Overview
Org Charts in Mindmup arrange information into a clear hierarchy. They are useful when you need to show how people, roles, teams, tasks, or other information relate across different levels.
You can build an Org Chart from the top down or bottom up, depending on how your information is organized. You can also choose between Bubble and Simple map styles and set the map density to Comfortable or Compact to control how closely the nodes are arranged.
Create a new Org Chart
Open the Mindmup menu.
Select File › New › Org chart.
Add your first node.
Add child nodes to create the next level of the hierarchy.
Continue adding nodes to build out the structure.
For a traditional organizational chart, start with the highest-level role or group and add the next levels underneath it.
Change an existing map to an Org Chart
You can also change an existing map to the Org Chart layout.
Click Customize layout & style in the upper-left corner.
Open Layout.
Under Map type, select Org Chart.
Your existing nodes will be arranged using the Org Chart layout.
Choose the direction
Org Charts can organize information in two directions:
Top-down starts from the top and flows downward in clear levels. It works well for teams and hierarchies where the highest-level role or group comes first.
Bottom-up starts with foundational ideas or data points and builds upward toward broader information.
For example, if you are creating an Org Chart for a company, you could place the CEO at the top, add Sales, Marketing, and Operations below, then add team members under each department. Top-down makes it easy to see the structure from the highest level to the individual teams.
Bottom-up works well when several items lead to something larger. For example, you could start with individual tasks at the bottom, group them into project phases above, and build toward the overall project at the top.
Choose Top-down when you want readers to start with the main role, group, or idea. Choose Bottom-up when the information at the foundation is the natural starting point.
To change the direction, open Customize layout & style › Layout, then select Top-down or Bottom-up under Map direction.
Choose an Org Chart style
Org Charts include two map styles:
Bubble uses rounded or boxed nodes for clear grouping. This helps individual roles, teams, or sections stand out as separate parts of the hierarchy.
Simple uses clean, text-only nodes without backgrounds. This creates a lighter layout and keeps the focus on the content and hierarchy.
For the company example above, Bubble can help make each role and department visually distinct. It works well when you want the different parts of the hierarchy to be clearly separated.
Simple can be useful for Org Charts with many nodes or levels. The text-only appearance reduces visual clutter and keeps the structure easy to scan.
Open Customize layout & style › Layout, then choose Bubble or Simple under Map style.
Example use cases
Org Charts can be used for any information that has a clear hierarchy. For example, you can use one to:
- Show teams, departments, managers, and reporting relationships.
- Map project roles and responsibilities.
- Organize committees or working groups.
- Break a project into phases, workstreams, and tasks.
- Create a hierarchy of ideas for a lesson or study guide.
- Organize categories and subcategories.
Tips
- Start with the highest-level role or idea when creating a traditional Top-down Org Chart.
- Use Top-down when the hierarchy itself is important, such as showing who reports to whom.
- Try Bottom-up when several foundational ideas or data points contribute to something larger.
- Use Bubble when clear visual grouping helps readers distinguish individual nodes.
- Try Simple when you have many nodes and want a cleaner, less visually busy chart.
- Keep node text concise so the hierarchy remains easy to scan.
- Fold branches you are not currently working with when a large Org Chart becomes difficult to navigate. Select a node and press F to fold or unfold its branch.
Common questions
Can I use an Org Chart for something other than an organization?
Yes. The Org Chart layout works for any information with a clear hierarchy. You can use it for project structures, responsibilities, categories, study material, or other information arranged into levels.
Can I change the direction after I have started my Org Chart?
Yes. You can switch between Top-down and Bottom-up from the layout settings without creating the chart again.
Can I switch between Bubble and Simple later?
Yes. You can change the Map style as your chart grows. This can be useful if the chart becomes crowded or you want the individual parts of the hierarchy to be more visually distinct.
What if my Org Chart becomes too large to see at once?
Use Zoom to fit to bring the whole chart into view. You can also use Zoom out when you want more space around the chart.
Related features
- How to Add Nodes
- How to Move, Rearrange, Nest, Copy and Paste Nodes
- How to Fold and Unfold Nodes
- How to Customize Map Layout
- Choosing the Right Map Type
Keep your hierarchy easy to follow
Choose the direction that best matches how your information is organized. Use Top-down when you want to start with a main role, group, or idea, or Bottom-up when you want to build from foundational information toward something broader.
Keep node text concise and organize related information at the same level. This makes the Org Chart easier to scan and helps readers understand how different parts of the hierarchy relate to one another.