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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Mind mapping in the nature

I would like to invite you with this article to create mind maps as naturally as possible. Looking at the beauty of nature, I discovered some elements that were shaped like mind maps. Is it a coincidence that some of the rules of mind mapping correspond with some of the laws of nature? Let me share with you a nice story about mind mapping in the nature.I would like to invite you with this article to create mind maps as naturally as possible. I’m hearing a lot about the creation process which is sometimes painful, with constraints that are not always understood or mastered. The reason why there is no section on this website about the rules is because I’m still investigating the reasoning and the limits behind each. We are facing constrains every minutes of our life in everything we are doing. On computers, we do not choose how we do things, we do the way the software tells us to do. The natural way to realize things do not mean much anymore. In mind mapping, some of the rules that may block you are in fact an invitation to escape from the conventional or framed way of thinking. Bash some educational barriers and behave more naturally, in harmony with your mind and the Nature. Look for freedom in your actions and decisions. Do not care too much about what others say about your maps. You will find mind mapping easier and pleasant, and therefore, more efficient.

In that context, let me tell you this nice story. Some days ago, I was enjoying a peaceful rest in my garden and I was appreciating the beauty of nature. I noticed that the dead tree was a bit like a piece of a mind map. A bit later, I saw a couple of weed roots which were also looking like mind maps. Looking for more of them, I found another one on a leaf of a tree ... It immediately made me think about this nice chat I had with Jean-Pascal CÔTE, one of my French peers in the mind mapping domain. Thanks to him, I discovered the notion of biomimicry or biomimetics. This is the examination of Nature, its models, systems, processes, and elements to emulate or take inspiration from in order to solve human problems (source Wikipedia). It’s really an interesting domain.

I was inspired by the topic and the relation I could established between some elements in the nature and the format of mind maps. I decided to create some representative examples that would illustrate my discovery. I took some photos that I used for drawing what I could call “natural” mind maps. In fact, I did not draw anything. I just put words on branches that were appearing naturally on my pictures. Here they are.
Mind map in the nature - Root example
Mind map in the nature - Leaf example
Mind map in the nature - Tree example
With the idea of biomimetics in the head and while making this unconventional artwork, I could not prevent myself from thinking about the similarities between the natural world and mind maps. It was very interesting to discover that actually some of the rules are also respected in the nature. Let’s have a look at some of them.

  • There is a clear origin: there is a starting point where all the energy is concentrated. It is not necessary located in the centre but it is definitely a root element from where other elements escape. 
  • Branches radiate: there is a clear first level of main branches (thickest) radiating from and around the origin (even if it is not always at 360 degree). 
  • Branches have sub-branches: there is a natural hierarchy structure that comes out from the element, with sub-branches appearing increasingly thin. 
  • There is no broken line: from the start to the deepest part of the element, everything is connected and creates a flow of energy. 
  • Branches are curved: don’t look for a straight line in the nature, you will not find any. Do you want to bet? There is not a single straight line on earth that has not been manufactured by the human race. 
  • The space is infinite: there is a vast space the nature can use to grow and expand. 
You can probably discover more of them and share your findings here. You can also think about other elements in the nature that are close to mind map structures. Here are some images that make me think about it.


Firework





Practically, if you want to add text on a nature mind map (e.g. an out-of-the-box creative presentations), you can use iMindMap, the mind map software tool. First import the image in the background. Then you can draw your mind map on top. Make sure you are using 3 different colours: one for the background, one for the branches (same for all) and one for the text font. Once your mind map is finish, remove the background image. The last step consists in taking a screenshot of your mind map and extracting the branch texts. You can achieve that with an image editor (e.g. GIMP) using the "select by colour" magic wand and copy the selection in the clipboard. Finally, you can superpose your text image over the background image in your presentation. Hope you have been inspired.

Be open-minded!
Be creative!

17 comments:

  1. I found another similarity between roots and mind maps:
    Having the mind map or the roots is the start, but you don't know what will grow out of it :)

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    1. Hey Bart! You are right. When you start a mind map with one seed in the middle, you have no idea what kind of nice flower it will become. While you are making it grow with care, you enjoy to contribute to its development. And once it has reached its maturity size, you can admire the beauty of it.

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  2. Great examples Philippe, love the use background image to further lift the information. Keep up the great work!

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    1. Thank you Owen. I know you have great ideas as well. If you find other backgrounds that would fit, let me know.

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  3. this is amazing!!! great work philippe!! I will definitely check out this awesome method of mindmapping. This gives me so much more freedom and since Nature did it, our neurons did it, so should we mindmap like they do just by imitation!

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    1. Thank you Joshua.
      Any approach is valid for me, provided that it eases the mental process and the path that leads to the objectives you have fixed with your mind map. We should do not create mind maps to deliver exclusively formatted diagrams. We should also used them as a support for thinking differently and be more efficient in our daily life.

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  4. Needless to say, the brain would be a canonical instance of what you say.

    … Or would it ? Does it have a clear origin ? Do branches radiate ? The brain may rather look like a map of maps !

    To what extent would a computer qualify as a mindmap shaped structure ? A (basic) computer performs operations in a sequential fashion. Its pattern rather looks like a flow chart than a mindmap. Or does it ?

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    1. Hi Alexis.
      There is no "like" button but I like your comment.
      Unfortunately I cannot bring much more clarifications to your tricky questions. Do you? I would say from what I read that the brain is organised in a much more complex way than one or more mind maps, much more interconnections in 3 dimensions.

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  5. Mind mapping is nature - great display of creativity - I am a Fan Phil "Genius" PACKU

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  6. Excellent article Philippe, The Mind Mapping is only one natural way to visualize the ideas.

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  7. your maps are awesome ,congratulations you are an artistand.
    I was encouraged to try.
    I tried to import an image into imindmap6 upon which to draw the branches, but I can not.
    how to import an image as a background?
    grazie alfredo

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    1. Hi Alfredo, Thank you for the compliment.
      In fact, in order to have an image behind your mind map, you just need to click the white space and then in the menu Insert->Image File, you select and import the file. Then the image appears as a new floating element that you can resize according to your need (pay attention that if you move it on over the centre, it becomes the central idea).

      Hope it helps

      Phil

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  8. Dear Philippe, Having just discovered your blog I want to congratulate you on the 'user friendliness' and easy access to what you have to offer. I am a freelance language trainer here in France and use the map all the time to build my trainings and help my trainees progress quickly. I too am an Mind Mapper and will shortly become a Licensed Trainer with Buzan, like yourself.
    There is much to be done and I hope one day we could meet - will you be attending the Bigger Plate session in Paris on March 21st by any chance?

    What you're doing with the children in Liège is Brilliant! Bravo

    Julie Cummings-Debrot

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    1. Thank you Julie for encouraging and supporting my work.
      I'm happy to hear that you use mind maps for your training and trainees. Indeed there is still a lot of work to be done in the domain, especially for education. I will continue to provide as much of my experience on this blog in 2013.
      I will indeed attend the Biggerplate Unplugged and I will be happy to meet you there in Paris.

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  9. The lungs ! The air passages right from the trachea ( wind pipe ) down to the alveoli at the periphery i.e.base and apex of the lung resemble very strongly a mind map if seen at the hilum of the lungs proper .

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  10. I found this blog today and I just say one word: amazing. While I've been reading your lines my thoughts went directly to Fibonacci sequence.... This sequence is showed in the nature like leafs, roots tree and others....just a thought.

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