What is Card Sorting?
ELI5 — The Simple Version
Think of a toy store asking you to organize their shelves. They give you a bunch of toy cards, each showing a different toy, and ask you to group them in ways that make sense to you. Maybe you put all the cars together, or group the dolls separately. This is card sorting! It's a way for website designers to understand how people naturally sort information. By doing this, they can create menus and navigation bars that feel easy to use. Now, imagine the store uses your organized layout. Customers find toys faster because the shelves match how they think. That's what card sorting aims for — making website navigation as easy as finding your favorite toy. When websites are simpler to use, people spend more time on them and are more likely to buy something or sign up for a newsletter. So, why does this matter? Because when websites fit your way of thinking, it feels like they were made just for you. This makes you more likely to stay, explore, and maybe even tell your friends about it!
Technical Deep Dive
Definition
Card sorting is a user experience (UX) research technique where participants group individual information items into categories. This informs decisions about website navigation, content hierarchy, and information architecture.
How It Works
- 1.Preparation: Identify the content or features needing categorization. Create cards (physical or digital) representing each item.
- 2.Execution: Select participants who represent the target audience. Ask them to sort cards into groups that make sense to them.
- 3.Analysis: Evaluate the results to identify patterns or common categories. Use this data to enhance the website's structure.
Key Characteristics
- User-Centric: Focuses on how real users categorize information.
- Flexible: Can be conducted in-person with physical cards or online with tools like Optimal Workshop.
- Qualitative Data: Provides insights into user thought processes and preferences.
Comparison
| Technique | Purpose | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Card Sorting | Organize content by user logic | Optimal Workshop |
| Tree Testing | Test existing navigation | Treejack |
| A/B Testing | Compare variants for effectiveness | Google Optimize |
Real-World Example
A case study by Mailchimp showed that card sorting improved their dashboard navigation, leading to a 20% increase in user satisfaction and easier access to key features.
Best Practices
- Diverse Participants: Include varied demographics for broader insights.
- Clear Instructions: Ensure participants understand the task and its purpose.
- Multiple Iterations: Conduct several rounds to confirm findings.
Common Misconceptions
- Only for Large Sites: Useful for any size website, even single-page applications.
- One-Time Activity: Should be revisited as content and user behavior evolve.
- Exact Science: It's exploratory, providing guidance rather than definitive answers.