Using Mind Mapping for Project Planning

🧠 “How We Brainstorm And Choose UX Ideas” (+ Miro template) (https://lnkd.in/eN32hH2x), a practical guide by Booking.com on how to run a rapid UX ideation session with silent brainstorming and “How Might We” (HMW) statements — by clustering data points into themes, reframing each theme and then prioritizing impactful ideas. Shared by Evan Karageorgos, Tori Holmes, Alexandre Benitah. 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾 Booking.com UX Ideation Template (Miro) https://lnkd.in/eipdgPuC (password: bookingcom) 🚫 Ideas shouldn’t come from assumptions but UX research. ✅ Study past research and conduct a new study if needed. ✅ Cluster data in user needs, business goals, competitive insights. ✅ Best ideas emerge at the intersections of these 3 pillars. ✅ Cluster all data points into themes, prioritize with colors. ✅ Reframe each theme as a “How Might We” (HMW) statement. ✅ Start with the problems (or insights) you’ve uncovered. ✅ Focus on the desired outcomes, rather than symptoms. ✅ Collect and group ideas by relevance for every theme. ✅ Prioritize and visualize ideas with visuals and storytelling. Many brainstorming sessions are an avalanche of unstructured ideas, based on hunches and assumptions. Just like in design work we need constraints to be intentional in our decisions, we need at least some structure to mold realistic and viable ideas. I absolutely love the idea of frame the perspective through the lens of ideation clusters: user needs, business problems and insights. Reframing emerging themes as “How-Might-We”-statements is a neat way to help teams focus on a specific problem at hand and a desired outcome. A simple but very helpful approach — without too much rigidity but just enough structure to generate, prioritize and eventually visualize effective ideas with the entire team. Invite non-designers in the sessions as well, and I wouldn’t be surprised how much value a 2h session might deliver. Useful resources: The Rules of Productive Brainstorming, by Slava Shestopalov https://lnkd.in/eyYZjAz3 On “How Might We” Questions, by Maria Rosala, NN/g https://lnkd.in/ejDnmsRr Ideation for Everyday Design Challenges, by Aurora Harley, NN/g https://lnkd.in/emGtnMyy Brainstorming Exercises for Introverts, by Allison Press https://lnkd.in/eta6YsFJ How To Run Successful Product Design Workshops, by Gustavs Cirulis, Cindy Chang https://lnkd.in/eMtX-xwD Useful Miro Templates For UX Designers, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/eQVxM_Nq #ux #design

Early in my facilitation career, I made a big mistake. Spent hours crafting engaging activities and perfecting every little detail… Thinking that amazing learning design is what would make my workshops stand out and get me rehired. Some went great. Some bombed. You know the ones, sessions where: - One participant dominated the conversation. - People quietly disengaged, barely participating. - half the group visibly frustrated but not saying anything. I would push through, hoping things would course-correct. But by the end, it was a bit… meh. I knew my learning design was great so... What was I missing? Why the inconsistency between sessions? 💡I relied too much on implicit agreements. I realised that I either skipped or rushed the 'working agreements'. Treating it like a 'tick' box exercise. And it's here I needed to invest more time Other names for this: Contract, Culture or Design Alliance, etc... Now, I never start a session without setting a working agreement. And the longer I'm with the group, the longer I spend on it. 25 years of doing this. Here are my go-to Qs: 🔹 What would make this session a valuable use of your time? → This sets the north star. It ensures participants express their needs, not just my agenda. 🔹 What atmosphere do we want to create? → This sets the mood. Do they want an energising space? A reflective one? Let them decide. 🔹 What behaviours will support this? → This makes things concrete. It turns abstract hopes into tangible agreements. 🔹 How do we want to handle disagreement? → This makes it practical. Conflict isn’t the problem—how we navigate it is. ... The result? - More engaged participants. - Smoother facilitation. - Ultimately, a reputation as the go-to person for high-impact sessions. You probably already know this. But if things don't go smoothly in your session. Might be worth investing a bit more time at the start to prevent problems later on. Great facilitation doesn't just happen, It's intentional, and it's designed. ~~ ♻️ Share if this is a useful reminder ✍️ Have you ever used a working agreement in your workshops? What’s one question you always ask? Drop it in the comments!

Playful Visuals: The secret sauce of viral brands. Your customers will lose interest on your product if you communicate through dry, instructional visuals and static product presentations. But what if discovering a product felt as engaging and delightful as playing on a playground? +60,000x faster – Visuals are processed far more quickly than text. +2x more likely to be shared – Playful content spreads faster. +48% higher engagement – Gamified experiences captivate audiences. >>Your Product is an Experience<< Play evokes joy and triggers dopamine release, enhancing memory, motivation, and emotional connection. When beauty products are presented in a fun and interactive way, they transform from simple cosmetics into immersive self-care rituals. Imagine a vibrant scene: a user’s hands gleefully applying a rich, textured cream, colors swirling in motion, a splash of shimmer catching the light. The product is no longer just a cosmetic; it’s an invitation to creativity, emotion, and self-expression. This visual storytelling captivates the imagination, making beauty routines feel effortless and exciting. + 23% better recall – Learning by doing beats passive learning. + 89% engagement boost – Game-like elements keep users invested. + 22 x stronger memory retention – Story-driven visuals leave lasting impressions. → Hands: The Ultimate Storytellers. Hands express personality, movement, and playfulness, making them powerful tools in beauty marketing. + Hands delicately blending makeup create a sense of artistry and skill. + A playful splash of cream on the skin conveys freedom and fun. + Interactive gestures, swiping, dabbing, or mixing, draw viewers into the experience. By showcasing hands in action, brands create an instant connection between the product and the consumer, making beauty feel tangible, inviting, and alive. + 5% retention – Of what we hear. + 10% retention – Of what we read. + 75% retention – Of what we practice. → Visual Playfulness Sparks Curiosity Don’t be afraid to infuse whimsy into your beauty visuals. + Stop-motion animations can make beauty products come to life. + Bold, colorful visuals grab attention and inspire experimentation. + Gamification, badges, challenges, interactive features, creates excitement. + Humor, memes, and quirky animations make brands feel approachable. + Community engagement through challenges, stickers, and shared content. Final thoughts. Playful visual communication isn’t just about fun, it’s a strategic tool for engagement, brand loyalty, and virality. Whether through dynamic animations, interactive design, or immersive storytelling, beauty brands that encourage customers to play, experiment, and explore are the ones that stand out. Find my curated search of examples and get inspired for your next Hit. Featured Brands: Belif BigLip From This Island Glossier Glowery Ksuu Laniege Purpur Quick beauty Rhode Sundae Vaay #beautybusiness #beautyprofessionals #beautycommunication #beautymarketing

Most presentations don't fail because of bad slides. They fail because no one feels a connection. They look like lectures. While the best presentations feel like stories. And stories aren’t just entertaining. They’re how humans connect, trust, and remember. Here’s how to make your next presentation unforgettable: 1️⃣ Introduce the Villain ↠ Start with the problem you’re solving ↠ Be specific—what pain points does your audience face? ↠ When they feel the problem, they’ll lean in 2️⃣ Position Your Solution as the Hero ↠ Show how your solution saves the day ↠ Make it aspirational, not just functional ↠ Think: “This could change everything for you.” 3️⃣ Add Personal Touches ↠ Share your “aha” moment: how did you solve this? ↠ Vulnerability creates trust ↠ Your story becomes theirs 4️⃣ Use the Power of Three ↠ People love patterns ↠ Give them three parts: ↠ The challenge, the breakthrough, the transformation 5️⃣ Create a Visual Journey ↠ Your slides should feel like a movie, not a spreadsheet ↠ Bold visuals + concise words = memorable ↠ The simpler, the better 6️⃣ End With a Mic Drop ↠ Leave them with ONE unforgettable message ↠ Tie it back to their pain—and what they can do next ↠ A powerful ending moves people to act 7️⃣ Rehearse Until It Feels Natural ↠ Practice your story—not your slides ↠ Your authenticity is your superpower ↠ The more natural you feel, the more they’ll believe you Great presentations don’t just share information. They spark emotion. Build trust. Inspire action. What strategy resonates most with you? ♻️ Share this to inspire someone to tell their best story and follow Andrea Petrone for more. ---------------- 📌 Want more? Grab your FREE template to create presentations that captivate every audience: https://lnkd.in/evgSDXEX

7 Science-Backed Principles for Powerful Presentations Most presenters focus on their slides. Top communicators focus on their audience’s brain. 🧠 The psychology of presentations is no longer a mystery. I cover it in the opening chapter in my book Message Machine — “Revealing the hidden psychology of communications.” Here are 7 psychology-based principles that will transform how you present: 1) 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞 ↳ Start and end with impact. ↳ People remember the beginning and the end — make those moments count. 2) 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐭-𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 ↳ Don’t narrate your slides. ↳ Reading text aloud while it’s on-screen splits focus and reduces retention. Use simple visuals to reinforce, not repeat. 3) 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 ↳ Pair your message with meaningful visuals. ↳ The brain processes visuals and audio separately. Used wisely, this boosts clarity — but irrelevant images just distract. 4) 𝐂𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲 ↳ Clarity is king. ↳ Every extra word or graphic adds cognitive strain. Trim slides to essentials that your audience can absorb instantly. 5) 𝐆𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 ↳ Design with the brain in mind. ↳ Group elements logically. Consistency, proximity, and alignment help the brain form patterns — and improve recall. 6) 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 “𝐒𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬” ↳ If it doesn’t support your point, cut it. ↳ Fun facts or flashy visuals that don’t serve your message? They dilute impact. 7) 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬 ↳ Use conversational language. ↳ Audiences absorb more when your delivery sounds natural. Skip jargon. Speak like a trusted guide. 💬 Which principle do you use most — or want to try next? ♻️ Share this to help your network and follow Oliver Aust to become an elite communicator.

Lets talk about how visual management can help resolve cluttered workflows...i.e. disorganized and hard to follow tasks, information and processes. You will recognize a cluttered workflow because of the wasted time, mistakes and frustration associated with it. It's largely due to work that is unclear to people, with lack of oversight on roles and responsibilities, and no easy way to see progress or identify problems. Of course, what we all want is to walk into our workspace and immediately see what needs attention, what’s on track, and what’s completed. And while visual management is not the only factor in achieving this, it's definitely a large factor. Visual management transforms chaos into clarity. It creates a transparent, efficient environment where everyone is on the same page and can contribute to the team’s success. The thing I love about visual management is that a company needs very little training to start implementing it. The biggest problem most companies have is knowing which visual management tools to use... ...so here's a simple guide to help you get started: 1️⃣ Identify Your Needs Assess Your workflow by looking at your current processes. Where do you see bottlenecks, confusion, or inefficiencies? Set clear goals and decide what you want to achieve with visual management. Do you want to improve task tracking? Or enhance communication? Or speed up decision-making? 2️⃣ Start with simple easy-to-create tools Try out some of the tools highlighted in the visual below. Start with free and easy tools that look like they will meet your needs. You may have to try a few out to see what works! 3️⃣ Match Tools to Your Team's Work Style Discuss with your team what they find most challenging and what kind of visual tools might help. Their input can guide you to the right choice. 4️⃣ Pilot and Adapt Start small and implement one or two tools on a small scale or within a single team. This allows you to see what works without overwhelming everyone. Make sure to gather feedback by regularly asking your team for feedback on the tools' effectiveness. Are they helping? What needs tweaking? What visual management tools would you recommend and why? Leave your comments below 🙏 #visualmanagement #leanmanagement #lean #efficiency #processmanagement #continuousimprovement

Your brilliant idea means nothing if no one listens. 5 years at McKinsey taught me one important truth: It's not the winning idea that wins. It's the winning idea COMPELLINGLY PRESENTED. Master these 4 frameworks to transform how your ideas land: 1️⃣ The Pyramid Principle (go-to storytelling technique at McKinsey #1) Communicate efficiently: → Lead with your main point first → Support with structured reasoning → Back it up with relevant data 2️⃣ SCR Framework (go-to storytelling technique at McKinsey #2) Craft a convincing storyline: → Situation: Establish clear context → Complication: Highlight why action is needed → Resolution: Recommend the solution 3️⃣ The Golden Circle (Simon Sinek) Inspire action with the WHY: → Start with purpose (why you exist) → Explain your approach (how you deliver) → End with what you actually do (what you do) 4️⃣ Story of Self/Us/Now (Marshall Ganz) Mobilize collective action: → Share your personal values journey (self) → Create unity around shared goals (us) → Drive urgency through compelling vision (now) How you FRAME your message is the difference between ignored and influential. What storytelling frameworks do you most often use in your own work? ♻️ Find this valuable? Repost to help others. Follow me for posts on leadership, learning, and excellence. 📌 Want free PDFs of this and my top cheat sheets? You can find them here: https://lnkd.in/g2t-cU8P Hi 👋 I'm Vince, CEO of Sparkwise. I help orgs scale excellence at a fraction of the cost by automating live group learning, practice, and application. Check out our topic library: https://lnkd.in/gKbXp_Av

A graphic design degree costs £40k and takes 3 years. But you? You're about to get the essentials in under 3 minutes. Because EVERYONE should know how to use design to make their expertise irresistible — whether you're presenting, pitching, or promoting. 👇 But first. The BIG misconception: Most people think visual communication = pictures. Wrong. It’s strategy. It’s how you use: - Layout + structure - Fonts + spacing - Visuals + white space - Content flow 💡 Why it matters: Dual Coding Theory. Allan Paivio (visual communication researcher extraordinaire) says we process info through two systems: both verbal (words) + non-verbal (visuals). We need to use them together for boosting understanding, engagement AND memory. Here’s how to do it like a pro 👇 --- 1️⃣ Visual Hierarchy Everything else serves this one goal: Make sure your audience sees the *right info* in the *right order*. Tips: - Bigger = more important - Closer = related - Structure = use titles, subheads, body - Use white space to reduce cognitive overload - Guide the eye like a story --- 2️⃣ Colour Keep it simple: 🎨 Pick 3: light background, dark text, bright accent ⚖️ Check contrast (aim for 8+): use Adobe Colour Checked to help (https://lnkd.in/eavEBGwD) 🔁 Use consistently Try: Coolors (https://coolors.co) for instant, accessible palettes. --- 3️⃣ Fonts ✔️ Use clean sans serifs (Helvetica, Inter, etc.) OR what is most accessible for your audience. This will be different for neurodivergent people or those with visual impairments. ✔️ Pick one with multiple weights (bold, medium, light). ✔️ Apply consistently for hierarchy Here’s a great resource to help: https://lnkd.in/eJA8NheT --- 4️⃣ Imagery Use visuals *with purpose*. 📸 Every image should enhance understanding, not just decorate 🎨 Stay consistent in style 📋 Attribute if using stock or AI imagery --- That’s your crash course in visual communication. Credibility. Clarity. Clout — without the £40k price tag. What would *you* add to the list? Liked this and want more? Follow me for tips on how to use visual storytelling to collaborate, communicate and change-make 👏

Stop wasting meetings! Too many meetings leave people unheard, disengaged, or overwhelmed. The best teams know that inclusion isn’t accidental—it’s designed. 🔹 Here are 6 simple but powerful practices to transform your meetings: 💡 Silent Brainstorm Before discussion begins, have participants write down their ideas privately (on sticky notes, a shared document, or an online board). This prevents groupthink, ensures introverted team members have space to contribute, and brings out more original ideas. 💡 Perspective Swap Assign participants a different stakeholder’s viewpoint (e.g., a customer, a frontline employee, or an opposing team). Challenge them to argue from that perspective, helping teams step outside their biases and build empathy-driven solutions. 💡 Pause and Reflect Instead of jumping into responses, introduce intentional pauses in the discussion. Give people 30-60 seconds of silence before answering a question or making a decision. This allows for deeper thinking, more thoughtful contributions, and space for those who need time to process. 💡 Step Up/Step Back Before starting, set an expectation: those who usually talk a lot should "step back," and quieter voices should "step up." You can track participation or invite people directly, helping create a more balanced conversation. 💡 What’s Missing? At the end of the discussion, ask: "Whose perspective have we not considered?" This simple question challenges blind spots, uncovers overlooked insights, and reinforces the importance of diverse viewpoints in decision-making. 💡 Constructive Dissent Voting Instead of just asking for agreement, give participants colored cards or digital indicators to show their stance: 🟢 Green – I fully agree 🟡 Yellow – I have concerns/questions 🔴 Red – I disagree Focus discussion on yellow and red responses, ensuring that dissenting voices are explored rather than silenced. This builds a culture where challenging ideas is seen as valuable, not risky. Which one would you like to try in your next meeting?  Let me know in the comments! 🔔 Follow me to learn more about building inclusive, high-performing teams. __________________________ 🌟 Hi there! I’m Susanna, an accredited Fearless Organization Scan Practitioner with 10+ years of experience in workplace inclusion. I help companies build inclusive cultures where diverse, high-performing teams thrive with psychological safety. Let’s unlock your team’s full potential together!

🔥 During design interviews, presenting your case study can feel like a make-or-break moment. However, many designers can benefit from strengthening one essential skill: clearly communicating the impact of their work. In my latest video, I worked with Joshua McKenzie, a Senior Product Designer, to critique his case study presentation and help him elevate it to interview-ready status. The goal? Craft a compelling story that showcases his skills, approach, and outcomes 🏆. In this critique, we cover: - How to structure your case study for clarity and engagement. - The importance of pairing visuals with a strong narrative. - Why you need two versions of your case study: one to send, one to present. - How to effectively integrate data and metrics into your story. - Common presentation pitfalls (and how to avoid them). 👀 Watch the full critique and take your portfolio to the next level: https://lnkd.in/gcjxD7VJ Some key takeaways: - Structure matters: Start with a clear business problem and user challenge, then walk through your process step by step, ending with measurable outcomes. - Visuals over words: Avoid text-heavy slides—let your work speak for itself while you guide the story. - Tailor for the audience: Use a concise, visual version of your case study for live presentations and a more detailed, written version if sending out. - Leverage data: Metrics and insights show your impact and differentiate your thinking and work from others. - Practice storytelling: Your ability to communicate your work is just as important as the work itself. ✨ If you're preparing for design interviews or looking to refine your case study game, this video is packed with actionable advice to help you stand out! 💥