L4 Information Architecture Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is Information Architecture (IA)?
• The structuring and organization of information in digital spaces
• Helps users find information quickly and easily
• Central to user experience design
What three elements does IA connect?
• User
• Content
• Context
What does a user-centered approach to IA involve?
• Designing with the user’s needs in mind
• Understanding how users seek and interpret information
• Accommodating various user goals and behaviors
What are mental models in IA?
• The user’s expectations of how a system should work
• Example: Expecting categories when shopping for a chair on Amazon
What is the difference between implicit and explicit architectures?
• Implicit: Relationships inferred by users, often unintended
• Explicit: Clearly presented structures like nav bars (though not always clear in use)
What are common organization schemes in IA?
• Alphabetical
• Chronological
• Geographical
• Category-based
What is cognitive load and how can it be reduced?
• The mental effort needed to process info
• Reduced by:
- Limiting information
- Using filters and sorting
- Saving/comparing options
- Providing effective search functions
What is a content audit?
• An inventory of all website/app content
• Used to evaluate, group, and structure information efficiently
What is findability?
• How easily users can find something they believe exists
• Enhances UX by matching layout with user expectations
What is discoverability?
• The ability of users to notice content/features they weren’t actively looking for
• Improved through:
- Placement in relevant/high-visibility areas
- Analytics, heatmaps, A/B tests
Why might navigation be chosen over search and vice versa?
• Search: Direct, but cognitively demanding
• Navigation: Exploratory and less mentally taxing
• Choose based on user goals, content size, and usability needs
What is the difference between IA structure and taxonomy?
• IA structure: Blueprint of how content is organized and interlinked
• Taxonomy: Metadata system classifying content into concepts and relationships
Define visual hierarchy in IA.
• Arrangement that groups elements and builds patterns
• Helps users scan content quickly
• Based on Gestalt principles
What is a polyhierarchy?
• A system where content belongs to multiple categories
• Supports flexible navigation (e.g., Amazon product navigation)
What does the breadcrumb trail in the diagram represent?
- A visual path of where the user is within the site hierarchy
- Improves orientation and allows easy backward navigation
How do breadcrumbs improve usability?
- Provide clear paths back to broader categories
- Help users avoid getting lost in deep navigation layers
What is represented by the hierarchical structure in this diagram?
- Product categorization from general to specific
- Product → Family → Line → Subline → SKU
What is the purpose of this kind of taxonomy in e-commerce?
- Enables scalable organization
- Facilitates filtering and accurate classification
What concept is illustrated in this diagram?
- A polyhierarchical structure
- Content exists in multiple categories (e.g., Training, Articles, Consulting)
How does polyhierarchy benefit users?
- Provides multiple access points
- Accommodates varied mental models and browsing habits
What does the comparison of the two structures in the diagram illustrate?
- Difference between flat hierarchy (broad) and deep hierarchy (narrow)
When is a flat hierarchy preferable?
- When quick access to many categories is needed
- Reduces clicks but may overwhelm with choices
What kind of navigation structure is seen in the Amazon example?
- A polyhierarchy
- Users can find products via multiple paths (e.g., category, brand, type)
What additional tools enhance usability on this site?
- Search bar
- Filters
- User accounts and suggestions
