# Information Architecture

> Information architecture, content structure, taxonomy, and navigation structure design.

- Skill: `dragoon0x/information-architecture` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dragoon0x/information-architecture`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dragoon0x/information-architecture/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: dragoon0x (https://skillmd.com/u/dragoon0x)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dragoon0x/information-architecture

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# Information Architecture

## IA Methods

### Card Sorting
- Give users cards with content/feature names.
- Ask them to group cards into categories.
- **Open sort:** Users create and name categories.
- **Closed sort:** You provide category names, users sort into them.
- 15-30 participants for meaningful patterns.

### Tree Testing
- Give users a text-only tree (your proposed IA).
- Ask them to find specific items.
- Measures: success rate, directness, time to complete.
- Tests whether your IA works without visual design influence.

### Taxonomy Rules
1. **Mutually exclusive categories.** Items should belong to one category, not three.
2. **User language.** Label categories with user terms, not internal jargon.
3. **Balanced depth.** 2-3 levels deep. Flat + search beats deep hierarchy.
4. **Balanced breadth.** 5-8 items per level. More than 10 needs subdivision.
5. **Consistent granularity.** Don't mix "Documentation" (broad) with "Webhook Reference" (narrow) at the same level.

## Navigation Structures
- **Hierarchical:** Tree structure. Best for content sites, documentation.
- **Flat:** All items at same level. Best for small sites, dashboards.
- **Hub-and-spoke:** Central hub, content branches. Best for apps with distinct modes.
- **Network:** Interconnected, no hierarchy. Best for wikis, knowledge bases.