Open card sort

Definition

An open card sort is a method used to explore and establish new information structures by allowing participants to create their own categories and organize content.

Variations and Adaptations

In an open card sort, participants are given a set of cards, each representing a piece of content or information. Unlike closed card sorts, where categories are predefined, open card sorts encourage users to define their own categories. This flexibility can lead to the discovery of unexpected groupings and insights into how users think about content organization. Teams may choose to conduct these sorts in-person or remotely, using physical cards or digital tools. The choice of format can influence participant engagement and the richness of data collected.

Teams may also adapt the process by combining it with other methods, such as follow-up interviews or surveys, to gain deeper insights into participants' reasoning behind their categorization choices. This can help clarify the rationale behind the grouping and provide context for the findings.

Connection to Other UX Methods

Open card sorting is closely related to closed card sorting and tree testing. While closed card sorting helps validate existing structures with predefined categories, open card sorting is more exploratory. Tree testing, on the other hand, evaluates the effectiveness of a proposed information architecture by testing how easily users can find information within a given structure. Together, these methods provide a comprehensive approach to designing and refining information architecture.

Practical Insights

Diverse Participants: Include a diverse group of participants to capture a wide range of perspectives and organizational styles.

Facilitate Discussion: Encourage participants to explain their categorization choices to gather qualitative insights.

Iterate: Use findings from open card sorts to inform subsequent designs and test with closed sorts or tree testing for validation.

Document Findings: Keep detailed records of the sorting process and participant feedback for future reference and analysis.

Open card sorting helps teams discover user-driven information structures.

Recruit participants who represent the target audience.

Prepare a set of cards with relevant content or topics.

Facilitate the sorting session in a neutral environment.

Observe and record participants' sorting behavior and rationale.

Analyze the results to identify patterns and groupings.

Create a report summarizing insights and recommendations.

Iterate on the information structure based on findings.

Open card sorting provides valuable insights into how users categorize information. By involving users in the organization process, teams can better align their designs with user expectations, resulting in improved usability and satisfaction. This method fosters collaboration and helps businesses make informed decisions based on direct user feedback.

Enhances understanding of user mental models.

Promotes user-centered design practices.

Reduces the risk of misalignment between user needs and product structure.

Supports clearer decision-making in information architecture.

Encourages collaboration among team members and stakeholders.

In a product team working on a new e-commerce website, the designer and product manager realize that the current navigation structure is confusing for users. To address this issue, they decide to conduct an open card sort with a group of potential customers. They aim to gather insights on how users naturally categorize products and information, which will help inform the website's navigation design.

The researcher organizes a session where participants are given a set of cards, each representing a product category or content type. Participants are asked to sort these cards into groups that make sense to them and to label each group with their own terms. This open format allows users to create their own categories, providing valuable data on user preferences and language. Throughout the session, the researcher observes and notes how users interact with the cards, capturing their thought processes.

After the card sorting sessions, the team analyzes the results. They find common patterns in how users grouped items and the terminology they used. Armed with this information, the designer and product manager collaborate to create a more intuitive navigation structure that reflects the users' mental models. The outcome is a website navigation system that enhances user experience, making it easier for customers to find products and information.

Open card sorting is particularly useful during the early stages of a project when exploring new information structures. It helps gather insights about users' mental models and preferences regarding content organization.

Discovery: Use open card sorts to understand how users categorize information during initial research phases.

Design: Apply open card sorting to test different content groupings and label options when designing a new website or application.

User Testing: Conduct open card sorts with prototypes to validate the organization of information before finalizing designs.

Content Strategy: Utilize open card sorts to inform content creation by identifying user expectations for labeling and categorization.

Redesign: Implement open card sorting when updating an existing product to ensure the new information architecture aligns with user needs.

Feature Development: Leverage open card sorts to explore how users might group new features or functionalities in a product.

Cross-Department Collaboration: Use open card sorting sessions to bridge understanding between design, content, and development teams regarding user perspectives.

Teams can struggle with open card sorts due to unclear objectives, participant biases, and difficulties in interpreting the results. These challenges can lead to misaligned information structures that do not accurately reflect user needs.

Unclear objectives: Without a clear goal, participants may create categories that do not align with the intended research outcomes.

Hint: Define specific objectives before conducting the sort to guide participants.

Participant biases: Users may categorize cards based on personal preferences rather than typical usage patterns.

Hint: Use a diverse group of participants to capture a wider range of perspectives.

Data interpretation: Analyzing the results can be complex, especially if there are many unique categories.

Hint: Group similar categories during analysis to simplify interpretation.

Limited sample size: A small number of participants may not represent the broader user base, leading to skewed results.

Hint: Aim for a larger sample size to enhance the validity of findings.

Organizational constraints: Internal politics or differing priorities can influence the acceptance of the results.

Hint: Involve stakeholders early in the process to ensure alignment and support.

Time constraints: Open card sorts can be time-consuming, both in execution and analysis.

Hint: Set a clear timeline and prioritize key elements to focus on during the sort.

Open card sorts help gather insights about how users categorize information, enabling the creation of more intuitive structures.

Methods

Facilitated Workshops: In-person or virtual sessions where participants sort cards while guided by a facilitator.

Remote Card Sorting: Participants sort cards online, allowing for broader geographic participation.

Think-Aloud Protocols: Participants verbalize their thought processes while sorting, providing qualitative data on their reasoning.

Post-Sorting Interviews: Follow-up discussions with participants to gain deeper insights into their sorting choices.

Tools

Card Sorting Software: Platforms that enable users to conduct card sorting exercises online.

Remote Testing Platforms: Tools that facilitate remote usability testing, including card sorting activities.

Survey Tools: Applications that can be adapted for card sorting exercises to collect user input.

Collaboration Tools: Digital whiteboards or shared documents that allow teams to create and organize card sorting activities.