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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Innovation Design Charrette |  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. | 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. | In a tightly timed design process with many participants, the method pools several lines of thinking in a short time. It brings parallel design energy without letting the discussion tip into endless coordination. This quickly produces solid directions for architecture or space. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-2 h | Halber Tag bis mehrere Tage | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | 3-10 | 10-50 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | Sketches and Concepts, Consolidated Solution Sketch, Prioritized Direction | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | BrainstormingWorkshopCollaborationIdeation | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop |