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Criterion
Software Architecture Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Software Architecture Canvas
Paper illustration of two considered options leading to a decision record with a marked status and visible consequences.
Architecture
Architecture Decision Record
A paper-based illustration representing Brainstorming with its core stages and visible working result.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Purposedifferent
The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly.An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable.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.
Complexitysame
LowLowLow
Timedifferent
1-2 h15-45 min30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
3-101-34-12
Formatdifferent
WorkshopAsyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality AttributesADR File, Decision Log, RationaleIdea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist
Tagsno overlap
CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop
ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance
BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Architecture Inception Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Inception Canvas
Paper illustration of Design Charrette with its method-specific working model.
Innovation
Design Charrette
Paper illustration of Rapid Ideation with its method-specific working model.
Innovation
Rapid Ideation