Design Strategy and Software

🎨Design Strategy and Software Unit 3 – Information Architecture & User Flows

Information Architecture (IA) and User Flows are crucial for creating intuitive digital experiences. IA focuses on organizing and structuring content effectively, while User Flows map out the paths users take to complete tasks within a system. These concepts help designers create logical, user-friendly interfaces. By understanding IA principles and mapping user journeys, designers can identify pain points, improve navigation, and ultimately enhance the overall user experience.

What's Information Architecture?

  • Organizing, structuring, and labeling content in an effective and sustainable way
  • Focuses on arranging the parts of something to be understandable
  • Combines principles of design, architecture and information science
  • Helps users find information and complete tasks
  • Encompasses different taxonomies, metadata schemas and categorization
  • Involves creating site maps, hierarchies, categorizations, navigation, and metadata
  • Ensures content is findable and understandable

Key Principles of IA

  • The principle of objects (content should be treated as a living, breathing thing with a lifecycle, behaviors, and attributes)
  • The principle of choices (less is more - keep the number of choices to a minimum)
  • The principle of disclosure (show only enough information to help people understand what kinds of information they'll find as they dig deeper)
  • The principle of exemplars (describe the contents of categories by showing examples of the contents)
  • The principle of front doors (assume at least half of the website's visitors will come through some page other than the home page)
    • Ensure each page has the right context and navigation options
  • The principle of multiple classification (offer users several different classification schemes to browse the site's content)
  • The principle of focused navigation (don't mix apples and oranges in your navigation scheme)

User Flow Basics

  • A user flow is the path a user follows through an application or website
  • It's a diagram showing the steps a user takes to complete a task
  • User flows help designers understand how users will navigate through a system
  • They are useful for identifying potential pain points or areas of confusion
  • User flows should be created early in the design process
    • Can be refined as more information about users and their needs is gathered
  • They typically include the entry point, steps the user takes, and the final interaction or goal
  • Different shapes or symbols are used to represent different types of actions or steps

Mapping User Journeys

  • A user journey map is a visualization of the process that a user goes through to accomplish a goal
  • It's a more holistic view of the user's experience, beyond just a single task or flow
  • Journey maps include the user's emotions, motivations, and questions throughout the experience
  • They often incorporate storytelling to create a narrative around the user's experience
  • Key elements include personas, timeline, emotion, touchpoints, and channels
  • Helps identify gaps or pain points in the current experience
    • Provides insights into opportunities for improvement
  • Journey maps are created collaboratively with cross-functional teams
  • They should be based on user research and data, not assumptions

IA Tools and Techniques

  • Card sorting (a method used to help design or evaluate the information architecture of a site)
    • Participants organize topics into categories that make sense to them
    • Helps reveal how users think about and categorize information
  • Tree testing (a way to evaluate a proposed site structure by asking users to find items based on the structure)
    • Helps identify where users get lost or confused in a site's navigation
  • Wireframing (a visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website or application)
    • Focuses on space allocation, prioritization of content, functionalities, and behaviors
  • Sitemaps (a hierarchical diagram showing the structure of a website or application)
    • Provides a bird's eye view of the site's organization and navigation
  • Taxonomies (a system of classification)
    • Used to organize and categorize content in a logical way
  • Metadata (data that describes other data)
    • Helps with content findability and organization

Creating Effective Wireframes

  • Start with low-fidelity sketches before moving to digital wireframes
  • Focus on layout, not visual design
  • Use placeholders for images and content
  • Annotate wireframes to explain functionality or interactions
  • Create wireframes for key pages or screens
    • Home page, main navigation pages, key landing pages, etc.
  • Use consistent conventions and labeling throughout the wireframes
  • Get feedback from stakeholders and iterate based on input
  • Use wireframes to test and validate IA and navigation with users
    • Can be done through usability testing or click-through prototypes

Testing and Refining IA

  • Usability testing (evaluating a product or service by testing it with representative users)
    • Can be done on wireframes, prototypes, or live sites
    • Helps identify issues with IA, navigation, and overall user experience
  • A/B testing (comparing two versions of a web page to see which one performs better)
    • Can be used to test different IA or navigation approaches
  • Analytics (analyzing user behavior and site usage data)
    • Can reveal patterns and insights about how users navigate and interact with a site
  • User feedback (collecting input from users through surveys, interviews, or other methods)
    • Provides qualitative insights to complement quantitative data
  • Iterative refinement (making continuous improvements based on testing and feedback)
    • IA should be treated as a living, evolving system

Real-World IA Examples

  • E-commerce sites (Amazon, eBay)
    • Complex IA with many categories, filters, and search options
    • Focus on helping users find and purchase products efficiently
  • News sites (New York Times, BBC)
    • IA organized around topics, sections, and content types
    • Emphasis on discoverability and engagement
  • Government sites (USA.gov, GOV.UK)
    • IA designed to help citizens find information and services
    • Focus on clear labeling and task-oriented navigation
  • Educational sites (Khan Academy, Coursera)
    • IA structured around learning paths, subjects, and skill levels
    • Aim to support self-directed learning and progression
  • Social media sites (Facebook, LinkedIn)
    • IA centered on user profiles, connections, and content feeds
    • Designed to facilitate sharing, interaction, and community-building


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
Glossary
Glossary