If we mention the word ‘architecture’, the first things that probably spring to mind are a plan, buildings or a building site. But what if we told you that you can also create information architecture? This discipline ensures that your experience of navigating a website is easy and intuitive, and that you can find what you’re looking for without having to click too many times.
In this post, we’re going to explain what information architecture is, what its objectives and components are, and how it relates to user experience (UX). Want to find out more? Read on!
Definition of information architecture
The theoretical foundations of the information architecture can be found in the 1998 book Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, by Peter Morville and Louis Rosenfeld. According to these experts in the design and organisation of information environments, information architecture is the discipline responsible for organise, structure and label the content of a website, so that it is easy for users to understand, access and use.
To this end, it is based on the principles of the usability and the accessibility, and takes into account both users’ needs and the website’s objectives. Furthermore, it is not only applied to websites, but is also used in other types of information systems, such as mobile apps, intranets and software.
What are the objectives of information architecture?
We’ve already given you a few clues: the main aim of information architecture is to organise and structure information in such a way that it is accessible, understandable and useful to users. In addition to this, there are other objectives worth noting:
- Improving the understanding: helps users understand the purpose, scope and value of the website, as well as the meaning of the content and the relationships between different pieces of content.
- Making access easier: A well-designed information architecture enables users to access the content they are looking for or need quickly and easily.
- Increasing satisfaction: It ensures that users have a positive, enjoyable and rewarding experience when interacting with the website.
- Optimise Performance: It helps the website achieve its objectives by attracting, retaining and building user loyalty.
Components of information architecture
Any information architecture consists of four main elements. We explain them below:
- Organisation systems: As the name suggests, this refers to the ways in which a website’s content is grouped and categorised according to logical and consistent criteria. For example, a glossary is usually organised alphabetically, whilst blog posts are typically arranged chronologically, from the most recent to the oldest.
- Labelling systems: It is the process of naming and describing a website’s content using keywords, titles, subtitles, menus and links. One point to bear in mind is that labelling must be clear, consistent and relevant, to make it easier to identify and access the content. You can use icon-based labels, such as social media symbols; text-only labels, such as the names of sections in the menu; or you can combine these two approaches.
- Navigation systems: This refers to the way in which users are guided through a website, using visual and functional elements such as navigation bars, site maps, breadcrumbs or buttons. Navigation should be intuitive, simple and efficient, to prevent user frustration and abandonment.
- Search systems: It is the component responsible for locating and retrieving content from a website, using internal or external search tools, filters and facets. The search must be fast, accurate and customisable, in order to meet users’ expectations and preferences.
The relationship between information architecture and user experience
The user experience (UX) It is the set of perceptions, emotions and reactions a user experiences when interacting with an information system. What does this have to do with information architecture? Well, it directly influences the UX, as it determines how a website’s content is presented, structured and accessed.
In short, good information architecture improves the user experience by enhancing the website’s usability, accessibility, credibility and usefulness. To conclude, here are two techniques used in information architecture with a focus on the user experience:
- Designing effective navigation and menus: work together to provide a seamless and efficient user experience, enabling users to find and access information intuitively.
- Card sorting and usability testing: These are techniques that enable users to organise and categorise information onto cards, and to assess their understanding and satisfaction with the result.
References
Morville, P. and Rosenfeld, L. (2002) Information Architecture for the WWW (2nd ed.) Cambridge: O’Reilly.
