Power mapping is a stakeholder analysis tool that visualises the relative influence and interest of the different people and organisations involved in or affected by a design challenge. Understanding who holds power, who is affected by decisions, and whose support is critical to implementation is essential for any project that must navigate an organisational or political landscape. Power mapping prevents the common failure mode where a beautifully designed solution never gets implemented because the wrong stakeholders were engaged, or not engaged at all.
Power Mapping
Understanding who influences decisions and how much
A
Designers Academy
22 July 2026 · 4 min read
UXMethods
In brief
Power mapping is a stakeholder analysis tool that visualises the influence and interest of various people and organisations involved in a design challenge, which helps plan effective engagement.
