Using the focus function in Kumu

Kumu’s Focus tool lets you temporarily highlight just one part of the map, helping you cut through the complexity and explore relationships in a more manageable way. It’s especially helpful when explaining the map to others or zooming in on a specific theme or pathway.

What does it do?

Focus hides everything except the element(s), connection(s), or loop(s) you’ve selected - and anything directly linked to them. It’s a simple but powerful way to see just one part of the system at a time.

How to use it

You can activate Focus in two ways:

• Click and hold on any element, connection or loop

• Click the element, then click the Focus icon on the right-hand panel

Once in focus mode, you can:

• Use the ➕ and ➖ buttons to walk in or out by degree, revealing more or fewer connected elements

• Click the Focus icon again to reset the view and bring the full map back

👉 See full guide in Kumu’s documentation

Visual Example

Click the focus icon again to bring the full map back into view.

Ref. https://docs.kumu.io/guides/focus

Applying it to our Theory of Change

Here’s how this looks in practice using Equal Care’s map:

This function helps you explore key outcomes, outputs or activities in more detail without losing the bigger picture.