What Is an Affinity Diagram?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Considered one of the seven new management and planning tools, an affinity diagram helps you organize ideas and data into natural and meaningful relationships.

[Featured image] A UX designer is researching affinity diagrams on their laptop while holding a mug.

Key takeaways

  • An affinity diagram is a visual tool that organizes ideas into natural and meaningful relationships after a brainstorming session.

  • A finished affinity diagram example typically consists of columns with headings, with ideas placed beneath each heading.

  • You can take several steps to create an affinity diagram, such as forming your team, designating a facilitator, gathering supplies, brainstorming individually, organizing ideas, and identifying solutions.

While an affinity diagram helps you organize ideas and reveal patterns or key insights, a fishbone diagram traces the root cause of a problem. In the following article, you can discover more about an affinity diagram, including what it is and the steps for creating one. If you’re ready to begin a career in the field of design, enroll in the Google UX Design Professional Certificate. In as little as six months, you can learn about design thinking, usability testing, wireframing, Figma (design software), and more.

What is an affinity diagram?

An affinity diagram, sometimes called an affinity map or affinity chart, is a tool that organizes ideas into natural and meaningful relationships after a brainstorming session. The finished product usually resembles a group of columns with headings and ideas placed beneath each one.

An affinity diagram can lead to several beneficial outcomes. It may encourage conversation and team collaboration, provide a creative way to present information, and help find new solutions to complex problems. Affinity diagrams can also help you analyze large amounts of data, get organized, and visualize information.

Read more: Glossary of UX Terms and Definitions Glossary

Affinity diagram vs. fishbone diagram: How do they differ?

An affinity diagram helps you organize ideas, revealing patterns or key insights. A fishbone diagram, on the other hand, traces the root cause of a problem. The fishbone diagram typically serves as the next step to analyze issues highlighted by the affinity diagram.

How to create an affinity diagram

Any team that needs to organize large amounts of data can benefit from using affinity diagrams. To create an affinity diagram, follow these steps:

1. Gather your team.

When creating an affinity diagram, start by gathering a diverse team. Consider inviting people with unique backgrounds or working in different departments to provide new perspectives.

2. Designate a facilitator.

Next, choose a facilitator. This should be someone who is a good leader and communicator to help guide the affinity diagram creation process.

3. Gather your supplies.

Find a meeting place free from distractions for your team, and make sure everyone has supplies such as a pen and index cards or sticky notes.

4. Brainstorm individually.

Once you've prepared for the process, your team can begin. Everyone should write down single ideas on their cards or sticky notes. They may also write other information like facts, drawings, quotes, or anything else that might affect the project.

5. Organize the ideas.

Once everyone finishes brainstorming, gather all of the notes or cards and place them in one area. Draw one at a time and begin to form groups, placing the ideas in related groups. This is your affinity diagram. As you draw each card, ask how it relates to the previous one. If it is related, it can go into the same group. If not, you'll start a new group on the diagram.

6. Find solutions.

Once you've added all of the cards or notes, your team can engage in a discussion about each group. This can lead to actionable solutions to the problem that brought you to this process in the first place.

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