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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Innovation Lotus Blossom |  Innovation Crazy 8s |  Innovation Brainstorming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | With only a few minutes available and a still-fuzzy solution search, the method forces a wide range of variants. It produces fast sketches before the first idea can settle in, making different directions directly comparable and open to further development. | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 45-90 min | 8-15 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-10 | 1-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist | Sketch Set, Idea Shortlist, Direction Options | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop | BrainstormingSketchingSpeedDivergenceDesign sprint | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence |