How can you document Information Architecture effectively?

1 Why document IA?

IA documentation is essential for the design process as it can help you to clarify your thinking, share your vision, solicit feedback, test and evaluate, and document decisions and changes. It can also provide a valuable resource for future reference and maintenance. By documenting your IA choices, you are able to communicate your strategy with your team, clients, or users in order to gain insight on how to improve it. Additionally, you can use real users and data to test and evaluate your IA decisions.

2 What to document in IA?

Creating IA documentation is dependent on the scope, complexity, and goals of your project. Common types of IA documentation include sitemaps, which help define the main navigation, categories, and subcategories of your content, and content inventories, which capture the metadata, attributes, and status of each piece of content in your website or app. Content models define the content types, fields, and rules for a CMS while user flows show how users move through your website or app to achieve their goals. Wireframes are low-fidelity sketches or mockups that demonstrate the layout and elements of each page or screen in your website or app. All these documents can help you design an optimal experience for users.

3 How to document IA?

Documenting your IA requires the right tools and methods to get the job done. You can opt for paper and pencil, which is the simplest and cheapest way to document your IA, particularly in the early stages of your design process. Digital tools such as Visio, Sketch, Figma, Axure, Miro, and Lucidchart offer more features and flexibility compared to paper and pencil. But these tools may require more time, money, and learning. Code is the most technical and advanced way to document your IA for complex websites or apps. This method can help you validate your IA with real users and data but requires more skills, resources, and maintenance.

4 When to document IA?

IA documentation is not a one-time activity, but an ongoing and cyclical process that adapts with your design. You should document your IA throughout the different stages of your design process, such as the Discovery phase where you research and understand the needs, goals, and context of your users and stakeholders; the Definition phase where you define and plan the scope, strategy, and structure of your website or app; the Design phase where you design and prototype the interface and interaction of your website or app; the Development phase where you implement and launch your website or app; and the Evaluation phase where you test and measure the performance and usability of your website or app. To document your IA, create personas, scenarios, user stories, user journeys, sitemaps, content inventories, content models, user flows, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, code, style guides, documentation, analytics, feedback, and reports.

5 How to improve your IA documentation?

IA documentation is not only a way to record your IA, but also a way to communicate and collaborate with others. To ensure your IA documentation is clear, concise, consistent, and comprehensive, use common and standard terminology and symbols that are familiar and understandable to your audience. Labels and annotations should explain the purpose and meaning of your IA components and elements. Additionally, use colors, fonts, and styles that are appropriate and consistent with your brand and design guidelines. Furthermore, use formats and tools that are compatible and accessible with your platforms and devices. Lastly, include references and sources that support your IA decisions and changes as well as feedback and reviews to help refine and improve your IA documentation. Ultimately, by following these tips you can create user-friendly digital products that meet your design goals efficiently.

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?