How to turn data chaos into design gold ??
Welcome back. Last week, tech creator MKBHD dropped his first app—and the internet went wild. Panels, a $12/month wallpaper subscription, had designers everywhere raising eyebrows. My take? MKBHD isn't out here claiming to reinvent the wheel—he's a top-tier consumer advocate who decided to build something. This app? It's what happens when we spend too much time thinking about product instead of shipping it...something designers certainly aren't immune to. So cut the criticism and chew on that—there's a lot we can learn from his mistake.
—Tommy (@DesignerTom)
The Wireframe:
Information Alchemy: Your guide to rapid sense-making
Picture this: You're redesigning an e-commerce app. You've got 50+ hours of user interviews, 1000+ support tickets, and enough heatmaps to wallpaper your office. Oh, and your presentation to the big bosses? It's in two days.
This is where the power of information organization shines. It's not just about keeping your files tidy. It's about:
To help you master the art of rapid sense-making, I've put together a mini-course called Information Alchemy (free for a limited time), packed with tips and tools to turn data chaos into design gold.
Today, we’re kickstarting your information architecture journey by exploring three key tools. Let’s get into it →
1. Affinity mapping: your messy data organizer
Affinity mapping is a lifesaver when you're drowning in unstructured info. It's perfect for making sense of those user interviews and support tickets—without losing your sanity.
Take the e-commerce app example. Here’s what you’d do:
Looking for an AI boost? Check out Miro’s Cluster by Keyword feature or Dovetail’s AI clustering.
2. Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs): how everything connects
ERDs are the unsung heroes of complex system design. When you’re trying to explain to developers how everything just magically “connects,” ERDs should be your go-to. Key components of an effective ERD include:
How to use it:
In our e-commerce example, an ERD could show you how Users, Products, and Orders all connect—here’s a great visual. You might realize you need to add a Payment entity, or that your Order entity is missing a crucial attribute for tracking.
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3. Quadrant diagrams: the "which fire do I put out first" tool
When everything seems important, quadrant diagrams help you figure out what actually deserves your time.
How to use a quadrant diagram for the e-commerce app:
Pro tip: The size of each dot can represent a third factor, like user complaints. Bigger dot = more complaints = probably fix it sooner.
The bottom line: These aren't just fancy diagrams—they're problem-solving power tools. In our e-commerce example, you could use affinity mapping to group user pain points, an ERD to gain a clear picture of the app structure, and a quadrant diagram to decide which fires to put out first. By mastering these techniques, you'll be able to:
Want to add more tricks to your information architecture toolkit? Check out the full Information Alchemy mini-course. This course is free for a limited time, including eight videos and a Notion workplace. You'll learn about more tools like flowcharts and Venn diagrams (not just for middle school math), and access a full database of more sense-making tools.
News, Tools, and Resources: Information Architecture
Got a great tool, podcast episode, idea, or something else? Hit reply and tell me what’s up.
Choosing the Right Sense-Making Tool
Choosing the right tool can feel overwhelming. Here's a simple framework I use:
A quick cheat sheet:
These tools are meant to aid your decision-making process, not replace it. Don't be afraid to combine tools or adapt them to your specific needs. The best tool is often the one that helps you and your team gain clarity and move forward.
Want to dive deeper into choosing and using these tools? Check out the full Information Alchemy mini-course for a comprehensive guide to rapid sense-making in design.
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Thanks for reading! What's your favorite tool for organizing info? Hit reply and let me know.
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