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. If brainstorming is letting ideas fly, mind mapping is where you give them shape — take your messy brainstorm and organise it around your project.

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.

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.

StudyStreak example

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.

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.

Check Your Understanding

1. What goes in the centre of a mind map?

2. How does a mind map relate to your brainstorm?

3. Name three main branches you might use.

See also

• Brainstorming — the step before this one
• Design Sketches — turn your mapped features into screen layouts
• Mood Boards · C4-1 Checkpoint — Your Design Pack

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