An Affinity Diagram is a tool used to organise ideas, opinions, and issues into groupings or themes based on their natural relationships.The Affinity process is used in many fields, from marketing to UX, it is a recognised process in business settings and works well with teams of people to align team members. It can also be used independently to group together ideas generated by Brainstorming. The process starts with a problem statement. For this exercise you will start to identify:
What past experiences and skills will contribute to my future design practice?
The basic steps (adapted from the The Memory Jogger Plus) to create an Affinity Diagram are:
1. Generate ideas. This is the brainstorming process, it involves generating as many ideas as possible. In this case consider things that you have learned and skills you acquired which may both help and hinder your future design practice.
2. Display ideas. Use post-it notes on a large surface or a virtual white board to write down your ideas. You should be able to move each idea around independently.
3. Sort ideas into groups. Try to find similarities among the ideas, move the post-it notes or text boxes into groups.
4. Create headers. Look at each group and identify a word or phrase that captures the essential link or common theme among the ideas contained in a group. Write it down.
5. Draw your finished diagram. The final version of the diagram should clearly identify the themes or headers and include the problem statement. Typically the layout is arranged in columns under each header, like this:
Once you have completed your Affinity Diagram, reflect on the themes you have identified. Where you might need to further develop your skills?
Did any of the ideas or themes surprise you? How might you share the skills you identified with a potential employer or client? Would you be able to demonstrate in a CV or portfolio the skills and experiences you bring to a design project?
The Affinity process is a good way to encourage new patterns of thinking independently and with a team. What other problems might you be able to tackle with affinity diagrams?
Affinity Diagram: Skills and Experiences for Future Design Practice
Reflection
I’m looking to get better at coding and prototyping, and I also want to feel more confident explaining complex ideas to people who aren’t in design.
I’ll show this in my portfolio with real project work, behind-the-scenes process, and case studies. On my CV, I’ll highlight both soft and technical skills, with clear examples that show the impact I’ve made.
Maryam: OCA Graphic Design 