Affinity diagram

Affinity diagrams are a taxonomy ideation tool, often performed as a card sort variation. Brainstormed or predefined concepts are arranged by similarity, either shared concepts or within a range. Typically multiple versions are created until a user-friendly grouping appears that can be adapted to site information design (navigation, etc.).

Example group options:

• Sections within a range of a shared characteristic. For example, clothes can be grouped by size, kind (tops, bottoms, outerwear); places can be grouped by state, or temperature zone, or population density.
• Shared characteristics not shared by the entire set can also determine groups. For example, a set of animals might be sorted by phylum, class, order, etc., or domesticated vs. wild.