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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Customer Journey Mapping |  Architecture C4 Model |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | When a user journey falls apart across many touchpoints, customer journey mapping makes the experience visible as a coherent arc. Phases, emotions, and breaks become legible enough to prioritize critical moments deliberately. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 2-4 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-10 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Journey Map, Pain-point List, Opportunity Backlog | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | JourneyServiceService design | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization |
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