Comments on: Functional Mindmaps

By: Wireframes Magazine

Wireframes Magazine — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:05:13 +0000

[...] the light of the previous post about creating Functional Mindmaps, XMind is another open source tool to help with just that. The software is available for Mac, [...]

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:29:26 +0000

I've used MindNode for awhile now and definitely like it

By: Jakub Linowski

Jakub Linowski — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:40:08 +0000

I guess so. Perhaps what I was trying to get at, was that sometimes through these mind maps you can still see related functions which otherwise might of been forgotten. By seeing 3 or 4 sub functions in proximity to each, the UI design process can still be informed. Perhaps as you're saying, a bit more indirectly though.

By: James

James — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:58:50 +0000

I agree that mindmapping is a solid process for getting an articulation of the way a user might want to do things in an application or on a site. However, I would say that this approach really doesn't inform wireframes nearly as much as it informs what comes before getting to UI design, which is application or process flow and interaction specs.

Get enough users to map out a process and you can start to see how that process might become a real application, but I don't think it relates all that closely to placement of elements within a UI. That comes out of the flow and interaction that mindmapping can inform.

By: Peter Severin

Peter Severin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:48:01 +0000

Here's an example of XMind used with WireframeSketcher to prototype UI workflows:
http://wireframesketcher.com/blog/2009-07-23-prot…

This approach is something in the middle. It's higher level than a simple mockup but the connection to the UI is still emphasized.

By: Alex Luna

Alex Luna — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:14:48 +0000

Mindmaps are very useful. I always used installed apps for that (Xmind on mac), but gonna give a try to this one.

By: Eugenio Grigolon

Eugenio Grigolon — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:05:22 +0000

Recently I'm working a lot with Mindmeister, it is a very usable tool. My mind maps are helping our team here to demonstrate to the client how an app or site will work and some steps that user might do.
I highly recommend the use of mind maps on pre-sales and as a deliverable.

By: Mohammed Alaa

Mohammed Alaa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:03:12 +0000

i use Mindmeister and i have to admit it's the best in creating like sitemaps, process etc…

Thanks for your post :)