Card Sorting

Successful...

navigation design
menu design
information architecture
screen design

all rely on knowing where users expect to find things. Guessing is not a good solution to this problem and usability testing is not appropriate for determining how a significant number of items should be organized.

Card sorting is an ideal user-centred solution to many issues of organization. It is relatively quick even for a large number of items and with skilled use can provide a wide range of useful data regarding the items sorted, categories (groups) and the participants themselves.

The sorting process itself can be done face-to-face (shown above) or remotely, using a web site (below).

Each has its own merits and drawbacks, so it is important to understand the best approach for your specific needs.

Card sorting using a web site

Use the Experts

We invented the paper card sorting procedure shown at the top of the page(Computer Aided Paper Sorting - CAPS) plus an innovative analysis package, SynCaps, used by researchers around the world for processing both paper and remote sorting results. Consequently, we are well-placed to help you with any research or design task involving card sorting:

Web site navigation
Information architecture
Application menu design
Screen design (card sorting is relevant here too!)
Social research

We offer face-to-face paper card sorting in the UK and throughout the rest of Europe. Remote, web-based sorting wirh expert advice and analyses is available worldwide.

No matter how big or small your challenge, feel free to get in touch.

Keywords: card sorting, information architecture, menu design, screen design, cluster analysis, caps, syncaps