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Selected:Concept MappingARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs)Affinity DiagrammingEmpathy Mapping
| Criterion |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  Architecture ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs) |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | 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. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional | 45–90 min | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | Designers, developers as users, and facilitation | 3-10 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Prioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisions | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |