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| Criterion |  Product Discovery Context Canvas |  UX Design Design Studio |  Architecture C4 Model |  Architecture Architecture Inception Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When an environment of users, systems, and constraints is hard to grasp, it puts the context compactly on the table. It creates a clear reading of influence, boundary, and dependency. | When several designs need to be quickly put in relation to each other, it makes ideas visible and comparable. It encourages early variants instead of long upfront debates. | 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 Architecture Inception Canvas bundles the first architecture questions into a compact decision picture. It fits when an initiative is still in motion but still needs clear guardrails. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | 1-4 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-8 | 1-5 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Context canvas, Open questions, Shared context notes | Sketches, Concept Directions, Design Decisions | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Inception Canvas, Risks, Goal List, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | ContextFramingRequirementsCanvas | SketchingCollaborationIdeation | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | AlignmentArchitectureCanvas |