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Turn your design notes into an editable mind map with AI

Upload a PDF, slide deck or photo of your notes and get a mind map you can rearrange, expand and study from.

Create mind maps nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates mind maps in seconds

Why a generator beats a blank page for design study

When a design course hands you a stack of slides, critique notes and style guides, a mind map design generator can sort that material into a central topic with branches you can rearrange.

Map principles such as proximity, contrast and alignment under one branch each.
Keep critique feedback linked to the project it refers to.
Redraw the map from memory to test recall before a studio review.
Turn any branch into flashcards or a quiz when you want more practice.

Example design principles mind map branches

Gestalt principlesProximity · Similarity · Continuity · Closure

Visual hierarchySize · Contrast · Position · Whitespace

Color theoryHue · Saturation · Value · Temperature

Grid systemsColumns · Gutters · Margins · Baseline grid

Design thinkingEmpathize · Define · Ideate · Prototype

Generate the full set

Editable branches

Rename, move and regroup any node so the map matches how your design course organizes the material.

Explorable structure

Collapse and expand branches to focus on one part of a design topic at a time.

Works from your files

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or a photo of your notes, and the map is built from that material.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, slide deck, document, text notes or a photo of a page.

Review the generated map

Check the central topic and main branches, then edit anything that doesn't fit.

Explore and refine

Expand each branch, then turn the map into flashcards or a quiz if you want more practice.

Good design maps group ideas by principle rather than by lecture date, so the structure itself becomes part of what you learn. DeckOwl builds a first draft from your files and leaves the layout in your hands.

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Frequently asked questions

How many branches should a design mind map have?

Most design topics work well with 4 to 7 main branches, each with 2 to 4 sub-points. Fewer branches can leave the map too shallow to be useful, while many more can make it hard to scan.

How do I study design principles from a mind map?

Start from the central topic and say each branch aloud before looking at its sub-points. Then redraw the map from memory and fix anything you missed.

Can I export the mind map?

Export is a paid feature. The free plan lets you create and explore maps in the browser, while Plus adds PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export.

How many generations do I get for free?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month, and no credit card is needed to start. Plus, at $39/year or $7.99/month, removes the monthly limit.

Generate free mind maps

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.