In The Back of the Napkin Dan Roam explains the four step process of Visual Thinking:
The Information Design process would appear to be focused on the Show step, and most design tools are targeted there. Andrew LeBarron briefly reviews three of these: Piktochart; Gelphi; Gliffy; all of which can be used to create striking visualizations of information. While not as readily visible in the final web design, one tool I frequently use is FreeMind.
FreeMind is a mind mapping tool useful in creating diagrams that visually outline information. A mind map is a graphical way to represent ideas and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that aids in structuring information, helping us to better analyze, comprehend, synthesize, recall and generate new ideas. A mind map is often created around a single word or text, placed in the center, to which associated ideas, words and concepts are added. Major categories radiate from a central node containing the key idea, with lesser categories as sub-branches of the larger branches. Categories can represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items related to the central idea.
Mind Maps organize the information in the same way our brain organizes information. This makes it very natural and easy to understand. Our brains like thinking in pictures. The smooth curves and colorful pictures create powerful images for our brains to remember.
We have two halves to our brains which think in different ways. The left half thinks linearly following direct linkages to related ideas. Our right brain likes to see the whole picture with colors and flow. A mind map caters to both sides of the brain at the same time, which makes it a very good way of storing and recalling information, presenting complex concepts to other people, and brainstorming new ideas.
Brainstorming is encouraged through the use of a radial hierarchical layout and non-linear creation of categories. This creation process generates mind maps that are unique in structure and design, making it easy for our brains to process and retain the information.
I have found mind mapping a useful practice in helping clients identify key driving forces behind web projects, as well as the information and its association to be contained within their web-based system. Below is an example mind map created interactively with a client describing a future cloud-based business system.
Works cited:- Look - Take in all the information available to build an initial "Big Picture"
- See - Assess the information and begin making connections
- Imagine - With eyes closed, visualize what isn't immediately obvious and begin manipulating the information to make hidden connections visible
- Show - Find the best method to visually represent a summarization of the information observed and the connections found
FreeMind is a mind mapping tool useful in creating diagrams that visually outline information. A mind map is a graphical way to represent ideas and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that aids in structuring information, helping us to better analyze, comprehend, synthesize, recall and generate new ideas. A mind map is often created around a single word or text, placed in the center, to which associated ideas, words and concepts are added. Major categories radiate from a central node containing the key idea, with lesser categories as sub-branches of the larger branches. Categories can represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items related to the central idea.
Mind Maps organize the information in the same way our brain organizes information. This makes it very natural and easy to understand. Our brains like thinking in pictures. The smooth curves and colorful pictures create powerful images for our brains to remember.
We have two halves to our brains which think in different ways. The left half thinks linearly following direct linkages to related ideas. Our right brain likes to see the whole picture with colors and flow. A mind map caters to both sides of the brain at the same time, which makes it a very good way of storing and recalling information, presenting complex concepts to other people, and brainstorming new ideas.
Brainstorming is encouraged through the use of a radial hierarchical layout and non-linear creation of categories. This creation process generates mind maps that are unique in structure and design, making it easy for our brains to process and retain the information.
I have found mind mapping a useful practice in helping clients identify key driving forces behind web projects, as well as the information and its association to be contained within their web-based system. Below is an example mind map created interactively with a client describing a future cloud-based business system.
Roam, Dan. The back of the napkin (expanded edition): Solving problems and selling ideas with pictures. Portfolio, 2009.
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