Structure Information for Optimal User Experience

This skill designs the structure of shared information environments - organizing, structuring, and labeling content so users can find information and complete tasks efficiently. Hierarchical structure guidance applies the 7±2 rule (5-9 menu items per level), logical parent-child relationships, breadcrumb navigation for deep hierarchies, and both broad and narrow classification designs. It aligns IA with users' actual mental models through open and closed card sorting sessions, hybrid sorting for refinement, and tree testing to validate groupings. Labeling guidance calls for consistent, jargon-free, predictable terminology, parallel structure across navigation labels, and a controlled vocabulary and taxonomy.

It provides working examples for site mapping (an XML sitemap with priority and change-frequency hints, and a JSON-LD navigation schema for search engines) and content strategy (a faceted classification system for product taxonomy with filter types, and a content-audit template tracking URL, word count, traffic, conversion rate, and a keep/revise/remove decision). Navigation and wireframing guidance includes responsive CSS for progressive-disclosure submenus and a faceted-search implementation that filters items against multiple active facet values.

User testing covers tree testing (targeting over 80% first-click accuracy, task completion rate, directness, and time-to-find) and a full IA success-metrics framework spanning findability (search success rate, zero-results rate), navigation (bounce rate, pages per session), and task completion (checkout and form completion rates, help-desk ticket volume). Advanced techniques cover progressive information disclosure (general to specific, expandable sections), cross-platform IA consistency (preserving core navigation patterns while adapting hierarchy depth per screen size), and content relationships (topic clusters, pillar pages, contextual cross-references).

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SiteNavigationElement",
  "name": "Main Navigation",
  "hasPart": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "name": "Products",
      "url": "/products",
      "hasPart": [
        {
          "@type": "WebPage",
          "name": "Category A",
          "url": "/products/category-a"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Use this skill when designing or restructuring a site's information architecture - building the hierarchy, running card sorting and tree testing, defining a faceted taxonomy, or setting up IA success metrics and a content audit.

It is not a fit for visual design or the content itself - it structures how content is organized, labeled, and navigated, not the page layouts, styling, or the copy filling each page.

Inputs are your content inventory, target user mental models (from card sorting or user research), and any existing navigation structure. Outputs are a validated hierarchy and labeling system, an XML sitemap and navigation schema, a faceted classification taxonomy, a content audit, and an IA success-metrics dashboard.

UX and content strategists designing information architecture who need concrete templates and validated methods - card sorting, tree testing, faceted classification, content audits - plus a named toolset (OptimalSort and UserZoom for card sorting, Treejack and Maze for tree testing, Figma and Axure for wireframing) rather than working from IA theory alone.