How can you create and test Information Architecture frameworks?

1 Choose your IA framework type

Different types of IA frameworks are available to serve different purposes and audiences. Sitemaps illustrate the hierarchical structure of pages and sections of a website or app, as well as how they are linked together. Content inventories and audits list and evaluate existing content and features, while wireframes display the layout and elements of a single page or screen. User flows show the sequence of steps and interactions required to complete a task or goal on a website or app. Depending on project scope, objectives, and stakeholders, you may need to use one or more of these IA frameworks to create and communicate your IA design.

2 Define your IA criteria and goals

Before you start creating your IA framework, you must define the criteria and goals that will guide your design decisions. These may include user needs and expectations, such as tasks and goals they want to accomplish on your website or app, how they prefer to find and access information and features, as well as their pain points and frustrations. Additionally, consider the main outcomes and benefits that your website or app aims to deliver for your business or organization, as well as the constraints and limitations that need to be considered. Moreover, think about the types, formats, and sources of content and functionality that you need to include on your website or app. To help you define your IA criteria and goals, you can use various research methods such as interviews, surveys, analytics, and competitor analysis.

3 Create your IA framework

Once you have established your IA criteria and goals, you can begin constructing your IA framework with the appropriate tools and methods. Card sorting, for example, is a technique where users sort and label cards that represent the content and functionality of a website or app into categories. Tree testing is another technique that tests how easy and intuitive an IA structure and labels are for users without any visual cues or navigation aids. Additionally, sketching and prototyping are methods that create low-fidelity or high-fidelity representations of wireframes and user flows to visualize and test an IA layout and elements. By using these techniques iteratively, based on your IA criteria and goals, as well as user feedback, you can create and refine your IA framework.

4 Test your IA framework

After you have created your IA framework, you need to test it with real or representative users to validate your design assumptions and identify any issues or opportunities for improvement. Various testing methods can be used, such as usability testing, A/B testing, and heuristic evaluation. Usability testing involves observing and interviewing users as they perform realistic tasks or scenarios on your website or app. A/B testing compares two or more versions of your website or app, with different IA designs. Heuristic evaluation reviews and rates your website or app using a set of established usability principles or best practices. These testing methods can be used to collect data and feedback that will help you improve your IA design quantitatively and qualitatively.

5 Communicate your IA framework

Finally, to ensure that your IA design meets the expectations and requirements of your stakeholders, you need to communicate your IA framework. You can use various communication methods for this, such as creating and sharing written or visual documents that describe and illustrate your IA design, creating and delivering presentations that showcase and explain your IA design, or involving and consulting your stakeholders throughout the process. Doing so will help you provide clear and consistent information, engage and persuade your stakeholders, build trust and rapport with them, and incorporate their feedback into your IA design.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?