Information Architecture
1. Definition
Section titled “1. Definition”Information architecture is about structuring and organizing the content of a digital product so that users can easily understand, navigate, and find what they are looking for.
It sits at the core of UX design, between content and navigation.
2. Why Is It Important?
Section titled “2. Why Is It Important?”- Prevents cognitive overload
- Enhances clarity and readability
- Makes navigation intuitive
- Anticipates user needs
- Facilitates collaboration between UX, developers, writers, etc.
📌 It’s a strategic task that affects navigation, design, content, and SEO.
3. OOUX Method (Object-Oriented UX)
Section titled “3. OOUX Method (Object-Oriented UX)”OOUX is a method that structures interfaces around the system’s “objects” before thinking about navigation or layout.
Inspired by object-oriented thinking (as in development), this method focuses on content and relationships first.
Step 1 – Identify Objects
Section titled “Step 1 – Identify Objects”What’s an object?
- A core element of the interface (e.g. course, user, order…)
- Meaningful to the user
- Appears in different views (list, card, detail…)
Workshop:
- Read the product brief or description
- Note all objects on blue post-its
Step 2 – Properties & Metadata
Section titled “Step 2 – Properties & Metadata”- Properties: information that defines the object (title, author, duration…)
- Metadata: used to filter/sort objects (category, date, popularity…)
🛠 Yellow post-its = properties
🛠 Pink post-its = metadata
Step 3 – Relationships Between Objects
Section titled “Step 3 – Relationships Between Objects”- Which objects are linked to others?
- Can one object contain another? (e.g. a “program” contains “courses”)
- Helps define content hierarchies
🛠 Use nested blue post-its to show object relationships
Step 4 – Prioritize & Organize
Section titled “Step 4 – Prioritize & Organize”Goal: organize information based on what matters most to the user
- Sort properties by importance
- Think about what the user wants to see first
🛠 Reposition post-its from most to least important (top to bottom)
Step 5 – Define Interactions
Section titled “Step 5 – Define Interactions”- What actions can users perform on each object? (e.g. “add to cart”, “edit”, “follow this course”…)
- This defines the interactive layer of the architecture
🛠 Green post-its placed above the objects
4. Other Tools in Information Architecture
Section titled “4. Other Tools in Information Architecture”| 🧰 Tool | 💡 Main Purpose |
|---|---|
| Site structure (tree) | Organize the pages of the site or app |
| Card sorting | Understand how users categorize information |
| Wireframes | Visually represent the layout of a page |
| Sitemaps | Show the global structure of the website |
Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”Good information architecture is about making the invisible visible — making the right content accessible at the right time.
It should be defined before visual design, and in collaboration with all teams (UX, product, dev, content…).