methodatlas
Playbook

Validate Information Architecture

Move from unclear navigation to tested structure, labels, and findability signals.

Outcome

A validated IA recommendation with content groups, tree test results, and first-click signals.

At the end you have

Content GroupsFindability MetricsClick HeatmapUsability Findings

Decision point

You can decide which structure, labels, and navigation paths should be changed or retained.

Next step

Translate the IA recommendation into navigation changes, content work, or additional tests.

Ideal for

  • Navigation redesign
  • Help center and documentation
  • Complex product or website structures

Not good for

  • Visual UI polishing without structure questions
  • flows heavily dependent on interaction
Preparation

What should be clear before you start

Roles

  • UX research or Information Architecture
  • Content or product owners
  • Design and frontend as needed

Inputs

  • Top tasks and critical content
  • existing navigation or sitemap
  • label and structure candidates

Setup

  • Define test tasks
  • Clean content and labels
  • Set success criteria for findability
Flow

Method path

0 methods
    Completion criteria
    Templates

    Artifacts for this playbook

    Artifacts stay collapsed until you actually need them.

    CanvasShow template

    First Click Testing Working Template

    Compact working template for First Click Testing with screen, task, first click, and next step.

    # First Click Testing Working Template
    
    ## Goal
    
    Check whether people choose the right first step on a critical screen or prototype.
    
    ## Context
    
    When and for what do we use this method?
    
    ## Input
    
    Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?
    
    ## Test setup
    
    - Screen or prototype:
    - Task:
    - Success signal:
    - Sample:
    
    ## Output artifacts
    - First-click results:
    - Misclick patterns:
    - Follow-up questions:
    
    ## Open questions
    
    - ...
    
    ## Next step
    
    Owner, date, and success signal.
    CanvasShow template

    Tree Testing Working Template

    Compact working template for Tree Testing with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

    # Tree Testing Canvas
    
    ## Context
    
    What is this method used for?
    
    ## Core question
    
    Which question should be answered at the end?
    
    ## Input
    
    Which data, observations, or materials are available?
    
    ## Working area
    
    - Area 1:
    - Area 2:
    - Area 3:
    - Relationships / patterns:
    
    ## Output artifacts
    - Findability Metrics:
    - Path Analysis:
    - Revised IA:
    
    ## Open questions
    
    - ...
    
    ## Next step
    
    Owner, date, success signal.