What is it?

Card sorting is a design method for increasing a system’s findability. The process involves sorting a series of cards, each labeled with a piece of content or functionality, into groups that make sense to users or participants. It’s a method for finding patterns in how users would expect to find content or functionality.

Card sorting generates an overall structure for your information, as well as suggestions for navigation, menus, and possible taxonomies (classications).

Who uses it?

Information Architects use it to answer questions regarding how things are grouped, how they are alike or unlike, how many categories are needed and what groups should be called. Card Sorting helps answer these questions, making the team better equipped to provide a structure for the system.

How It Works

1. Participants are given cards showing site content with no pre-established groupings (or primary groups in a closed sort).
2. They are asked to sort cards into groups that they feel are appropriate and then describe each group.
3. An analysis is completed by the Information Architect using the results of the sort, and applied to the information design of the project.

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