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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Architecture Architecture Communication Canvas |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 30–60 min | 60-120 min | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 4-8 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Communication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop |