The Idea Compass

Developed by Vicky Zhao and Fei-Ling Tseng. The Idea Compass is a visual tool for expanding atomic notes within a Zettelkasten system. The Idea Compass doesn't need to be used with physical/digital notes, it can be used when evaluating ideas. It is a way of looking at ideas or concepts to see where they fit in relation to other ideas and concepts and also to expand on them .

Prompts to Help Answer the Above

NORTH - Upstream

• Where does X come from?
• What are it's origins?
• What belief does X support?
• What domain exists an order of magnitude higher? Zoom out
• What gave birth to X?
• What causes X?

SOUTH - Downstream

• Where can X lead to?
• What does X contribute to?
• What group/category could X be the headline of?
• What domain exists an order of magnitude lower? Zoom in
• What does X nurture?

EAST - Transformative

• What competes with X?
• What is the opposite of X?
• What is X missing?
• What is a disadvantage with X?
• What could supercharge X?

WEST - Reinforcing

• What is similar to X?
• What other disciplines could X already exist in?
• What other disciplines could benefit from X?
• What are alternative ways to say/do X?