Information Architecture
Table of Contents
Overview
Information Architecture creates logical structures that help users find and understand information easily.
When to Use
- Website or app redesign
- Large information spaces (documentation, e-commerce)
- Navigation structure planning
- Taxonomy and categorization
- Search functionality design
- User journey mapping
Quick Start
Minimal working example:
IA Process:
1. Research & Discovery
- Interview users about mental models
- Card sorting sessions (open and closed)
- Analyze current usage patterns
- Competitive analysis
2. Structure Development
- Create organization scheme (hierarchical, faceted, etc.)
- Define categories and relationships
- Build taxonomy
- Plan navigation
3. Wireframing
- Sitemap creation
- Navigation structure
- Page templates
- User flows
4. Validation
- User testing with prototypes
- Tree testing (navigation only)
- Iterate based on feedback
// ... (see reference guides for full implementation)Reference Guides
Detailed implementations in the references/ directory:
| Guide | Contents |
|---|---|
| Card Sorting & Taxonomy | Card Sorting & Taxonomy |
| Sitemap & Navigation Structure | Sitemap & Navigation Structure |
| Search & Discovery | Search & Discovery |
Best Practices
✅ DO
- Start with user research
- Conduct card sorting studies
- Use user mental models
- Keep hierarchy 3 levels deep max
- Use clear, simple labels
- Enable multiple ways to find content
- Test navigation with users
- Update based on usage data
- Document taxonomy
- Provide search functionality
❌ DON'T
- Impose organizational structure without research
- Use jargon or technical terms
- Make hierarchy too deep
- Bury important content
- Rely only on navigation (provide search)
- Change navigation frequently
- Create ambiguous labels
- Forget about edge cases
- Ignore accessibility
- Assume desktop-only navigation