Information architecture
Information architecture is the process of organising and structuring information to create a coherent and intuitive system that enables users to find and navigate content easily.
Information architecture is a foundational component of user-centred design. It shapes how users interact with a website and involves thoughtful planning and testing to ensure that the website’s information is presented in a meaningful and usable way.
Introduction to Information Architecture
Information architecture plays a critical role in creating an accessible, user-friendly and organised digital experience that enhances user engagement and aligns with business goals.
What is information architecture and why is it important?
Effective information architecture enhances user satisfaction by enabling users to find information quickly and easily, reducing their cognitive load and, therefore, leading to better user engagement.
The role of Information Architecture
Information architecture plays a critical role in creating an accessible, user-friendly and organised digital experience that enhances user engagement and aligns with business goals. Information Architecture supports efficient content management, fosters seamless navigation, and ultimately contributes to the overall success of the website or digital product.
Benefits of effective information architecture
Effective information architecture supports business objectives by aligning a website’s structure with user needs and goals and improves content management and maintenance processes for website administrators. Since well-structured website content is easier for search engines to index and rank, effective information architecture also contributes to search engine optimisation (SEO) efforts.
Supporting your users' needs
Increases conversion rates
Facilitates faster onboarding
Increases website usability
The stages of effective information architecture
Stage 1: Defining objectives
The initial stage looks to understand what the organisation is looking to achieve and combines this with the objectives of the users.
Stage 2: Mapping and reviewing existing architecture
The existing information architecture should be mapped, and relevant data collected on how effective the existing approach is.
Stage 3: Gathering content that will be required in the target information architecture
At this stage, information should be gathered on new content or fictional areas.
Stage 4: Group content
Content is sorted into logical groups, typically done via a card-sorting exercise.
Stage 5: Map new IA and refine terminology
Stage five covers documenting the proposed IA, it should be a conclusion of the stages before and include recommendations on terminology and naming that will make the most sense to users.
Stage 6
The proposed IA should be tested with real users via a tree test exercise. Tree testing is a way of evaluating a proposed site structure by asking users to find items based on the proposed IA.
What’s included
A detailed mapping of the overall structure of the website will be created, this will take the form of a ‘tree diagram’ outlining the navigation and labelling of all pages. The information architecture will then be presented to the client, where feedback will be provided, and recommendations will be implemented.
Why choose Make it Clear
At Make it Clear, we take an evidence-based approach to everything we do. Understanding your organisation, audiences, and the context in which they interact is paramount to the way we work and deliver a best-in-class user experience.
