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Criterion
Software Architecture Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Software Architecture Canvas
Paper illustration of two people facing each other, speech bubbles and an open interview notebook.
UX Research
User Interviews
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Architecture Communication Canvas method illustration showing its working structure
Architecture
Architecture Communication Canvas
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.When teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible.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.The Architecture Communication Canvas plans architecture communication so the right people receive the right message. The method turns technical complexity into deliberate communication design.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowLowMedium
Timedifferent
1-2 h30–60 min per interview45–90 min60-120 min
Participantsdifferent
3-101 participant per interview3-102-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality AttributesInterview Notes, Themes, Insight SummaryTheme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areasCommunication Canvas, Stakeholder Messages, Architecture Communication Plan
Tagsno overlap
CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop
QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
ArchitectureCommunicationStakeholdersCanvas
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