The card sorting and ux technique: what it is and how to use it to optimize the user experience

The
card sorting technique
has become an essential complement to any UX project. Below, all the keys are offered to get the most out of it.

What is the card sorting and UX technique

The term translates to card classification. It consists of a way of researching by grouping labels by groups to better manage the customer experience. It is basically used to order the information architecture that includes a digital product. The goal is to make the UX easier and for the end user to find what they are looking for in less time.

Existing types

It can be carried out in three different ways.

Open

The user is allowed to group the concepts as he prefers and also to use as many categories as he wants. It will be at the end when they have to put a name to each group of cards.

Closed

Different categories or groups are presented in which the user must place the cards. The goal is to know how it does it naturally. It is extremely useful to check if the classification made by the company is understood by the end customer.

Mixed

It is very effective. It allows you to provide fixed categories to sort the cards, but with the option to generate different groupings. It is thus possible to know which is the most logical organization for the user.

Three ways to organize the session

It is necessary to determine it in advance to choose one of the three previous types. The ultimate goal is to increase interactivity with the end user.

In person

It is essential because it verifies, in real time, the reaction to each category. It is also positive, since it allows you to know when the doubt arises and which solution is the most successful to solve it.

In group

They help create more generic groupings of content. They tend to be more fun for the user, but they have the risk of not being able to know the individual reaction of each person.

Remote

Nowadays it is very easy to use the digital environment to carry it out. It helps to expand the range of options and make comparisons on a larger scale. In addition, many tools allow you to advise each person during the process, it would be a moderated format. One of the most used tools today is Optimal Workshop.

Why do it in UX projects

Optimizing the UX is synonymous with an increase in traffic to a web page. Therefore, improving the user experience goes hand in hand with proper research into user behavior. Its advantages are:

• Its effectiveness. It is a relatively simple test that allows you to know if the website of a company is well organized and structured.
• Your help when it comes to labeling categories and designing the most effective menus. The potential user offers all the keys necessary to achieve success. You even decide where you would place the homepage and what the ideal web navigation would be.
• Your contribution to stop designing blindly.

Whoever works on a UX project usually loses perspective after a certain time. Allowing your recipients to use it helps fix errors before uploading it to the network.

Knowledge of the offer of products or services causes internal classifications that may not be effective externally. There is no better way to check it than by exposing the classification to those who will end up consulting it.

How is the card sorting technique carried out?

The process is quite broad and requires concrete steps that are now detailed.

The definition of the objectives

It can be the structure of the web page or the creation of subcategories of a menu. It is recommended that the objectives be defined very well, since the success of the technique depends on them.

Collection of Information

It is all about the objective. It is advisable to provide the full list of the different types of product. What is offered to the collaborator must be clear and concise to avoid interpretative errors.

The wording of the cards

One card per product is most appropriate. Then it will be necessary to form the main categories and the associated subcategories or topics. The classification can also be carried out by the researcher before the participant to know his opinion in this regard.

The selection of users

Projects of medium or low complexity are successful with about 15 participants. The most complicated ones would need around 30. If you opt for the face-to-face modality, it is best to create groups of few people.

Observation

Both the classification of the cards and the comments made. It is recalled that this is an open session where questions and proposals should be urged. Recording on video or taking pictures of the session is convenient.

The analysis

The data obtained must be collected and analysed appropriately. The architecture of the project information will depend on them.

Practical example

The technique is very well suited to surveys. An example could be changing the design of a website. The opinion of the client is requested, various examples of menu and classification are proposed and it is urged to vote on the most appropriate one. It is advisable that the session is recorded and that proposals are offered to know the real opinion of potential users of the web.

As has been proven in this text, the card sorting technique

helps to make the UX optimal and, above all, to understand the potential user much better.