Use this template to design intuitive information architecture through structured card sorting studies that reveal how users naturally organize content.

Tip: Copy this template to your workspace and customize it for your specific content and user groups.

📋 1. Define your study objectives

Establish clear goals for what your card sorting study will inform

Research questions

What specific information architecture decisions will this study inform?

• [ ] Explore how users naturally categorize our content (mental models)
• [ ] Validate proposed navigation categories
• [ ] Identify content that doesn't fit existing structures
• [ ] Compare user expectations to current organization
• [ ] Inform taxonomy development
• [ ] Guide navigation redesign decisions
• [ ] Other: ________________________________

Study type selection

Choose the approach that best matches your objectives:

• [ ] Open card sorting - Users create their own category names and groupings
• [ ] Closed card sorting - Users sort content into predefined categories
• [ ] Hybrid card sorting - Users can use existing categories or create new ones
• [ ] Tree testing preparation - Sorting specifically to inform navigation testing
• [ ] Competitive analysis - Compare user expectations to existing solutions