Luis Sierra

Mind mapping.     Selection   Mind mapping is one of the most powerful tools in the design thinker's toolbox. It's used to  look for patterns, for insights, that lead to more creative solutions to your design challenge.    Formal definition:   Mind mapping looks for patterns and insights in a large quantity of data you have collected  during exploration of what is the current reality. The goal is to establish criteria for the what-if  idea generation phase.  This phase is pivotal in the design thinking process. Mind mapping  provides a segway from what is to what if.  In design thinking we use the mind mapping process to capture and represent the minds of our  customers. We involve our colleagues in order to develop a common mind among them  regarding the current reality of a design challenge.  Through mind mapping, we extract meaning from data in a way that lets patterns and insights  emerge.   Mind Mapping is a great way to align the organization around a common understanding of the  current reality.    Challenge   I use this approach often with my clients to understand the mind of their´s  customers. I am an  independent consultant, so Iam used to  work  applying new methodologies or developing  culture transformation process in different companies.    In this case, I used mind mapping in a bus transport company that wants to  develop  a new  management model, with news  KPIs  to monitor and simplify the management of the area.  Also the company was in the grip of a “compliance culture” and its workplace was failing in this  non-empathetic, rigid structure.    Application   First, we began with laying out the data we have collected of the different issues, for example,  repetitive maintenance failures, communication problems, staffing issues, technological needs,  etc.  Then  the team and some outsider  colleagues,  met in a conference room, it was  a  wonderfully confortable,  where all the collected data was shown.     After the participants viewed the information, they arranged themselves at tables of four  participants. Before they started to share their good stuff,  they had ten minutes to review  their own sticky notes and group them into themed clusters on their clipboard.  Then the sharing started.  Each member of the team shared her/his discovery.   Finally comes the big payoff,  identifying the insights that each cluster reveals.  This was also one of the toughest parts of the process.  Then we wrote the inside statements on large sticky notes and place them on top of the  appropriate sticky note clusters. The team notes the connections between and among the  clusters for even better representation of “what is”.  Finally, we needed to translate the insight in the design criteria.  The design criteria are the  conditions your design solution must satisfy in order to solve your customer's problem.      Insight & approach   By applying mind mapping, our team capture and represent the minds of our customers.  Additionally, we easily identify  patterns and insight  in the large quantity of data. Finding a  more agile approach to establishing criteria for the “what if” phase.   However, It was very  difficult to  keep our focus, and sometime the team wants to do everything. So, it is very   important to reinforce the understanding of the key problem we are working to solve.

Luis Sierra

One of the most  valuable aspect of the activity is to share insights  that occurs while we are  working.


Luis Sierra Mind mapping . Selection Mind mapping is one of the most powerful tools in the design thinker 's toolbox . It 's used to look for patterns , for insights , that lead to more creative solutions to your design challenge . Formal definition : Mind mapping looks for patterns and insights in a large quantity of data you have collected during exploration of what is the current reality . The goal is to establish criteria for the what - if idea generation phase . This phase is pivotal in the design thinking process . Mind mapping provides a segway from what is to what if . In design thinking we use the mind mapping process to capture and represent the minds of our customers . We involve our colleagues in order to develop a common mind among them regarding the current reality of a design challenge . Through mind mapping , we extract meaning from data in a way that lets patterns and insights emerge . Mind Mapping is a great way to align the organization around a common understanding of the current reality . Challenge I use this approach often with my clients to understand the mind of their´s customers . I am an independent consultant , so Iam used to work applying new methodologies or developing culture transformation process in different companies . In this case , I used mind mapping in a bus transport company that wants to develop a new management model , with news KPIs to monitor and simplify the management of the area . Also the company was in the grip of a “ compliance culture ” and its workplace was failing in this non - empathetic , rigid structure . Application First , we began with laying out the data we have collected of the different issues , for example , repetitive maintenance failures , communication problems , staffing issues , technological needs , etc . Then the team and some outsider colleagues , met in a conference room , it was a wonderfully confortable , where all the collected data was shown . After the participants viewed the information , they arranged themselves at tables of four participants . Before they started to share their good stuff , they had ten minutes to review their own sticky notes and group them into themed clusters on their clipboard . Then the sharing started . Each member of the team shared her / his discovery . Finally comes the big payoff , identifying the insights that each cluster reveals . This was also one of the toughest parts of the process . Then we wrote the inside statements on large sticky notes and place them on top of the appropriate sticky note clusters . The team notes the connections between and among the clusters for even better representation of “ what is ” . Finally , we needed to translate the insight in the design criteria . The design criteria are the conditions your design solution must satisfy in order to solve your customer 's problem . Insight & approach By applying mind mapping , our team capture and represent the minds of our customers . Additionally , we easily identify patterns and insight in the large quantity of data . Finding a more agile approach to establishing criteria for the “ what if ” phase . However , It was very difficult to keep our focus , and sometime the team wants to do everything . So , it is very important to reinforce the understanding of the key problem we are working to solve . Luis Sierra One of the most valuable aspect of the activity is to share insights that occurs while we are working .