Idea maps

The term “Idea maps” is used by Jamie Nast’s NastGroup, a training and consultancy organization, by the publisher of Inspiration software and others.

Idea maps share the essential features of mind maps.

The term makes emphasises that it is not just information or analysis that can appear in the branches of the map, but ideas.

Arguably, generating a starting point for innovation can be one of the most productive uses of mapping. Ideas can tumble out of control. Writing them in a list easily kills the inspiration, but organizing them in a mind map or concept map not only gives the freedom to wander “all over the map”, but encourages grouping, thus often bringing ideas together that give birth to new thoughts.