Mental map: from concept to creation with examples

A mental map is a visual tool used to logically and creatively organize ideas around a central concept.

This versatile study system delivers excellent results in brainstorming, project planning, problem-solving, overcoming mental blocks, and developing innovative ideas.

In this article, we’ll explore what a mental map is and how to create one step by step, helping you learn how to efficiently visualize and structure information.

What is a mental map? 

A mental map is a diagram that helps organize and represent information that expands radially (or in a branching manner) using keywords and freely associated concepts, which can be illustrated with images and colors to enhance retention.

Although it can reflect some degree of hierarchy, it always starts with a central idea from which related subtopics and concepts branch out, helping deepen understanding.

This visual, diagram-based representation of information is rooted in the relationships between concepts and is highly useful in education. It’s dynamic, easy to update, adaptable to specific needs, and, if desired, can support collaboration.

This study method supports memory retention, idea generation, and visual comprehension.

In simple terms, mental maps are self-induced brainstorming tools that evolve through iteration — meaning you can continue adding remembered information, ideas, and connections as you go.

Difference between mental maps and concept maps

A mental map is a visual representation that branches out from a central idea, encouraging creativity.

On the other hand, a concept map organizes information more hierarchically, building logical and structured relationships that promote deep understanding.

Benefits of mental maps

Mental maps offer numerous advantages and can be useful in various areas:

• Improve understanding by clearly and visually organizing content.
• Make memorization easier by enhancing recall.
• Increase study effectiveness by simplifying review and reinforcing concepts.
• Boost creativity in many contexts, especially when facing mental blocks or needing diverse ideas.
• Provide a structured space to organize, compile, and categorize information, highlight milestones, etc.
• Help identify flaws in presentations or plans, as well as gaps in knowledge.
• Inspire and motivate content creation.
• Aid in creative problem-solving by breaking issues down and tackling them from multiple angles.
• Serve as a useful note-taking method during classes, lectures, etc., improving later retrieval of information.

These are just some applications of mind maps, which — as you can see — can be adapted to all types of contexts and users. 

They are effective in teaching for both students (to strengthen skills) and educators (to innovate in the classroom).

How to create a mental map, step by step 

The first step in creating a mental map is identifying the central idea you want to develop. 

From there, you can add branches and sub-branches for each related concept, using colors and images to improve memory.

Let’s break it down step by step.

Define the main topic

Start by choosing the main topic or concept you want to work on.

You can go the analog route (paper or poster board — A3 format may be better for larger ideas), or use digital tools.

Some applications even offer templates to help you organize your information efficiently.

In any case, place the central idea in the middle. This is the core that generates all other information. Represent it clearly and visually — make it stand out with size, a meaningful drawing, or bold colors.

Identify subtopics and nodes

Next, branch out from the central idea with subtopics (also called nodes or interconnected blocks of information).

To set the order, you can follow the direction of a clock when adding branches.

Think of a tree viewed from above: the trunk is your central idea, and the branches are your subtopics.

Each main subtopic can further branch into more specific ideas.

Usually, primary subtopics are more general, and as you add detail, the associations become more specific.

A good tip: assign a color to each main subtopic to group concepts logically and aid comprehension.

This setup allows information to flow from the most important (near the center) to the less important (further out).

Each structure needs specific vocabulary and key topics — customization is key.

For example, if your central concept is the cell structure, your primary subtopics could include:

• Cell membrane
• Cell wall
• Nucleus
• Nucleoid
• Cytoplasm

From each of these, you can branch out with further subtopics. For instance, from cytoplasm, you might include mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, etc.

---

---

How to improve the structure of a mental map? 

Once your mental map is structured, add these elements for better clarity:

• Keywords and symbols: Summarize main ideas in short terms for quick access.
• Connections and arrows: Show relationships between main ideas and subtopics — even across branches.
• Details, notes, and comments: Add depth, clarify concepts, or eliminate ambiguity.
• Examples: Help illustrate specific cases and reinforce understanding of complex ideas.
• Images and icons: Visually strengthen content and improve long-term retention.

Tips to create a mental map

Now that you know the basics of creating a mental map, use these tips to enhance it:

• Differentiate sections and categorize content with colors. Assign a color to each subtopic and special line styles for key elements.
• Use icons and symbols to visually represent ideas and improve clarity.
• Avoid long paragraphs; focus on keywords and short phrases to keep it digestible.
• Adapt each map to your specific learning topics.

Mistakes to avoid when creating a mind map

To improve your study system, steer clear of these typical mistakes:

• Overusing colors, which can be distracting — use them meaningfully.
• Disorganized structure. If key ideas are not visible at a glance, the map will not be effective.
• Poor categorization of subtopics, which hinders memorization and can confuse.
• Excessive detail, which can clutter and complicate the map.
• Poor readability. Use clear fonts and adequate sizes for easy reading.

Types of mental maps

When choosing the type of mental map for your topic, consider these popular formats:

• Radial or circular: Starting from the central idea, the main and secondary ideas are organized around it, forming a circular structure. It’s a very clear and flexible format, but not ideal for highly complex topics.

• Tree-style: It follows a logical structure that facilitates analysis by arranging the subtopics in the form of branches. It is less creative than the radial format and requires planning to be effective, but it is easier to expand.

• Flow map: It combines the benefits of a mind map with those of a flowchart, making it ideal for showing connections between ideas and for working through the sequences of a process.

• Honeycomb: In this case, the subtopics are distributed resembling the cells of a honeycomb, using hexagons of varying colors and sizes. The larger the hexagon, the more important the concept.

• Path or roadmap: In this case, the ideas are distributed along a path or road, with milestones or stops placed along the way. It can be useful in long-term projects where each stop represents a completed goal, leading to the final destination.

• Spider map: As its name suggests, the shape of this map emulates a spider, meaning that the central idea (the body) gives rise to main concepts (the legs). It is an alternative version to the tree-like structure and can be very practical.

• Rainbow map: In this case, the ideas are arranged in concentric rings of different colors around the central idea, with the ones closest to it referring to the most relevant concepts. Depending on its use, it can be somewhat confusing, although for simple ideas, it is very visually appealing.

Integrating mental maps with other learning techniques

One of the ways to get the most out of mind maps is by combining them with learning techniques. We’ll share some ideas with you below.

Mental maps and the Pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro technique involves dividing study time into intervals of 25 minutes each, followed by a short break. 

Using a mind map, you can better structure each session by creating a map for each study stage or task, outlining the key concepts or tasks to be completed. 

Mental maps and the Feynman method 

The Feynman technique focuses on deeply understanding a concept by explaining it to someone else in the simplest way possible, addressing any gaps in knowledge that may arise. 

If you combine it with a mind map, you’ll be able to visually and attractively represent the process of dissecting the information.

Mental maps and the image association technique

Since mind maps allow the addition of drawings, images, charts, and icons, they enhance memory development through the association of visual elements, creating visual metaphors that, in turn, reinforce conceptual relationships.

Mental maps and active learning

Pairing mental maps with active learning techniques like gamification or role-playing enhances educational experiences.

For example, in the first case, you can suggest that students complete a mind map based on clues; in the second, create debates around mind maps that represent different viewpoints of the same event, situation, or problem. 

Mental maps: examples

In the examples we provide below, you can see how useful mind maps can be and how they adapt to the needs of each person and the topic being discussed.

Mental map for studying

Let’s say you need a mind map to study the different types of equations (that’s the central idea). The arrangement of the main and secondary nodes could be as follows:

Types of equations:

• Linear
• Quadratic
• Fractional
• Exponential
• Radical

Solving methods:

• Isolating variables
• Substitution
• Equalization
• Quadratic formula

Important properties:

• Distributive property
• Equality property
• Inverse property

Steps to solve:

• Identify the equation type
• Apply the best solving method
• Simplify as much as possible
• Check the solution

You can tailor this to your level, study style, and curriculum.

Mental map to organize a creative idea

Creativity is becoming one of the most sought-after skills, so any tools that help develop it are highly relevant today.

Here, we also find mind maps, whose connection to creativity is practically inseparable.

Let’s imagine you’ve had a very creative idea for writing a story or a novel, but you need to develop and organize it. You can use a mind map with the central theme ‘story,’ and its branches could be:

• Plot
• Characters
• Settings
• Conflicts
• Ending
• Timeline
• Style and narration
• Research
• Editing and review

From each branch, add secondary nodes like motivations, relationships, traits, etc. A visual layout makes it easier to identify flaws, energize the plot, and overcome creative blocks.

Mental map for homework

Mental maps can help organize all kinds of tasks — including homework.

Start with the central idea: “Complete all my homework.” The branches might be:

Time management:

• Plan your schedule
• Prioritize tasks

Material review:

• Gather all needed materials
• Read instructions carefully

Pending tasks:

• Identify assignments and break them down if needed
• Schedule breaks between tasks

Final check and submission:

• Review exercises, answers, and project status
• Confirm submission format requirements

Resources to create mental maps easily 

If you need to create a mind map quickly and easily, you can use online digital tools and desktop software that offer intuitive interfaces and multiple features. 

Tools like ClickUp, Coggle, MindMeister, Xmind, or MindGenius are some examples you can turn to.

In any case, to help you choose the most suitable tool for you, it’s recommended that you consider features and functionalities like the ones we share with you below:

• Intuitive interface for beginners
• Real-time collaboration
• Device compatibility
• Export options in multiple formats
• Integration with productivity tools
• Customization of colors, fonts, icons, and templates
• Ability to add voice or video files
• Offline access
• Data protection and encryption for privacy

It’s always wise to try free versions before committing to a subscription to see if the tool fits your needs.

As this article shows, mental maps are powerful tools for organizing and visualizing ideas, supporting learning, decision-making, and continuous development.

In that same spirit of continuous improvement, Smowltech’s proctoring plans offer a technological solution that integrates the latest advancements to ensure the security and supervision of remote exams and assessments.

Request a free, no-obligation demo. We’ll show you all the solutions we can offer, with the assurance that we comply with current regulations regarding user privacy.