Overview
Mindmup lets you customize the overall layout of a map to suit the information you are organizing. Layout options control the map type, direction, and style used to arrange and display nodes.
Mindmup provides three map types: Standard mindmup, Org Chart, and Argument Visualization. Each is designed for a different way of organizing information, and the available direction and style options depend on the map type you choose.
Open the layout settings
To customize the map layout:
- Right-click anywhere in an empty area of the canvas.
- Select Customize layout & style.
- Open Layout.
- Choose the available options for Map type, Map direction, and Map style.
You can also click the Customize layout & style icon in the top-left area of the editor, then open Layout.
Choose a map type
Mindmup provides three map types. Each one is designed for a different way of organizing information.
Standard mindmup
Use Standard mindmup for most general mind mapping tasks.
It works well when you want to start with a central idea and develop related ideas around it. You can use it for:
- Brainstorming ideas
- Taking study notes
- Planning projects
- Creating lesson plans
- Organizing research
- Breaking a large topic into smaller sections
Choose this map type when your information naturally branches from one main idea into related nodes.
For Standard mindmup, you can choose from three map styles:
- Bubble uses rounded nodes with subtle shading for emphasis.
- Simple uses clean, text-first nodes with minimal decoration.
- Productive automatically colors different levels and is tuned for business storytelling.
You can also adjust Map density:
- Comfortable gives nodes more space, making the map easier to scan and read.
- Compact places nodes closer together, helping you fit more information into the available space.
Org Chart
Use an Org Chart when your information follows a clear hierarchy, with nodes arranged according to different levels.
Org charts are useful for:
- Showing reporting relationships in a company or team.
- Mapping departments, roles, and responsibilities.
- Organizing committees or project teams.
- Visualizing organizational or management structures.
- Showing processes or information with clearly defined levels.
Choose this map type when the relationship between different levels is more important than free-form brainstorming.
For Org Chart, you can choose the Map direction:
- Top-down places the highest-level node at the top, with lower levels arranged underneath it.
- Bottom-up reverses the direction, placing the hierarchy so that it develops upward from the starting node.
You can also choose between two Map styles:
- Bubble gives the org chart a more visual appearance, with rounded nodes and subtle shading that helps distinguish each part of the hierarchy.
- Simple keeps the org chart clean and text-focused, which can work well when the structure contains many roles or labels.
You can also adjust Map density:
- Comfortable gives nodes more space, making the organizational structure easier to scan.
- Compact places nodes closer together, which can be useful for larger org charts with many roles or levels.
Use an Org Chart when you want readers to quickly understand the different levels of a structure and how they relate to one another.
Argument Visualization
Use Argument Visualization when you want to examine a claim together with the reasons and objections related to it.
It is useful for:
- Building arguments.
- Comparing reasons for and against a position.
- Preparing for debates or discussions.
- Analyzing legal or academic arguments.
- Breaking down a complex question into claims, reasons, and objections.
Argument Visualization uses a Top-down map direction, helping you follow the argument from the main claim through the reasons and objections connected to it.
You can choose between two Map styles:
- Standard provides a clear, balanced presentation for organizing and reviewing arguments.
- High-impact gives the argument a more visually prominent presentation, which can be useful when you want key parts of the argument to stand out.
You can also adjust Map density:
- Comfortable gives nodes more space, making complex arguments easier to follow.
- Compact places nodes closer together, which can be useful when an argument contains many claims, reasons, and objections.
Choose Argument Visualization when the goal is to understand or communicate why a claim should or should not be accepted, rather than simply organizing related information.
Example use cases
The best map type depends on how the information is structured and what you want the map to communicate.
- A student preparing for an exam could use Standard mindmup to organize a subject into major concepts, subtopics, definitions, and supporting details.
- A project manager could use Standard mindmup to brainstorm project goals, tasks, resources, risks, and ideas that branch from a central project.
- A business could use an Org Chart to show departments, teams, roles, and reporting relationships.
- A project team could use an Org Chart to show different workstreams, team members, and levels of responsibility.
- Someone preparing for a debate could use Argument Visualization to organize a claim together with the reasons that support it and the objections against it.
- A student or researcher could use Argument Visualization to examine competing arguments and see how different reasons and objections relate to the main claim.
Tips
- Choose the map type based on the relationship between your nodes, not just how you want the map to look.
- Use Standard mindmup when ideas branch naturally from a central subject or when you need a flexible structure for brainstorming, studying, planning, or organizing information.
- Choose an Org Chart when the information has clearly defined levels and the hierarchy itself is important to understanding the map.
- Choose Argument Visualization when you need to distinguish between claims, reasons, and objections or evaluate why a particular claim should or should not be accepted.
- If you are unsure which map type to use, Standard mindmup is the most flexible option for general mind mapping.
- After choosing a map type, try the available Map style and Map density options to find a presentation that makes your information easy to scan and understand.
- Use Comfortable density when readability and space between nodes are more important. Consider Compact when you need to display more information in a smaller area.
- For standard maps, keep Auto layout enabled when you want Mindmup to position nodes automatically as you add them.
Common questions
What is the difference between changing the layout and styling a node?
Layout settings affect the overall presentation and arrangement of the map. Node styling changes the appearance of individual nodes or selected parts of the map.
Can I change the map layout after I have already added nodes?
Yes. You can change the map type, direction, style, or density as your map develops. This is useful if you realize that a different layout would present your information more clearly.
Can I change the map layout after I have already added nodes?
Yes. You can change the map type, direction, style, or density as your map develops. This is useful if you realize that a different layout would present your information more clearly.
Related features
- How to Use Auto Layout
- How to Customize Map Colors
- How to Customize Text
- How to Customize Shapes and Lines
- How to Reset Styling
- How to Use Org Charts
- How to Use Argument Visualization
Choose a layout that fits your information
Choose a map type based on how your ideas relate to each other, then adjust the available direction and style options to suit your content. The right layout can make the structure of a map easier to understand at a glance.