How do you design mobile-friendly information architecture and data visualization?

1 Know your users and goals

The first step in designing mobile-friendly IA and data visualization is to understand your users and their goals. Who are they, what are they looking for, and how do they interact with your app or website? You can use user research methods, such as interviews, surveys, personas, and scenarios, to gather insights about your users' needs, preferences, and behaviors. You can also use analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to track and measure your users' actions and outcomes. Based on your user research and analytics, you can define your IA and data visualization goals, such as increasing engagement, retention, conversion, or satisfaction.

2 Simplify and prioritize your content

The next step is to simplify and prioritize your content, based on your users and goals. Mobile devices have limited screen space and bandwidth, so you need to be selective and concise with your content. You can use content audits, inventories, and analysis to evaluate your existing content and identify gaps, overlaps, and redundancies. You can also use card sorting, tree testing, and sitemaps to create and test your content categories and hierarchies. You should prioritize your content according to your users' tasks and expectations, and use clear and consistent labels, headings, and navigation.

3 Choose the right data visualization type and format

The third step is to choose the right data visualization type and format, based on your data and goals. There are many types of data visualization, such as charts, graphs, maps, tables, and dashboards, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. You should choose the type that best suits your data type, such as quantitative, categorical, or temporal, and your data purpose, such as comparison, correlation, distribution, or trend. You should also choose the format that best fits your mobile device, such as responsive, adaptive, or fluid. You should avoid clutter, distortion, and ambiguity in your data visualization, and use appropriate colors, fonts, and symbols.

4 Optimize your layout and interaction

The fourth step is to optimize your layout and interaction, based on your IA and data visualization. You should design your layout to be intuitive, consistent, and accessible, following the mobile design guidelines and patterns of your platform, such as iOS or Android. You should also design your interaction to be user-friendly, responsive, and engaging, following the mobile interaction principles and gestures, such as tap, swipe, pinch, and zoom. You should test your layout and interaction with your users, using prototypes, wireframes, and mockups, and collect feedback and suggestions.

5 Evaluate and iterate your design

The final step is to evaluate and iterate your design, based on your users and goals. You should measure your design performance and impact, using metrics, such as usability, satisfaction, retention, conversion, and loyalty. You should also compare your design with your competitors and benchmarks, using methods, such as heuristic evaluation, expert review, and competitive analysis. You should identify your design strengths and weaknesses, and make improvements and changes based on your findings and insights. You should repeat this process until you achieve your desired results and outcomes.

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?