How to create mind maps in draw.io

A trusty staple

Mind maps are a trusty staple for many of us. Often used as a creative kick-off to get ideas flowing, mind maps are a great way to categorize ideas in a presentable yet free-flowing way. They typically start with a central topic or idea, which branches out to associated topics and subtopics.

Mind maps are a great starting point for ideating your next blogpost topic for example, or for looking into new markets to explore or product features to launch. They can help overcome the dreaded writer’s block, and grouping ideas together can help you identify trends or overlaps in information.

In this blogpost, we’ll look at how to build mind maps in draw.io, along with some helpful tips and tricks.

draw.io Board editor

The draw.io Board editor gives you an infinite canvas in which to get creative and map out your ideas. If your teams are using draw.io for Confluence, you automatically have access to both the diagram and the board editor, at no extra cost.

The draw.io Board editor

Mind map templates

There are a couple of mind mapping templates if you’re looking for inspiration. To locate these, simply click on the plus (+) icon and select Template to bring up the template manager. Use the search bar to locate the mind map templates.

Starting from scratch

If you prefer to create your mind map from scratch, the following will help you get started:

Option 1: Add shapes on the canvas directly to add free-flowing ideas

You can add shapes without heading to the shape library in the left menu. To do this, hover over a shape to see the blue direction arrows, then click on an arrow to add a new shape. This allows your mind map to grow organically as you go.

Hover over a shape, then click on a blue arrow to add a new shape

Option 2: Mindmap container shape for a hierarchical structure

If you want to create a mind map that follows a hierarchical structure from trunk > major branch > sub-branch, etc., and where you can show and hide specific sections of your mind map, the mindmap shape is here to help.

Locate the mind map shape by heading to the shape library and selecting the Mindmap shape, or use the search bar.

The Mindmap container shape

To add more branches, hover over a shape and use the directional arrows to add a new topic or branch.

Note: If you are not seeing an expand/collapse icon to the left of your shape, click on the element you wish to collapse. Then, under the Style tab in the right side menu, tick the checkbox next to Tree Folding.

To hide the container, click on it, then deselect the Line option under Style in the right side menu.

If you want to add or remove the collapse/expand toggles next to shapes, head to Settings in the topic menu and uncheck the box Collapse/Expand.

Freehand (brush) tool

The freehand tool allows you to sketch and annotate on the canvas.

To access this:

1. Click on the pen icon in the left side menu;
2. Check the Brush option to change the width of the pen you are drawing with.

When you’re finished drawing, simply press ESC to exit freehand mode.

Sketch mode

Apply sketch mode to colors, shapes, and connectors, to give your mind map a more creative look.

Collaborate in real time

When working on mind maps as a team in Confluence Cloud, you can all collaborate in real-time using draw.io. This means everyone can add their ideas simultaneously, ensuring everything is captured. Plus, you never have to worry about losing your work, thanks to the autosave feature.

Export your mind map

Export your mind maps in a variety of formats, including .PNG, .JPEG, .HTML, and .PDF. This is useful if you want to add the diagram to a presentation, or to simply have it in an offline format.

Start mind mapping today

Whether you choose a structured or free-flowing approach to creating your mind map, draw.io is packed with a wide variety of features to make your mind mapping session a creative, collaborative, and personalized process. Where will your next mind map take you and your ideas?

Want to dive deeper into the world of draw.io? Access our linktr.ee page to follow us on social media and learn how others use draw.io, as well as pick up some helpful tips and tricks.