What Is Affinity Mapping? Affinity mapping—also known as affinity diagramming—is a powerful technique for synthesizing large volumes of qualitative data into actionable insights. Used in UX research, design thinking, agile retrospectives, and customer feedback analysis, this method transforms sticky notes and scattered ideas into structured themes that fuel innovation.
Affinity mapping in UX brings structure to qualitative research, transforming raw observations into cohesive themes. It fuels actionable insights by clustering related observations, ideas, or pain points. This guide walks through core concepts, workflows, and tools, from basic affinity diagram UX to best practices.
In project management, especially within the PMP® methodology, organizing stakeholder input, requirements, and risks is critical for effective planning. An affinity diagram in PMP helps project managers visually cluster large volumes of qualitative data, revealing natural relationships and guiding strategic decisions.
When teams are flooded with ideas, data, or feedback, it’s easy to lose clarity. That’s where Affinity Diagram Examples come in handy. These visual tools help you organize information into logical groups, making it easier to identify patterns, prioritize tasks, and drive decisions.
Drowning in sticky notes after a brainstorming session? Struggling to make sense of scattered ideas or conflicting feedback? That’s where an affinity diagram comes in. Also known as an affinity map or the K-J method, this simple yet powerful visual tool helps you group related ideas, uncover patterns, and bring structure to messy information. In this guide, you’ll learn what an affinity diagram is, how to create one from scratch, and when to use an affinity diagram to improve collaboration and decision-making. We’ll also walk you through real-world affinity diagram examples, share expert tips, and give you access to free templates so you can start organizing your thoughts more strategically.