methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Paper illustration of Starbursting with its method-specific working model.
Innovation
Starbursting
Design sheets and interface cards connect to jointly written pseudocode with highlighted unresolved questions.
Architecture
ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs)
Paper illustration for Risk Storming.
Architecture
Risk Storming
Purposedifferent
Helps clarify ideas, open questions, and testable next steps in concrete terms. It opens the thinking space, collects ideas, and leads to testable options. The result is captured as a star-shaped question map, question list, and assumption list.ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification.Helps clarify architecture context, options, and consequences in concrete terms. It organizes technical context, alternatives, and consequences. The result is captured as an Annotated Diagram, a Prioritized Risk List, and an Action Backlog.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
30-60 min2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional60-90 min
Participantsdifferent
3-10Designers, developers as users, and facilitation4-12
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Star-Shaped Question Map, Question List, Assumption ListPrioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisionsAnnotated Diagram, Prioritized Risk List, Action Backlog
Tagsno overlap
BrainstormingIdeationWorkshopDiscovery
ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks
RiskArchitectureWorkshopValidation
Add more methods

Often compared together

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

A paper-based illustration representing Brainstorming with its core stages and visible working result.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Paper illustration of Design Charrette with its method-specific working model.
Innovation
Design Charrette
Paper illustration of the Lotus Blossom working structure.
Innovation
Lotus Blossom
Paper illustration for Reverse Brainstorming
Innovation
Reverse Brainstorming