Information architecture acts as a guide for users, helping them to navigate through complex information. It is essential for creating a website and digital products that are easy to use, accessible and engaging for users.
Problem: Confusion, frustration, bad user experience
One of the key challenges in designing effective information architecture is organizing and structuring information in a way that is intuitive, accessible, and meaningful for users. Poor information architecture can result in confusion, frustration, and difficulties in finding the desired information. It can lead to a negative user experience, reduced engagement, and a loss of potential conversions or interactions.
Solution: IA is users compass and guide
A well-designed information architecture facilitates efficient navigation, encourages user engagement, and increases overall satisfaction with the digital experience. It enhances user experience, improves findability, and supports users in achieving user and business goals.
Checklist
Define what’s applicable to the project
- Business context
- Categories and content tags
- User journeys
- Search functionality
- Information hierarchy
- Site map
Process
- 1. Understand the business context
- What are the business goals? What is the value proposition? Who is the customer? How will success be measured?
- 2. Understand users
- What information do they look for? Where do they look for it? How do they look for it?
- 3. Understand the content
- Tag and categorise content
- 4. Define user journeys and content hierarchy
- Map out the steps that a user takes to complete user and business goals
- Organise and arrange content according to priorities and content importancy
- 5. Define the search functionality
- Provide users with a quick and easy way to find the information they need on a website or application with positive user experience.
- 6. Design the navigation
Takeaways
- Understand content organisation
- Understand content tags and categories
- Understand search functionality and features
- Have clarity about user journeys content hierarchy
- Understand search functionality and features
- Understanding the path users take to accomplish tasks
Books
- Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug