Card Sorting

Card sorting is a method used to help design or evaluate the information architecture of a site. In a card sorting session, participants organize topics into categories that make sense to them and they may also help you label these groups.

• Used to explore how participants group items into categories and relate concepts to one another, whether for digital interface design or a table of contents.
• It can be used to identify terminology that is vague, misunderstood, or has multiple meanings associated with it.
• Card sorting can also be used to generate options for structuring information, identifying different schemas for organizing navigation, menus, and taxonomies.
• It validates that the categories in your product or service actually reflect the mental model of your audience.
• Including blank cards and markers allows participants to add their own items where needed.
• If no consistent patterns emerge after several card sorts, consider renaming the cards or reconsider the categories.