I use an unconventional method to plan the architecture of a website. It’s about as low-tech as you can imagine. Today I’m applying that same method to this blog. By the time I’m finished, I’ll have a clearer picture of my next steps for this blog.
When I’m putting my thoughts together on a topic, I like to keep things free-form, movable, easily changeable. I want to see where information will flow naturally and also where different pieces of information can play off each other – the relationship of one piece of data to another. In my quest for a workable system, I’ve fiddled around with free versions of mind-mapping software, but possibly since the operative word here is “free,” they’ve never quite delivered the goods as easily as I had hoped.
The system I’ve settled on is simply sticky notes and a large work surface, usually an oversized sketch pad. I warned you that it was low-tech! I simply write the topics that must be covered on separate sticky notes, one topic to a note, place them on the work surface and look for connections, categories, and holes to fill. I’ve used this for website development, marketing plans, and now for re-evaluating the direction for my blog(s).
What tools or methods do you use for your “big picture” planning? Please share in the comment section, below.
Photo Credit: andydr on Flickr
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Sticky yellow notes on whiteboards. How would you like to be able to re-use the same notes on different boards and to link them to each other logically or experientially? Use the relations to navigate the growing network, seeing all the incoming and outgoing paths to each node/note in the blink of an eye? Always to be able to change anything, and I mean as long as your project dures, perhaps your life long? Then take a look at where these wishes took me for the past 15 years.
Ron, I’ve bookmarked your application and will give it a try. In theory, it looks great! Look for a review of Personal Memory Manager in an upcoming blog post.
StickyNotes…the most underrated tool at the local office supply store! BTW, another great tip is to use the sticky notes with the sticky part closest to you (not far away, like most people do). This makes the notes easier to read as they usually curl up after being used. Turned in this direction, they curl up TOWARD you, instead of away. : )
Jim, what a great tip! I’m going to try that. Thanks!
Oh, yes! Sticky notes are possibly the most ingenious low-tech invention of all time. I juggle as a wahm, and if I ever want to make sure I complete a thought process before a project is due, I had better not run out of them, or calendars, for that matter!
I have sticky notes all over my desk LOL They’re even on my computer