Card sorting

Card sorting, one method of obtaining qualitative research, helps to evaluate information architecture. This is composed of sorting through “cards” and grouping them under content categories, the hierarchy of those categories, and the labels used to describe them.

A form of unmoderated usability testing, card sorting allows you to quickly spot popular groupings and categories so you can better speak customers’ language—and meet their needs. It’s an especially common choice when it comes to ecommerce and web design, as your goal may be to improve site navigation, reorganize drop-down menus, or redesign the homepage.

By evaluating what test participants come up with, you can learn the reasoning behind contributors grouping something a certain way, allowing you to better design (or redesign) your product.

A card sort is commonly done during early design development, either when you’re on the brink of launching a new digital product or redesigning a website or app in need of an update. A product launch or redesign doesn’t necessarily have to be the catalyst, consider even conducting a card sort study as part of a routine website audit.

This method is ideal if you’re on a tight deadline or budget, and don’t have the bandwidth for lengthier studies like Live Conversations (though this isn’t to say that card sorting can’t be done with Live Conversations).

With three types to choose from, including open, closed, and hybrid, you can either have your test participants hold the pen by independently creating categories—or they can be guided by pre-set categories.