How do you test your information architecture for diverse users?

1 Define your user segments

The first step to test your IA for diverse users is to define who your users are and what characteristics, behaviors, and goals they have. You can use user research methods such as surveys, interviews, personas, and user journeys to gather data and insights about your target audience. You should also consider the accessibility requirements and standards for your website or application, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and how they affect your IA design.

2 Choose your testing methods

The next step is to choose the most appropriate testing methods for your IA and your user segments. There are different types of testing methods, such as card sorting, tree testing, reverse card sorting, and first-click testing, that can help you evaluate how well your users understand and navigate your IA. You should select the methods that match your research questions, budget, time, and resources. You should also consider how to recruit and incentivize your participants, how to design and conduct your tests, and how to analyze and report your results.

3 Adapt your testing materials

The third step is to adapt your testing materials to suit your diverse user segments. This means that you should use clear and consistent language, labels, and categories that reflect your users' mental models and expectations. You should also use appropriate formats, tools, and platforms that are accessible and usable for your users, especially those with disabilities or different devices. For example, you can use online tools that allow you to create and share interactive prototypes, or use screen readers, captions, or translations for users with visual or auditory impairments or different languages.

4 Conduct your testing sessions

The fourth step is to conduct your testing sessions with your user segments and collect feedback and data. You should follow the best practices for user testing, such as preparing your test script, setting up your test environment, moderating your sessions, and recording your observations. You should also be respectful, empathetic, and attentive to your users' needs, preferences, and emotions. You should ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and avoid leading or influencing your users' responses.

5 Analyze your testing results

The fifth step is to analyze your testing results and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your IA. You should use quantitative and qualitative methods to measure and interpret your data, such as calculating success rates, task completion times, satisfaction scores, or error rates, or coding and categorizing user comments, feedback, or suggestions. You should also compare and contrast your results across your user segments and look for patterns, trends, or outliers that indicate how your IA performs for different users.

6 Iterate and improve your IA

The final step is to iterate and improve your IA based on your testing results and user feedback. You should prioritize the most critical issues and opportunities for improvement and make changes to your IA design accordingly. You should also test your IA again with your user segments and evaluate the impact of your changes. You should repeat this process until you reach a satisfactory level of usability and accessibility for your diverse users.

7 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?