If we tell you the term architecture, probably the first thing that comes to your mind is a blueprint, buildings, or a construction helmet. What if we tell you that information architecture can also be done? This discipline is what ensures that your navigation experience on a website is easy and intuitive, and that you find what you are looking for without too many clicks.
In this post, we are going to explain what information architecture is, what its objectives and components are, and the relationship it has with user experience (UX). Do you want to know more? Keep reading!
Definition of Information Architecture
The theoretical bases of information architecture are 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 organization of informational environments, information architecture is the discipline that is responsible for organizing, structuring, and labeling the content of a website, so that it is easy to understand, access, and use by users.
To do this, it is based on the principles of usability and accessibility, and takes into account both user needs and website objectives. Furthermore, it is not only applied to web pages but is also used in other types of information systems, such as mobile applications, intranets, or software.
What are the objectives of information architecture?
We already gave you a hint before, and that is that the main objective of information architecture is to organize and structure information in a way that is accessible, understandable, and useful for users. In addition to this, other purposes can be noted:
- Improve comprehension: it helps users understand the purpose, scope, and value of the website, as well as the meaning and relationship between the content.
- Facilitate access: a well-achieved information architecture makes it possible for users to easily and quickly access the content they are looking for or need.
- Increase satisfaction: it helps users have a positive, pleasant, and gratifying experience when interacting with the website.
- Optimize performance: it drives the website to meet its objectives by attracting, retaining, and building user loyalty.
Components of information architecture
Any information architecture is composed of four main elements. Below, we explain them to you:
- Organization systems: as their name indicates, they refer to the ways of grouping and classifying the content of a website, according to logical and coherent criteria. For example, a glossary is usually organized in alphabetical order, while blog content is usually ordered chronologically, from the most recent to the oldest.
- Labeling systems: it is the way to name and describe the content of a website, using keywords, titles, subtitles, menus, and links. One thing to take into account is that the labeling must be clear, consistent, and relevant, to facilitate the identification and access to the content. Iconic labels can be used, such as social media symbols, only textual ones, such as the names of the sections in the menu; or these two forms can be linked.
- Navigation systems: refers to the way of orienting and guiding the user through the website, using visual and functional elements, such as navigation bars, site maps, breadcrumbs, or buttons. Navigation must be intuitive, simple, and efficient, to avoid user frustration and abandonment.
- Search systems: this is the component that is responsible for locating and retrieving the content of a website, using internal or external search tools, filters, or facets. Searching must be fast, accurate, and customizable, to meet user expectations and preferences.
Relationship between information architecture and user experience
The user experience (UX) is the set of perceptions, emotions, and reactions that a user has when interacting with an information system. What does this have to do with information architecture? Well, it directly influences UX since it determines how the content of a website is presented, structured, and accessed.
In short, good information architecture improves UX by facilitating the usability, accessibility, credibility, and utility of the website. Finally, we share two techniques that are used in information architecture with a focus on user experience:
- Effective navigation and menu design: they are combined to offer a fluid and efficient user experience, allowing users to find and access information intuitively.
- Card Sorting and usability testing: these are techniques that allow users to organize and classify information on cards, and evaluate their comprehension and satisfaction with the result.
References
Morville, P. y Rosenfeld, L. (2002) Information Architecture for the WWW (2a. Ed.) Cambridge: O'Reilly.
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