As I continue to write about my journey with Wave Vidmar and his quest to solo row across the Atlantic, I have found the concept of mind-mapping to be fascinating. Using FreeMind (a free mind-mapping application) to brainstorm for the project has been very helpful. It took me a while to get used to the interface, but it was very user-friendly and effective in quickly putting information down. Check out their product and give it a try.
Growing The Family Tree
I felt like I was chronicling a family history as I created nodes and branches. Mind-mapping relies on a branching structure to categorize ideas and concepts. Each concept can then have its own branch or be linked back into another “sibling” or “child” branch. The whole thing can look like a messy spider-web or a well-organized grid. Here is the example of my first mind-map with Wave’s project:
The Vulcan Mind-meld
Wave found out that I was doing a mind-map and let me know that he had already done a ton of mapping for his website. He sent me his file and I was able to import his work into mine. A virtual mind-meld occurred as I was able to see what he had developed and how it could be grafted into my tree. Take a look at Wave’s content as it was added to my own:
Navigating the Map
The next step is to break out a compass, find a starting point and begin traveling across the mind-map. I began to prioritize the action items listed on the map and organize them so I could start production. FreeMind has a variety of tools that can be used to do this and I love the color coding and other options. See below:
Identity Crises
My first step (as with anything) is the identity. After looking at the entire mind-map, I realized that Wave and I need to have a consistent identity across the web and the social media spectrum. He has some existing sites and artwork, but they are not consistent. So, first things first: get a great looking brand and let it determine the look and feel of everything else. My next post will chronicle my design process as we take Wave’s look to the next level.
Jeremy Mace
