features a two-toned color combination and dynamic content blocks that break down each onboarding step in detail.

Employee Onboarding Day Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

21. App Design Mind Map

Present creative app design ideas to your clients and win them over by using this mind map template. This template features several concentric circles representing different design phases that make the content super easy to understand.

App Design Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

22. Omnichannel Marketing Mind Map

Break down marketing strategies that are optimized for success on multiple devices with the help of this creative mind map template. The cool circular design layout with the main title in the middle and subcomponents on the outside makes it convenient to read through the content.

Omnichannel Marketing Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

23. Nursing Mind Map

Use this creative mind map template to share multiple facets of the nursing profession with your audience. With a character in the middle, stylized lines and arrows, several content blocks and a nice selection of fonts, this template can make any topic look engaging.

Nursing Concept Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

24. Project Mind Map

Break down essential project stages and ensure quickfire results with the help of this professionally-designed project management mind map template. With delightful colors, lines and arrows to establish connections and dynamic content blocks, this spider diagram is a real head turner.

Project Concept Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

25. Productivity Mind Map

Pinpoint the best ways to maximize productivity using this customizable mind map template. This template features dynamic content blocks, high-quality vector icons and characters to catch the reader's eye and help you communicate your message effectively.

Productivity Mind Map
Customize this template and make it your own! Edit and Download

 

Mind Map FAQs

Q. What are the 4 advantages of mind mapping?

Mind mapping offers several advantages that can enhance various aspects of thinking, planning, and problem-solving. Here are four key advantages of mind maps:

  • Mind mapping stimulates creativity by allowing for the free flow of ideas and associations.
  • Mind mapping helps to organize and structure information in a visually appealing and easily digestible manner.
  • Mind maps are an effective tool for learning and retaining information. By engaging both the logical and creative aspects of the brain, mind maps facilitate deeper understanding and memory retention.
  • Mind maps are excellent tools for planning and organizing tasks, projects, or goals. They provide a clear overview of the entire project or plan, allowing you to break it down into smaller, manageable components.

Q. What is the most important step in mind mapping?

The most important step in mind mapping is capturing the central or main idea. This step establishes the foundation for the entire mind map and sets the focus for organizing related ideas and concepts.

Q. What are the pros and cons of mind mapping?

Here are the pros and cons of mind mapping:

Pros:

  • Mind maps provide a visual representation of information, which enhances comprehension and memory retention. The use of colors, symbols, and images engages the visual cortex, making it easier to understand complex concepts and relationships.
  • Mind mapping allows for the generation of new ideas and associations by capturing thoughts in a non-linear and organic way, fostering innovative thinking and problem-solving.
  • Mind maps provide a clear overview of a topic, enabling you to see the big picture and identify key points. Mind maps can improve clarity, organization, and recall of information.
  • Mind maps are flexible and adaptable to various situations. They can be used for personal organization, project planning, note-taking, presentations and more.

Cons:

  • When dealing with highly detailed or complex information, the limited space and hierarchical structure of mind maps may not be sufficient.
  • Different individuals may create mind maps differently, leading to variations in the structure and organization of information. This subjectivity may affect how others interpret and understand the mind map.
  • Mind maps are non-linear in nature, which can make it challenging to present information in a linear, sequential format.
  • While mind mapping is a simple concept, it may require some initial learning and practice to fully utilize its benefits.

Q. What is the purpose of a mind map?

Mind maps are versatile tools that find applications in various fields, including education, business, project management and the creative space. They can be used for different purposes, such as:

  • Exploring ideas, concepts and relationships.
  • Organizing complex information in a more structured and easy-to-understand format.
  • Brainstorming and generating new ideas.
  • Identifying the root causes of a problem and finding potential solutions.
  • Planning projects, outlining tasks, deadlines, resources and dependencies.
  • Represent information in a way easier for learners to understand and remember.
  • Communicating complex ideas or plans to stakeholders.
  • Outlining different options, their pros and cons, potential outcomes and making insightful decisions.

 

Use Visme’s Mind Map Templates to Organize Your Ideas

Mind maps are efficient tools for visually organizing thoughts, questions and concepts. They give structure to your ideas and make them easy to understand and communicate.

The result? Faster decision-making, improved learning and better retention.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to create engaging mind maps for personal or professional uses, check out Visme’s mind map templates.

Our template library has dozens of options for a wide variety of business and educational topics. Find one you like and customize it using our easy-to-use mind map maker to fit your purpose, topic, brand style and more.

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    About the Author

    Zain is a freelance writer for eCommerce and SaaS businesses. When he’s not crafting converting copy and insightful content, he can be found making travel videos or discussing soccer on social media.