Failed to explain complicated relationships? Try Concept Map.
You may hear about the concept map but never used it. It is not that popular as other maps like the mind map. However, I find it super helpful to get myself clear and to communicate with others.
What is the concept map again?
A concept map is a diagram tool, and it presents relationships between concepts and ideas.
Why and how can the concept help?
Do you prefer visuals or text? I prefer visuals. It makes me process faster. It can also make sure that everybody is on the same page about what we are talking about. Do you feel lost in conversations? If we talk about a stone with friends, I have a big rock in my mind and probably a kawaii one, but my friend may think about a tinny stone. We may need to talk more about the details. Even with these details, We may not think about the same stone. However, if you draw it out, I’m sure you are thinking about the same one.
Let’s back to our products design world. Suppose we are talking about relationships when we plan to build a to-do list mobile App. We may speak of a scenario, for example,
A user plans to prepare a birthday party. He probably needs to add several tasks for organizing the birthday party,
- buy birthday cake
- buy birthday bags
- buy balloons
, etc. However, the user probably needs to create another to-do task for his regular weekly grocery buying. And further, he may have other to-do tasks which relate to work only. Then this should be separated from the preparing birthday party one.
Although we try to use examples to make it more transparent, you are still confused about these relationships.
Now let’s look at the concept map shown below,
We can explain this with this concept map. A user can create a space in this mobile App. For example, let’s say the user adds “family” as space. Space can have multiple lists. For example, the user creates different lists in the “family” space, like “birthday parties” and “groceries”. A list can have multiple to-do tasks. In each of the lists, the user can create to-do tasks accordingly. A task can have various subtasks. For example, if the user wants to buy balloons with different colours, he can add “buy red balloons” and “buy green balloons” as two subtasks of the task “buy balloons”.
Now, do you feel you are much clear about the relationship? I think the answer is yes.
How to draw my first concept map?
If you search concept maps on Google, you probably found lots of videos and post teaching you how to create a great map, which is a bit complicated, at least I feel so. Don’t try to complicate yourself. We should never forget the value behind these tools.
What is our goal to use these tools? It should be used to facilitate us to explain complicated things much clearer. Then whether it is a good one or a bad one is not that important. The most important thing is that we can use it to sync with our audience. To make sure, if we are talking about a stone, we are thinking about the same stone, not a small stone in your mind and a super big one in my mind.
Here are some useful tips.
- Draw one right now, don’t judge whether it is a good or a bad one. You can take a relationship you are familiar with to start, such as the solar system or your company structure.
- Keep it simple. Don’t draw a concept map to make it like a spider web. It is beyond human’s comprehension.
- Use simple relationship words to link, for example, “has a”, “includes”, “is a”, etc., depending on the industry you are talking about.
- Communicate after you create it. You may find it helpful to talk about it with other people, and sometimes you can have other sparkling ideas because of the synchronization.
Try to practice drawing the concept map whenever you feel you can’t explain clearly or feel unclear about the relationships.
