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Criterion
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper mind map with a central course onboarding question, colored main branches, keywords and cross-links.
Facilitation
Mind Mapping
Empathy Mapping
UX Research
Empathy Mapping
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 topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early.When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing.
Complexitysame
LowLowLow
Timedifferent
45–90 min15-45 min30–60 min
Participantsdifferent
3-101-104-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasMind Map, Topic Clusters, Open QuestionsEmpathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation
SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

A paper-based illustration representing Brainstorming with its core stages and visible working result.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Paper illustration of several people silently writing ideas and passing sheets around with arrows.
Innovation
Brainwriting
Paper illustration of the Consensus Workshop working structure.
Facilitation
Consensus Workshop
Paper illustration of the Lightning Decision Jam working structure.
Facilitation
Decision Jam