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Criterion
Empathy Mapping
UX Research
Empathy Mapping
Paper illustration of an eight-panel idea sheet with varied sketches beside a timer set to eight minutes.
Innovation
Crazy 8s
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Purposedifferent
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.With only a few minutes available and a still-fuzzy solution search, the method forces a wide range of variants. It produces fast sketches before the first idea can settle in, making different directions directly comparable and open to further development.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 central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem.
Complexitysame
LowLowLowLow
Timedifferent
30–60 min8-15 min45–90 min45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
4-81-103-103-10
Formatsame
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research GapsSketch Set, Idea Shortlist, Direction OptionsTheme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasLotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop
BrainstormingSketchingSpeedDivergenceDesign sprint
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop
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