How to Make a Mind Map in Excalidraw
A mind map puts one topic in the middle and lets ideas branch out from it, which makes it a quick way to run a brainstorm. Draw one in Excalidraw: a central ellipse, a box for each idea, arrows that branch outward, a smaller idea off a branch, and a colour for the centre. Example: ideas for a made-up online shop.
Step by step
What a mind map is
- Mind map. A mind map puts one topic in the middle and lets every idea branch out from it. It's a quick way to sort out a messy brainstorm. The example here is ideas for a made-up online shop.
- excalidraw.com. Open excalidraw.com in your browser and start with an empty canvas. You don't need an account.
The central topic
- The centre. Pick the ellipse tool and drag a big ellipse in the middle of the canvas. Press Enter and type the main topic: Online Shop.
Branch out
- Main branches. Each big idea gets its own rectangle around the centre. Draw the first one above the ellipse, press Enter and type Payments.
- Arrows out. Pick the arrow tool and drag from the edge of the ellipse to the edge of Payments. When a shape's outline highlights, let go and the arrow is glued to it. In a mind map, the arrows point out from the middle.
- Main branches. Draw the next rectangle to the right of the centre and label it Marketing.
- Arrows out. Draw a second arrow from the centre out to Marketing.
- Main branches. Draw a third rectangle below the centre and label it Delivery.
- Arrows out. Glue a third arrow from the centre down to Delivery.
- Main branches. Draw the last rectangle on the left and label it Products. That makes 4 branches, one on each side.
- Arrows out. Finish with a fourth arrow from the centre out to Products.
Smaller ideas
- Sub-ideas. Smaller ideas hang off a branch, not off the centre. Next to Delivery, draw a wider rectangle and label it Free returns. Start its arrow at Delivery, not at the centre, so everyone can see which branch it belongs to.
Rename an idea
- Rename. Ideas change in a workshop. Here the team decides Marketing is really about promotions. Select the Marketing box, press Enter and change the text to Promotions. The arrow stays glued.
Colour the centre
- Colour. Once every shape is drawn, select the centre ellipse and give it a soft yellow background (#ffec99). Now the eye lands on the main topic first.
- The finished map. Click an empty spot on the canvas to clear the selection and see the finished map: one topic in the middle, 4 branches and one smaller idea off Delivery.
Recap
- The rules. The rules: one topic in the middle, one box per big idea, and arrows that point outward. Hang smaller ideas off their branch, and colour the centre last.
Common mistakes
- Arrows that aren't glued to the shapes. If you let go of an arrow in empty space, it stays behind when you move a box. Drag each end onto the shape until its outline highlights, then let go.
- Labels typed next to the box instead of inside it. Double-clicking an empty spot makes loose text that doesn't move with the box. Select the box and press Enter, so the label belongs to that shape.
- Joining smaller ideas to the centre. Free returns joined to the centre looks like a big idea of its own. Start its arrow at Delivery so the map shows which branch it belongs to.
- Losing the map after the session. excalidraw.com keeps your drawing in this browser's storage, so clearing browser data or switching computers loses it. Save a .excalidraw file or export an image when you finish.
When a business analyst uses this
In a discovery workshop for a new online checkout, put the project name in the centre and add each idea as a branch, such as payments or delivery, as people call them out. Smaller points hang off their branch, and the finished map becomes the starting list for the requirements log.
Questions people ask
Is Excalidraw free to use?
Yes. excalidraw.com is free and works in the browser without an account. There is also a paid version, Excalidraw+, with extra features for teams.
How do I keep arrows attached to shapes in Excalidraw?
Drag the arrow's end onto the shape until its outline highlights, then let go. A glued arrow follows the shape when you move it.
How do I add text inside a shape in Excalidraw?
Select the shape and press Enter, or double-click it, then type. The text then belongs to the shape and moves with it.
