What is information architecture?

Information architecture (IA) is the practice of structuring and presenting the parts of something — whether that’s a website, mobile app, blog post, book, or brick-and-mortar store — to users so that it’s easy to understand.

Design thinking is more than just a process; it opens up an entirely new way to think, and it offers a collection of hands-on methods to help you apply this new mindset. Design Thinking Makes You Think Outside the Box.

Why is information architecture so important?

Information Architecture (AI) is a key aspect for a UX design that focuses on organizing information, structuring Web sites and mobile apps, and also helping users navigate to find and process the information they need.

A well-designed, user-friendly information architecture ensures that users spend less time and effort searching for information and are successful in finding what they need.

IA and UX design

As with all aspects of UX design, information architecture starts with understanding people—namely, their reasons to use a product or service. A methodical and comprehensive approach to structuring information is needed to make it findable and understandable irrespective of the context, channel, or medium employed by the user.

Once you understand how a user behaves and seeks information, you can design a successful sitemap (like the one shown below), website navigation, user flows and so on.

Information architecture should be a holistic process, so when a new product or service is being designed, it’s important to start with IA. Good IA serves as the foundation of effective user experience design.

Tasks performed by information architect

An information architect creates a sitemap, diagram, or digital blueprint that represents a digital space in a way that is both meaningful and useful for its visitors. These designs are focused on avoiding overly complicated structures and functions, making them easier for users to successfully operate.