Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When should I pick Mind map?
When the story is: brainstorming, revision notes, early structure.
When should I avoid Mind map?
Skip it in cases like: you must prove a claim with evidence in order.
Who invented or popularised it?
Popularised by Tony Buzan from the 1970s; older radial notes exist
What does it encode?
radial branches around a central topic
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Mind map encodes values as radial branches around a central topic. Popularised by Tony Buzan from the 1970s; older radial notes exist.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits brainstorming, revision notes, early structure. Skip it when you must prove a claim with evidence in order.
Mistakes
- Failure modes 1 — you must prove a claim with evidence in order
- Failure modes 2 — 3-D pies and perspective bars
- Failure modes 3 — Dual axes that fake a correlation
- Failure modes 4 — Truncated axes that shout a small delta
- Failure modes 5 — Legend only, no direct labels
- Failure modes 6 — Missing source, unit or period
Fixes
- Fixes 1 — Return to brainstorming, revision notes, early structure.
- Fixes 2 — Flat, one axis, direct labels.
- Fixes 3 — Color-blind-safe palette plus pattern.
- Fixes 4 — Rewrite the title as a claim and add a source line.
Mind map: honour radial branches around a central topic, and switch when you must prove a claim with evidence in order.