Affinity diagram
Affinity diagram is an ideation warm-up exercise for divergent ideation: it helps participants open up more possible ideas before choosing a direction.
How to run it
- Explain the goal of the diagram and how it helps organize ideas.
- Present the topic or guiding question that the group will analyze.
- Invite participants to write down ideas, problems, suggestions, or data related to the topic on sticky notes, one idea per note.
- Allow 5 to 10 minutes for participants to write as many ideas as possible.
- Participants place their notes on a common surface (whiteboard, wall, or large table).
- Work as a group to move the notes around and cluster them based on similarities or affinities.
- Encourage discussion and negotiation among participants if there are disagreements about note placements.
Run this exercise live
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What participants need now
Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Explain the goal of the diagram and how it helps organize ideas.
Present the topic or guiding question that the group will analyze.
Invite participants to write down ideas, problems, suggestions, or data related to the topic on sticky notes, one idea per note.
Allow 5 to 10 minutes for participants to write as many ideas as possible.
Participants place their notes on a common surface (whiteboard, wall, or large table).
Work as a group to move the notes around and cluster them based on similarities or affinities.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Affinity diagram. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Explain the goal of the diagram and how it helps organize ideas.; Present the topic or guiding question that the group will analyze.; Invite participants to write down ideas, problems, suggestions, or data related to the topic on sticky notes, one idea per note.; Allow 5 to 10 minutes for participants to write as many ideas as possible.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Participatory Methods; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Participatory Methods.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.