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| Criterion |  UX Design Design Studio |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Innovation Brainstorming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 45–90 min | 30–60 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 4-8 | 4-12 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Sketches, Concept Directions, Design Decisions | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | SketchingCollaborationIdeation | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence |