How To Find Suitable Images

I received a question from a visitor who is part of our mindmap community. He told me that mindmaps without images are in fact more spider maps. That is true. The mindmap is a very visual overview of the information, filled with color and images.

Now how to find images for those words that are not easily transformed into an image (for instance love, smell, good)?

Let’s have a look at  three different techniques I use to find the right images.

1. It is already an image

My first thought when reading the question was:

When I truly need an image, the image will appear.

Most of the time, when I am thinking really deep about my topic, I see more images than I hear words. When that happens, I only have to draw the image into my map.

Now this doesn’t happen every time… So that is when I may use the second technique.

2. Free association – close your eyes

If not, I close my eyes and by some form of free association I grab the first thing that pops in my mind. I know this requires a leap of faith… but it works most of the time.

3. Google

Here is a more practical tip for all you practical visual thinkers. Use Google Image!

Simply add the word(s) in the search box. Google finds images on most things! I haven’t seen something that they don’t have an image for.

For example: What is an image for “STRAWBERRY FLAVOUR”? Here are some Google results.

I use this little technique in two ways.
1. It gives me the image immediately. No need to do further mind research.
2. The images give me ideas and I find a useful image because of them.

I hope this practical way of finding images is helpful. Let me know what you think if it.

Arjen

P.S.: I probably won’t have to tell you that for your own personal maps, you can copy the google image and import it into your mindmap… Saves time and energy creating something yourself!

Now we just have to wait until a software creator creates a plugin.

Tags: hand drawn, question, visualization