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| Criterion |  Architecture C4 Model |  UX Research Usability Testing |  Innovation Design Thinking |  Architecture ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 product is built but people get stuck on tasks, usability testing shows the friction at concrete points. Observed use instead of self-report makes visible where orientation, understanding, or interaction breaks down. | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-2 h je Session | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional |
Participantsdifferent | 1-5 | Based on research question | 4-10 | Designers, developers as users, and facilitation |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Usability Issues, Severity List, Recommendations | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Prioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisions |
Tagsno overlap | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | ValidationUXPrototype | InnovationPrototypeResearch | ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks |