Comparison Strategy: Triple Contrasts
Three-way comparisons can be a powerful method for ideation, providing a structured approach to making tacit knowledge explicit and revealing hidden attributes and distinctions that might otherwise remain implicit. This technique, which involves systematically comparing three related items across all possible pairings, is designed to help map underlying assumptions and tacit understanding about a domain.
To effectively use three-way comparisons, follow these steps:
- Select three related elements or concepts within the problem space.
- Compare each pair (item A vs. B, B vs. C, and A vs. C) to identify both similarities and differences.
- Articulate these findings explicitly, externalising tacit knowledge that might otherwise be assumed or overlooked.
- Use these emergent distinctions as a foundation for innovative ideation or design decisions.
This method differs from simple two-item comparisons by adding a third element, enabling more nuanced contrasts and a richer mapping of mental models and implicit assumptions. The cognitive act of expressing these contrasts helps clarify what is usually taken for granted and surfaces potentially overlooked design factors or user needs.
Three-way comparisons also facilitate convergent ideation by grounding exploration in concrete distinctions rather than vague notions. This clarity supports better communication among team members by externalising thought processes and allowing shared understanding and critique, which can improve collaboration during design or innovation efforts.
If you're interested in learning more about three-way comparisons as an ideation method, a free guide is available for download. You can access the guide through a secure form, and it can be used alone or in collaboration with others. The privacy of users is respected during the download process.
Additionally, a video is available to help you understand the three-way comparison process in more detail. The guide and video can serve as valuable tools during the ideation process, helping you to prevent falling back on pre-existing categories and concepts and to uncover fresh perspectives.
It's worth noting that over 317,000 designers reportedly enjoy the newsletter associated with the download, providing a testament to the guide's usefulness and popularity.
[1] Source for more information on three-way comparisons as an ideation method. [2] Source for the benefits of making tacit knowledge explicit using three-way comparisons. [3] Source for the role of three-way comparisons in facilitating convergent ideation.
- By applying three-way comparisons in UX design, designers can articulate user experience distinctions between three related UI designs, externalizing tacit knowledge and facilitating innovative design decisions.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, learning about technology and its role in UX design can be enriched by understanding how three-way comparisons can help reveal hidden attributes and distinctions among user needs, UI designs, and user experience, fostering a more nuanced and effective approach.
