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| Criterion |  UX Research Customer Journey Mapping |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Innovation Crazy 8s |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a user journey falls apart across many touchpoints, customer journey mapping makes the experience visible as a coherent arc. Phases, emotions, and breaks become legible enough to prioritize critical moments deliberately. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 30–60 min | 8-15 min | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 4-8 | 1-10 | 3-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Journey Map, Pain-point List, Opportunity Backlog | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Sketch Set, Idea Shortlist, Direction Options | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | JourneyServiceService design | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | BrainstormingSketchingSpeedDivergenceDesign sprint | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |