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| Criterion |  Innovation Design Thinking |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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 content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | 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 | High | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 45–90 min | 20-45 min | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 3-10 | Based on research question | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | InnovationPrototypeResearch | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Information architectureNavigationStructure | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |