Zettelkasten Exploration Maps

Edmund

In Zettelkasten, we often ask: “What does this note connect to?” But a better question might be: "What am I currently exploring?” Exploration maps shift the focus—from collecting to inquiring.

A short definition: An exploration map is a visual or conceptual tool [1] used to organize and guide inquiry, especially when dealing with open-ended, complex, or unfamiliar subjects. It's commonly used in problem-solving, learning, research, or creative thinking.

Here is an example:

It's based on a template, which makes it easy to start with:

One more example: https://forum.zettelkasten.de/discussion/comment/23523/#Comment_23523

PDF at: https://github.com/groepl/Obsidian-Templates/blob/main/Assets/Zettelkasten-Exploration-Map_2025-07-21.pdf

References
[1] Clark, Tim, Alexander Osterwalder, and Yves Pigneur. Business Model You: A One-Page Method for Reinventing Your Career. Wiley, 2012.

GeoEng51

@Edmund Thanks for posting this useful chart! I can see myself working through it in the future, on a few issues!

Andy

The design of the graphic above is based on the graphic design of Strategyzer's business model canvas, I note for those who are unfamiliar with it.

If you're using such a template on your own, you can arrange the elements of the template in any way you wish. You may as well simply write the information in a plain-text outline so that you have searchable text instead of unsearchable text in a raster graphic like the one above.

I haven't heard the term exploration map before, and a quick search in typical reference sources doesn't uncover any reliable sources about it, so I don't know whether @Edmund invented that term or borrowed it from elsewhere.

Perikles

@Andy said:
You may as well simply write the information in a plain-text outline so that you have searchable text instead of unsearchable text in a raster graphic like the one above.

Are you using Linux? Because in a decent Unix system, like macOS for instance, text in an image is selectable and thus searchable. If you use Linux you could install what is needed to get that functionality.

As you've seen, the masses on at least two of the three relevant platforms, take this functionality for granted and probably think that's how things are.

Edmund

@Andy said:
I haven't heard the term exploration map before, and a quick search in typical reference sources doesn't uncover any reliable sources about it, so I don't know whether @Edmund invented that term or borrowed it from elsewhere.

Yes, it‘s not a Zettelkasten term. I borrowed it from Design Thinking. For me it describes perfectly it‘s function in the described process.

You may as well simply write the information in a plain-text outline so that you have searchable text instead of unsearchable text in a raster graphic like the one above.

I also use a Zettelkasten Exploration Map template in markdown with Obsidian. The visual I choose is more for presentation purposes.

Andy

@Perikles said:

Are you using Linux? Because in a decent Unix system, like macOS for instance, text in an image is selectable and thus searchable. If you use Linux you could install what is needed to get that functionality.

I use both macOS and Linux, but the versions I use do not allow searching for text in raster graphics. Googling it now, I see this is reported to be a feature in more recent versions of macOS. I guess you could store your entire note system as raster graphics now! Congratulations, and have fun with that, but no thanks: I'll keep using non-raster-graphics formats for my searchable text.

Edmund

@Andy said:
You may as well simply write the information in a plain-text outline so that you have searchable text instead of unsearchable text in a raster graphic like the one above.

Sorry for the raster graphic. Here's a link to a PDF version: https://github.com/groepl/Obsidian-Templates/blob/main/Assets/Zettelkasten-Exploration-Map_2025-07-21.pdf