Discovering Taxonomy: The Power of Card Sorting

Information architecture is the practice of organizing, structuring, and labeling content so users can find information and complete tasks. Card sorting is the foundational empirical technique used to generate and evaluate digital taxonomies.

• Open Card Sort (Generative): Participants organize content cards into whatever groups make sense to them, and then name the groups themselves. Use this when starting from scratch to discover user mental models and vocabulary.
• Closed Card Sort (Evaluative): Participants sort content cards into pre-defined, established categories. Use this to test whether an existing navigation taxonomy accommodates new content items.
• Hybrid Card Sort: Participants are given pre-defined categories but are allowed to create new categories if existing buckets feel unnatural.