Card sorting is a user-centered design method used to help design or evaluate the information architecture of a site. It involves users organizing topics into categories that make sense to them, which can provide valuable insights into how your users think about the content and structure of your site.

1. Purpose:

   • To understand how users categorize information.
   • To inform the structure of your website or application.

2. Types of Card Sorting:

   • Open Card Sorting: Participants create their own categories.
   • Closed Card Sorting: Participants sort cards into predefined categories.
   • Hybrid Card Sorting: A combination of open and closed methods.

3. Benefits:

   • Reveals users' mental models.
   • Helps in creating intuitive navigation systems.
   • Identifies potential usability issues.

1. Preparation:

   • Define the goal of the card sorting session.
   • Select the content or topics to be sorted.
   • Choose the type of card sorting (open, closed, or hybrid).

2. Creating Cards:

   • Write down each topic or piece of content on a separate card.
   • Ensure the language is clear and understandable.

3. Recruiting Participants:

   • Select a diverse group of users that represent your target audience.
   • Aim for a minimum of 15-20 participants for reliable results.

4. Conducting the Session:

   • Explain the purpose and process to participants.
   • Allow participants to sort the cards into groups that make sense to them.
   • For open sorting, ask them to name each group.

5. Analyzing Results:

   • Look for patterns in how participants grouped the cards.
   • Identify common categories and outliers.
   • Use the insights to inform your information architecture.

Imagine you are designing a website for an online bookstore. You want to understand how users categorize different genres and sections of the bookstore.

• Cards: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery, Biography, Children's Books, Bestsellers, New Arrivals, Author Interviews, Book Reviews.
• Participants: 20 users who frequently purchase books online.
• Type: Open Card Sorting.

• Common Categories: Participants might create categories like "Genres", "New Releases", "Reviews", and "Interviews".
• Insights: If most users place "Science Fiction" and "Mystery" under "Genres", it suggests these should be subcategories under a main "Genres" section on the website.

Task: Conduct a card sorting session for a hypothetical website that offers online courses. Use the following topics: Programming, Design, Marketing, Business, Data Science, Web Development, Graphic Design, SEO, Social Media Marketing, Entrepreneurship.

1. Decide whether to use open or closed card sorting.
2. Create cards for each topic.
3. Recruit at least 5 participants.
4. Conduct the session and analyze the results.

Solution:

• Type: Open Card Sorting.
• Common Categories: Participants might create categories like "Technology", "Business", "Creative Arts", and "Marketing".
• Insights: If "Web Development" and "Programming" are frequently grouped together, consider creating a "Technology" section on the website.

Card sorting is a powerful technique to understand how users perceive and organize information. By applying card sorting, you can create a more intuitive and user-friendly information architecture that aligns with your users' expectations and mental models. This technique is an essential tool in the UX designer's toolkit, providing insights that can significantly enhance the usability of a website or application.