Permaculture designers and sustainability students
Starting a new permaculture or ecological design project and needing a flexible planning framework.
Use cases
About
The Project Design mind map template, created for Gaia University (Gaia U) students and permaculture designers, covers 6 major branches and 30 nodes to guide learners through the transition from rigid project planning to fluid, adaptive design. It explores why old forms of project design are inadequate and rigid, defines a project as 'a designed intervention' and 'anything that takes 2 or more actions', and outlines pathways for 'Learning Permaculture Design' and 'Getting a Job' in ecosocial design. This template serves as both a study guide and a practical cheat sheet for designing projects in complex, changing contexts.
Terms and ConditionsWhen to use this template
Gaia U students and facilitators
Preparing for a Gaia University course or assignment that requires designing a project in a changing context.
Project managers and change-makers in sustainability
Transitioning from traditional project management to adaptive, fluid design methods for complex social-ecological systems.
How to use this template
Step 1
Open and Review the Structure
Download the .xmind file and open it to explore the six major branches designed for adaptive project planning.
Step 2
Customize and Expand Your Design
Replace the placeholder text with your specific project details and add new sub-nodes to capture unique ecosocial design ideas.
Step 3
Finalize and Share Your Map
Review your completed intervention design and export the map as a PDF or image to share with your team or mentors.
Frequently asked questions
The template includes 6 core branches: Intro, Gaia U, Defining a 'Project', Why Become a Designer, Learning Permaculture Design, and Getting a Job, with 30 nodes covering key concepts and actionable insights.
Open the .xmind file in Xmind, then explore the 'Learning Permaculture Design' branch to understand ecological systems and design processes. Customize nodes with your own examples and notes.
Yes, the template is free to download and fully editable in Xmind (desktop or web). You can add, remove, or modify branches to fit your specific project or study needs.
The 'Gaia U' branch outlines the Gaia University approach to project design, focusing on what to un/learn, how to effectively intervene, and designing in a changing context.
Absolutely. The 'Getting a Job' branch provides a starting point; you can expand it with specific companies, skills, or portfolio items relevant to ecosocial design roles.
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