User-Based Development of Information Architecture

When the navigation structure and information architecture of websites or intranet sites are being developed or re-developed, often a site structure is designed on the basis of experience values and background knowledge about the target group with the assumption that this matches the users' thought patterns. However, the actual user perspective is often ignored, which is why the website does not reach its full potential in terms of users being able to find content and, with sales-oriented sites, also in regard to the number of product sales.

Facit digital offers a "User-Generated Structure" approach, which is an efficient way of integrating users and customers into the development of a website's information architecture in order to adapt the sitemap ideally to their needs.

Check out the card sorting tool demo.

From a methodological aspect it is so-called online card sorting, in which users have to sort and group the content of the website and can also name the groups that are formed. Using a cluster-analytical evaluation of a large sample of users the optimum grouping is determined statistically and is then digitally analyzed, interpreted, and discussed in detail by the user-experience experts at FACIT Digital.
The structure that is formed is then discussed and finalized within the scope of a workshop together with the people responsible for the website, product managers, information architects and the FACIT Digital user-experience experts. This avoids long drawn-out discussions about the ideal website structure and the focus is placed on integrating technical and strategic requirements.

Benefits

• Empirical basis for the information architecture
• Quick implementation, results can be delivered in just a few days
• Large sample is possible (compared to face-to-face interviews)
• Results are more reliable and less prone to errors than traditional card sorting
• User integration right from the outset, participation is rated very positively.

How FACIT Digital supports you

Based on your conceptual interests we advise you on the optimum use of the method and help you compile the list of contents. We carry out the survey and analyze, interpret, and document the results in an easy to understand report. If you require, we will organize a workshop in your company to present and discuss the results with everyone who is involved in the project.

Results

• Comprehensive report with graphic preparation and interpretation of the results and recommendations for action
• Development of several proposals to implement the navigation structure or information architecture

Further Services: Usability Test - Concept test - Web Innovation Monitor - Competition Analysis