Mind Mapping

# Mind Mapping

The Hamilton and Alexandra College · Year 12 · 2026

Mind mapping is one of the four ideation tools in your [C4-1 design pack](/sd/C04/C4-1%20Checkpoint%20-%20Design%20Pack). If brainstorming is letting ideas fly, **mind mapping is where you give them shape** — take your messy brainstorm and organise it around your project.

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## What it is, and why

A mind map starts with your **project at the centre** and branches outward into related areas. It helps you:

- **Structure and group** loose ideas
- **Spot patterns and connections** between features
- See the **big picture** of your solution at a glance

It's the natural step *after* a brainstorm: the brainstorm gives you the raw ideas, the mind map sorts them.

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## How to build one

1. Put your **project name in the centre**.
2. Add **4–6 main branches** — common ones: *Users · Key features · Visual style · Technology · Wellbeing/Goals · Problems to solve*.
3. Add **sub-branches** that expand each one.
4. Use colour or grouping if it helps you think.

Use Excalidraw in Obsidian (see IT to install), or paper and markers.

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## StudyStreak example

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    C(("StudyStreak"))
    C --- U["Users"]
    C --- F["Features"]
    C --- V["Visual style"]
    C --- W["Wellbeing"]
    C --- T["Technology"]
    U --- U1["senior students"]
    U --- U2["busy · easily stressed"]
    F --- F1["one-tap log a session"]
    F --- F2["streak + growing plant"]
    F --- F3["weekly wind-down summary"]
    V --- V1["calm palette"]
    V --- V2["rounded cards · whitespace"]
    W --- W1["break reminders"]
    W --- W2["protect downtime"]
    T --- T1["phone app"]
    T --- T2["data stored on device"]
```

See how the **Features** and **Wellbeing** branches grew straight out of the brainstorm themes? That's the mind map doing its job — turning a list into a structure.

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## Your turn

1. Project name in the centre.
2. Add your 4–6 main branches.
3. Expand each with sub-branches — pull the strongest ideas from your brainstorm.
4. Look for connections you hadn't noticed.

Commit your mind map to GitHub and add it to your printed design pack.

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## Check Your Understanding

1. What goes in the **centre** of a mind map?
>| ### Answer
>| Your project (the software solution). Everything branches out from there.

2. How does a mind map relate to your brainstorm?
>| ### Answer
>| It's the next step — it takes the loose brainstorm ideas and gives them structure, grouping them under main branches.

3. Name three main branches you might use.
>| ### Answer
>| Any of: Users, Key features, Visual style, Technology, Wellbeing/Goals, Problems to solve.

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## See also

- [Brainstorming](/sd/C04/Brainstorming) — the step before this one
- [Design Sketches](/sd/C04/Design%20Sketches) — turn your mapped features into screen layouts
- [Mood Boards](/sd/C04/Mood%20Boards) · [C4-1 Checkpoint — Your Design Pack](/sd/C04/C4-1%20Checkpoint%20-%20Design%20Pack)

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