Affinity Diagramming: Themes are Claims, Not Topic Buckets

When grouping sticky notes, teams often fall into the Topic Bucket Trap:

• 'Search', 'Navigation', 'Account Settings'

Topic buckets organize nouns, but they generate zero insights. An insight is an explanatory claim about user behavior.

Transforming Buckets into Claims:

• Bucket: 'Billing' (Passive label, no decision power)
• Insight Claim: 'Freelancers delay upgrading because invoice terms are withheld until credit card entry.' (Clear cause, effect, and actionable design intervention).