Last month’s newsletter mentioned information architecture but not the ways to improve it. To re-cap Information Architecture is the way in which information environments are designed for online communities and how software is used to support usability and findability. This is an often-overlooked feature even though it affects the way users interact with your site.
This blog will cover the card sorting technique in information architecture.
Organising your Site
Organising content can be difficult and thinking of how to group posts can be impossible without knowing what your customers want. For example where should the FAQs be on the website?
When designing the layout of your site it is important to think about how to make it easier for customers, especially for e-commerce sites, as this will lead to more purchases and users will be able to find your products easily.
Card sorting
is a method used in the design and evaluation of information architecture of a site. It involves participants putting topics they feel go together into distinct categories. The result is a layout for your site which users have told you they find the easiest.
A successful card sort will improve the labelling, grouping and organisation of information.
Card sorting sessions are classified in one of two ways – open or closed. Open card sorts is the more flexible of the two; users are free to organise cards you supply into groups that make sense to them whereas closed card sorts are where participants sort topics into pre-defined categories.
If you were doing an in-depth card sort then using a combination of the two different card sorts would be the best way.
Most sessions will be one on one with an observer. Participants think aloud while sorting to give a clearer picture of their reactions and thought processes.
Conducting the card sort
Create a list of content topics that are on your site or if designing for a new site, will be content topics. The next step is to decide whether to do the card-sort face-to-face or using online card-sorting software.
Set-up the session: a good estimate is an hour long however it may take longer if you have many cards. The sessions must be with a facilitator to make notes as the participant does the task.
To start, state the aims of the session and show the participants the cards. Explainto them how the session will work based on whether it is an open or closed card sort.
Make sure whilst they are card sorting that they are thinking out loud, you want to understand the participant’s motives for putting some categories.
If at the end there are still too many groups of cards, ask the participant if some groups could be combined.
Analysing the card sorts
To analyse the data from both the qualitative and quantitative side make a list of the participant’s thoughts and how often cards appear in specific categories.
The result of this is to pull together the findings in a report to share with a team and stakeholders.
One tip is to allow participants to rename the cards or even make their own suggestions for new ones. This will show you if you have missed out any part of the process which the user thinks is important.
How Eldingo can help
Eldingo runs Information Architecture UX training course which will improve your techniques for evaluating information architecture. The course features an introduction to information architecture, card sorting, finding and recruiting participants, face-to-face and online card sorts, how to analyse the card sorts and how best to present findings in a report.
