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Criterion
A paper-based illustration representing C4 Model with its core stages and visible working result.
Architecture
C4 Model
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Purposedifferent
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.When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable.When a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-4 h1-2 h45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
1-54-123-10
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component DiagramAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision QuestionsLotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist
Tagsno overlap
ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop
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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 for Round Robin Brainstorming
Innovation
Round Robin Brainstorming
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
Paper illustration of the Consensus Workshop working structure.
Facilitation
Consensus Workshop