How to Make a Concept Map in Microsoft PowerPoint

Updated on: 14 July 2025 | 8 min read
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Illustration of a powerpoint concept map

Microsoft PowerPoint is primarily a presentation software, while it can also be used to create concept maps with some effort. However, PowerPoint has certain limitations that make it less efficient than dedicated diagramming tools.

How to Create a Concept Map in PowerPoint

Before starting, set up your PowerPoint workspace for better organization:

  • Open a new PowerPoint presentation.
  • Choose a blank slide layout to avoid unnecessary elements.

PowerPoint Concept Map

  • Enable gridlines via View > Gridlines to align elements properly.
  • Get familiar with PowerPoint’s Shapes and SmartArt Graphics for building the concept map.

Methods to Create a Concept Map in PowerPoint

Method 1: Using Basic Shapes

Insert Shapes for Concepts

  1. Go to Insert > Shapes and select a shape (e.g., oval, rectangle) for each concept.
  2. Click and drag to draw the shape, then type the concept inside it.

PowerPoint Concept Map

Connect Concepts with Lines

  1. Go to Insert > Shapes, select Lines or Arrows, and draw connections between concepts.
  2. Adjust the lines to reflect relationships accurately.

Format the Concept Map

  • Use Shape Format options to adjust colors, line styles, and text alignment for better clarity.

Method 2: Utilizing SmartArt Graphics

Insert a SmartArt Graphic

  1. Navigate to Insert > SmartArt.
  2. Choose a diagram (such as Hierarchy or Relationship) that best fits your concept map.

PowerPoint Concept Map

Customize the SmartArt Diagram

  1. Add or remove elements to match your concept structure.
  2. Modify formatting to enhance readability.

Enhancing the Concept Map in PowerPoint

To improve clarity and effectiveness:

  • Use consistent colors and fonts.
  • Align elements properly for better visualization.
  • Add icons or images to represent ideas visually.

PowerPoint Concept Map

Saving and Sharing Your Concept Map

  • Save as a PowerPoint file (.pptx) or export as a PDF.
  • Share via email, OneDrive, or team collaboration platforms.

Common Use Cases Where Concept Maps Are Useful

Education

  • Break Down Complex Topics – Simplify intricate subjects into digestible parts, making them easier to understand. Utilize concept maps in education for efficient study and revision.
  • Enhance Active Learning – Encourage students to actively participate, engage with material creatively, and think critically.
  • Facilitate Collaborative Work – Support group discussions and knowledge-sharing through interactive learning exercises.
  • Improve Assessment & Revision – Utilize visual aids to reinforce learning, track progress, and enhance retention.
  • Lesson Planning – Teachers can structure lesson plans effectively, aligning topics with learning objectives.
  • Exam Preparation – Students can summarize key concepts, making revision more efficient.
Cellular Respiration Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft PowerPoint
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Cellular Respiration Concept Map Template

Business

  • Strategic Planning – Visualize business goals, market strategies, and execution plans.
  • Project Management – Map out tasks, dependencies, and deadlines for streamlined execution.
  • Brainstorming & Innovation – Capture, organize, and refine creative ideas effectively. Organize concept map ideas to break down challenges and uncover innovative approaches.
  • Process Optimization – Improve workflows by identifying inefficiencies and streamlining operations.
  • Business Development – Structure growth strategies, partnerships, and market expansions.
  • Stakeholder Communication – Present complex business information in an easily digestible format.
Business Outcome Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft PowerPoint
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Business Outcome Concept Map Template

Personal Projects

  • Idea Organization – Structure thoughts for creative writing, personal development, or research.
  • Enhance Creativity – Connect scattered ideas to develop unique perspectives and solutions.
  • Task Management – Break down long-term goals into actionable steps.
  • Problem Solving – Analyze challenges systematically and map out potential solutions.
  • Hobby Planning – Organize travel plans, DIY projects, or artistic pursuits effectively.
Brainstorming Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft PowerPoint
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Brainstorming Concept Map Template

Additional Applications

  • Healthcare – Visualize medical diagnoses, treatment plans, and symptom progressions.
  • Research & Development – Organize scientific studies, theoretical frameworks, and key findings. Leverage concept map for research for organizing key insights in economic and social studies.
  • Technology & IT – Map system architectures, software development workflows, and data structures.
  • Public Policy & Governance – Analyze and present complex social issues, legislative processes, and policy impacts.
  • Marketing & Sales – Design campaign strategies, customer journey maps, and competitive analysis.
  • Legal & Compliance – Break down legal frameworks, case studies, and regulatory policies.
Science Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft PowerPoint
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Science Concept Map Template

Why PowerPoint Isn’t the Best Tool for Concept Mapping

While PowerPoint provides basic concept mapping capabilities, it has several limitations as follows:

  • Limited Flexibility: Requires excessive manual adjustments.
  • No Real-Time Collaboration: Cannot support simultaneous editing.
  • Alignment Issues: Shapes and connectors don’t auto-adjust.
  • Time-Consuming: Tedious formatting and adjustments.

Why Creately is the Best Tool for Concept Mapping

Among the many tools available, Creately stands out as the best concept map maker due to its ease of use, collaboration features, and intelligent automation. Whether you’re brainstorming, planning projects, or mapping complex ideas, Creately simplifies the process with its intuitive design and powerful integrations.

Create Concept Maps for Free

Creately offers a free concept map maker with essential features, allowing users to create, edit, and collaborate on concept maps without any upfront cost. The free plan is perfect for individuals and students looking for an easy-to-use tool without financial commitment, with upgrade options available for more advanced features.

Creately Presentation Mode

With Creately’s built-in Presentation Mode, users can effortlessly turn their concept maps into engaging presentations. This feature allows for step-by-step walkthroughs, helping teams and educators visually communicate ideas without needing additional presentation tools. It’s perfect for pitching ideas, explaining processes, and structuring knowledge in a compelling way.

Drag-and-Drop Simplicity

Creately offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to effortlessly create and modify concept maps without formatting hassles. The user-friendly workspace ensures a smooth experience for beginners and professionals alike, making it easy to structure ideas visually.

Smart Connectors for Seamless Relationships

Creately’s auto-aligning smart connectors ensure that relationships between ideas remain clear, even when elements are rearranged. These connectors dynamically adjust to maintain logical flow, making it easier to refine and expand concept maps without losing structure.

Real-Time Collaboration

With live multi-user editing, comments, and synced previews, multiple team members can work on a concept map simultaneously. Whether for remote teams, classrooms, or brainstorming sessions, Creately enhances teamwork by enabling seamless collaboration from anywhere in the world.

Customizable Templates

Creately provides an extensive library of pre-designed concept map templates tailored for various use cases, including brainstorming, project planning, and academic research. These templates speed up the creation process, ensuring users can start mapping ideas immediately without building from scratch.

Easy Export & Integration

Users can export their concept maps in multiple formats, including PDF, PNG, and SVG, for easy sharing and documentation. Additionally, Creately integrates with popular tools such as Google Drive, Slack, Confluence, and Jira, ensuring smooth workflows across different platforms.

AI-Powered Features

Creately VIZ, Creately’s AI-driven features offer intelligent suggestions to refine and expand concept maps, helping users brainstorm more effectively. AI-powered auto-generation of diagrams based on text input allows for quicker visualization of ideas, making it a powerful tool for structured thinking.

With its seamless combination of usability, collaboration, and AI-driven automation, Creately is the best concept map maker for individuals, teams, and organizations looking for a smarter way to visualize ideas and knowledge.

Helpful Resources

Learn how to create a concept map with ease using Creately.

Explore creative concept map ideas to help you organize and visualize your thoughts.

Discover creative concept map examples to enhance creativity and comprehension.

Free Concept Map Templates by Creately

One of Creately’s standout features is its extensive library of ready-made concept map templates. Below is a curated list of ready-made concept map templates available on Creately, each designed to help you quickly visualize and organize your ideas:

Beginners Concept Map Template

Simple Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft Powerpoint
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Beginners Concept Map Template

Simple Concept Map Template

Simple Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft Powerpoint
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Simple Concept Map Template

Organize Your Thoughts Template

Concept Map Template to Organize Your Thoughts for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft Powerpoint
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Concept Map Template to Organize Your Thoughts

Marketing Concept Map Template

Marketing Presentation Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft Powerpoint
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Marketing Presentation Concept Map

Opportunity Solution Tree Template

Opportunity Solution Tree Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft Powerpoint
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Opportunity Solution Tree Template

Nursing Concept Map Template

Nursing Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft Powerpoint
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Nursing Concept Map

Versatile Concept Map Template

Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map in Microsoft Powerpoint
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Concept Map Template

Blank Concept Map Template

Blank Concept Map Template for How to Create a Concept Map Microsoft Powerpoint
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Blank Concept Map Template

These templates are crafted by professionals and are designed to jumpstart your creativity while maintaining a high standard of visual quality.

FAQs on How to Make a Concept Map on PowerPoint

What is a concept map?

A concept map visually represents relationships between ideas or concepts, helping in knowledge organization and problem-solving.

Does PowerPoint have templates for concept mapping?

PowerPoint offers SmartArt Graphics that can be adapted for concept mapping, though they may require customization.

Can I collaborate on a concept map in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint allows shared editing but lacks real-time collaboration features available in dedicated tools.

How can I export or share a concept map in PowerPoint?

Save as PDF, PPTX, or image formats, or share via cloud platforms like OneDrive.

How can I add a Creately template to my PowerPoint presentation?

You can seamlessly integrate Creately templates into your PowerPoint slides by exporting the template as an image and inserting it into PowerPoint. To export the template, open the Creately workspace, select the template, click on File → Export As, and choose an image format such as PNG, JPEG, or SVG for the best quality. Once exported, open your PowerPoint presentation, navigate to the slide where you want to add the template, click on Insert → Pictures → This Device, select the exported image, and resize or position it as needed.
Author
Heroshe Mihindukulasuriya
Heroshe Mihindukulasuriya Content Specialist

Heroshe is a Content Specialist and Writer at Creately, the innovative online diagramming and collaboration platform. He crafts engaging, informative content that empowers users to unlock the full potential of Creately’s features. With a knack for simplifying complex ideas, Heroshe makes learning intuitive and accessible. Outside of work, he indulges his passion for art and music, bringing a creative touch to everything he does.

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