Method guide · Work with a structured grid
Mandala Chart
Expand a question in several directions without forcing every cell to be filled.
- People
- 1–6
- Base procedure time
- 20 minutes
- Recording
- Individual record
Purpose: Generate ideas.
English guide
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How this method works
An idea-generation method that uses a 3 × 3 grid to expand one question in several directions. Use it when people cannot move beyond their first idea or the scope of consideration is uneven. Write ideas around the central question in the 8 surrounding cells. Do not force blanks to be filled; leave a reason or a further-research mark. Next, move one idea to the centre of the second sheet and expand it from other angles. Grid positions encourage a shift of perspective and prevent attention from concentrating only on the initial idea. The result is ideas developed through two stages, reasons for blanks, and a candidate to try next. Do not use it on its own to compete over idea counts or agree on priorities.
Phase schedule
Minutes are cumulative from the start of the base plan, not a live timer. Read scaling for any additional time. Phase controls do not advance automatically.
Use the arrow keys, Home or End while these controls have focus. The complete phase schedule remains below, including without JavaScript.
- Place a question in the centre0–2 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Place. Participation: Each person.
Recording not separately specified for this phase
- Expand in 8 directions2–10 minutes from the start (8 minutes)
Action: Expand. Participation: Each person.
Individual record
- Choose one cell and expand again10–20 minutes from the start (10 minutes)
Action: Develop. Participation: Each person.
Individual record
Facilitation steps
- For 2 minutes, write one sentence in the centre of a 3 × 3 grid that makes clear what you want to expand.
- For 8 minutes, write associations with the central question, one per cell, and put a reason or further-research mark in blank cells.
- For 1 minute, compare the 8 cells, choose one item you want to explore further, and circle it.
- For 8 minutes, copy that item to the centre of the second sheet and write new associations in its 8 surrounding cells.
- For 1 minute, choose one idea from both sheets that could become a next step and mark it.
If something changes
If
Four minutes after starting, at least 4 cells in the first grid are still blank.
Then
Try ‘What is the opposite?’ or ‘What about an adjacent field?’ once. If no idea emerges, leave a reason or further-research mark.
If
With 3 minutes left in the second expansion, at least 5 cells on the second sheet are blank.
Then
Put reasons or further-research marks in the blanks and move on to marking the ideas already present.
If
At the marking stage, the candidate cannot be narrowed to one.
Then
Choose just one idea that can be tried from the following day with the least effort.
Preparation
Materials
- 2 sheets per person with a 3 × 3 grid, each cell at least 40 mm square
- One black or blue pen per person
Room and setup
- Tabletop space for each person to spread out A3 paper
Adjust for people and time
One person can use the method; it is an individual idea-generation format. In a group, each person makes 2 sheets on the same theme and shares only the candidate marked at the end. Above 6 people, form pairs, making just one trio if the count is odd. Show the sheets only within each group, then bring one candidate to everyone.
Safety and non-applicable situations
Do not force blank cells to be filled; retain their reasons or further-research marks. Do not use this method on its own to compete over idea counts or agree on priorities. In larger groups, show sheets only within the assigned pair or trio and share one selected candidate.
Manuscript's recorded references
These translate the original manuscript's source and rights claims. They remain separate from any current-page notice below; they do not establish new verification.
- Creator: Hiroaki Imaizumi (Mandalaart/MandalArt)
The Japanese source states: the method’s procedure is outside copyright protection; this description is original.
- Rights in the name ‘Mandalaart/MandalArt’ may belong to its creator. This page uses the name descriptively; formal trademark status requires confirmation.
Trademark notice
Diagram, print, and video language
Original Japanese guide, diagram, and print view. Their labels and print text have not been translated; an English print edition is not provided here.
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The manual English phase controls are a navigation aid, not a live facilitation timer. Interactive diagram motion remains pending.
Editorial provenance
Japanese source status and logs are provenance only. They do not mean this English text or interface was field-tested. Historical fixed-text acceptance and hold records remain specific to their recorded versions; displaying them neither asserts current acceptance nor resolves source-specific restrictions.