User research helps inform IA decisions to create an optimal experience for users.

Getting Started

If you want to improve the user experience of your website or application, then you should learn about User Research and Information Architecture.

This is for anyone who wants to create a website or application that is easy to use and navigate.

How to

Start by identifying your target audience. Who are your users and what are their needs and goals?
Conduct user research to gather insights about your target audience. This can be done through surveys, interviews, and usability testing.
Use the insights from your user research to create user personas. These are fictional representations of your target audience that help you understand their needs and behaviours.
Create a site map to organise the content of your website or application. This will help you visualise the structure and hierarchy of your information.
Create wireframes to design the layout and functionality of your website or application. This will help you test and refine your design before building the final product.
Test your design with real users to gather feedback and make improvements.

Best Practices

Involve users in the design process to ensure that your website or application meets their needs.
Keep your site map and navigation simple and intuitive.
Design for mobile devices as well as desktops.
Use clear and concise language to communicate your message.

Examples

Let’s say you are designing a new e-commerce website for a fashion brand.

You start by identifying your target audience: fashion-conscious millennials who value sustainability and ethical production.

You conduct user research to gather insights about their shopping habits and preferences, and create user personas based on your findings.

You use the insights from your user research to create a site map that organises your products into categories that are easy to navigate.

You also design wireframes that showcase the products in an appealing and user-friendly way.

You test your design with real users and gather feedback that helps you make improvements, such as adding more filtering options and simplifying the checkout process.

By using User Research and Information Architecture, you have created a website that meets the needs of your target audience and provides a great user experience.