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| Criterion |  Innovation Design Thinking |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Innovation Design Sprint |  Product Discovery Solution Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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 the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. | When a solution idea is already on the table, it checks how it is understood and evaluated. It looks for resonance, objections, and missing fit early in the conversation. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 20-45 min | 4-5 Tage | 30-60 min je Interview |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | Based on research question | 5-8 | 5-10 Interviews |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale | Solution Feedback, Objection List, Validation Notes |
Tagsno overlap | InnovationPrototypeResearch | Information architectureNavigationStructure | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation | ValidationInterviewsPrototype |