Affinity Mapping
Last updated
Last updated
Affinity diagramming refers to organizing related observations, ideas, concepts, or findings into distinct clusters.
Although affinity diagrams are typically used as part of the brainstorming process, they can also be used in other areas. They help teams improve their processes, create new and innovative solutions, reach a group consensus, and mediate any professional conflict.
Creating an affinity map starts by gathering the data you have. Collect all data from usability testing, moderated interviews, observations, surveys, support tickets, and so on. If you are working in a team, consult your team members they might have key insights about user behavior other than yours.
Always remember that one sticky note = one piece of information. Some users might comment on multiple issues at once, nevertheless, make sure to write the information down on the individual cards, so that you can sort them out. The goal is to get as many sticky notes as possible.
However, remember, the more information you write down, the longer it will take to sort them. This is why it’s important to be thorough in finding the balance between the time you spend and the amount of UX data you want to sort.
Grab a sticky note, read it, and pin it in one place. Take another note, read it, consult what already sorted notes it is related to and pin it close to or far from other notes accordingly. If you’re working in a group, give people a clear timeline and do this categorization together.
You should have 3-10 related groups you can name with common themes. Remember that you or your team should never decide on categories before the brainstorming session. Organize your notes first, and the topics should emerge organically.
Once the affinity diagram is complete, take stock of the themes emerging. You can give short descriptive names to the newly created categories.
This is the step when you and your team discuss what themes are crucial, what problems are defined and what issues should be solved with a priority. You may see a lot of notes accumulated under one theme, while the next theme has only a couple of notes. The topics with more mentions would usually be prioritized.
Prioritize and Manage Data: Before the workshop, sift through extensive data to highlight the most relevant information for your audience. To prevent session fatigue, consider breaking participants into smaller groups to handle more data efficiently.
Encourage Diverse Participation: Invite team members with varied perspectives, including outliers, to foster inclusive discussions and generate a comprehensive affinity diagram. Ensure everyone contributes equally by using divergent and convergent techniques and rotating discussion leadership roles.
Cluster Clearly and Naturally: When organizing sticky notes, focus on forming clear and concise clusters based on naturally occurring relationships. Avoid forcing ideas together and allow for organic grouping of similar thoughts or themes under distinct labels.
Stay Open to Adjustments: Be flexible with the organization of sticky notes. Embrace the fluid nature of the process by being receptive to reorganization based on team input. Duplicate sticky notes across clusters if they fit multiple categories to maintain clarity and completeness.
If you don’t want to use sticky notes, you can do affinity mapping digitally using a . With UXtweak it’s free and allows you to conduct X affinity mapping without having to deal with tons of paper cards. Moreover, you can involve anyone from all around the world, no need to gather your teammates in one room.
