What is the purpose of an affinity diagram in UX design?

The purpose of an affinity diagram in UX design is primarily to classify and analyze large ideas. This tool is instrumental in organizing diverse pieces of information, ideas, or feedback into meaningful groups. It helps designers and researchers to identify patterns, relationships, and themes among user insights, making it easier to derive actionable conclusions.

When multiple stakeholders or participants contribute various thoughts and observations, an affinity diagram supports the synthesis of these inputs by allowing teams to collaboratively categorize them. This structured approach leads to a clearer understanding of user needs, pain points, and preferences, which are critical for informing design decisions and enhancing user experiences.

In contrast, while gathering user feedback, developing marketing strategies, and conducting competitor analysis are important aspects of UX and product design, they do not represent the primary function of an affinity diagram. The focus here is more oriented toward the organization and interpretation of information rather than directly collecting user data or strategizing business aspects.