information-architecture

# Information Architecture

## Purpose

Information architecture (IA) is the practice of organizing, structuring, and labeling content to help users find and manage information effectively. Good IA makes complex information navigable, discoverable, and understandable.

Use this skill when:
- **Designing navigation** for websites, apps, documentation, or knowledge bases
- **Restructuring content** that users can't find or understand
- **Creating taxonomies** for classification, tagging, or metadata
- **Organizing information** at scale (hundreds or thousands of items)
- **Improving findability** when search and browse both fail
- **Designing mental models** that match how users think about content

Information architecture bridges user mental models and system structure. The goal: users can predict where information lives and find it quickly.

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## Common Patterns

### Pattern 1: Content Audit → Card Sort → Sitemap

**When**: Redesigning existing site/app with lots of content

**Process**:
1. **Content audit**: Inventory all existing content (URLs, titles, metadata)
2. **Card sorting**: Users group content cards into categories
3. **Analyze patterns**: What categories emerge? What's grouped together?
4. **Create sitemap**: Translate patterns into hierarchical structure
5. **Validate with tree testing**: Can users find content in new structure?

**Example**: E-commerce site with 500 products. Audit products → Card sort with 15 users → Patterns show users group by "occasion" not "product type" → New navigation: "Daily Essentials", "Special Occasions", "Gifts" instead of "Electronics", "Clothing", "Home Goods"

### Pattern 2: Taxonomy Design (Faceted Navigation)

**When**: Users need multiple ways to slice/filter information

**Structure**: Orthogonal facets (dimensions) that combine
- **Facet 1**: Category (e.g., "Shoes", "Shirts", "Pants")
- **Facet 2**: Brand (e.g., "Nike", "Adidas", "Puma")
- **Facet 3**: Price range (e.g., "$0-50", "$50-100", "$100+")
- **Facet