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6 Thinking Hats Mind Map Example

See how each of the six colored hats fits into one map, then build your own from meeting notes, a PDF or a simple topic.

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CogniGuide at a glance

What you get
Interactive mind maps of the main ideas and how they connect. Free: overview maps (detailed maps on your first 3 creations). Plus: detailed maps with supporting concepts.
Exports
Your first PDF or PNG export is free; Plus exports anytime.
Price
Free plan: 5 creations a week, up to 3 a day. Plus: $9.99/month or $99.90/year (USD; local prices at checkout).
Sign-up
A free account is required before you create anything (Google or email). No credit card.
What you can upload
PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), plain text or Markdown, and images (PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF), or type a topic. One file per creation on the free plan; several at once on Plus.

How it compares: vs Knowt · vs Quizlet · vs NotebookLM · vs Mapify

Build a Thinking Hats Map Fast

Turn your own material into a structured six-hat map you can use in your next session.

Start from your own notes

Upload a PDF, Word, PowerPoint or text file about a decision and get a hat-by-hat map.

Expand each hat with AI

Open any hat branch and generate more prompts, questions or examples for that mode of thinking.

Quiz yourself on the method

Turn the finished map into a quiz to check you can match each hat to its purpose.

How the Hats Map Gets Made

Three steps from raw material to a map your team can use in a session.

  1. 1

    Add your material

    Upload meeting notes or a document about the decision, or type the topic.

  2. 2

    AI builds the map

    The six hats appear as branches, each with prompts drawn from your content.

  3. 3

    Study, expand or export

    Expand branches, edit wording, export a PNG or PDF, or share the link with your group.

Six Thinking Hats Mind Map Explained

The six thinking hats mind map is a visual way to organize Edward de Bono's method of parallel thinking. Each colored hat represents one mode of thought, so a group can examine a problem from several angles in turn rather than arguing from one position. The map keeps the hats, their purposes and the questions each one asks in a single view.

  • White hat: facts, figures and information known or needed
  • Red hat: feelings, intuition and emotional reactions
  • Black hat: caution, risks and reasons something may fail
  • Yellow hat: optimism, benefits and value
  • Green hat: creativity, alternatives and new ideas
  • Blue hat: process control, summary and next steps

Use the map to plan a meeting, prepare for a decision or revise the method for an exam. A personalized version built from your own notes is one click away with CogniGuide.

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Six Thinking Hats Questions Answered

Common questions about the method and making your own map.

Who created the six thinking hats method?

Edward de Bono, a physician and author, developed the six thinking hats method. It is a framework for parallel thinking, where everyone in a group thinks in the same mode at the same time.

What is the purpose of the blue hat?

The blue hat manages the thinking process. It sets the agenda, decides which hat to use next and asks for a summary or conclusion.

Which files can I use to build my own map?

You can upload a PDF, Word or PowerPoint file, a text or Markdown file, or an image. You can also type a topic directly.

Can I turn the hats map into a quiz?

Yes. Once the map is built, you can turn it into a quiz to test how well you remember each hat and its role.