What is the '7±2 rule' in Information Architecture?

It is a cognitive psychology principle suggesting that humans can comfortably process between 5 and 9 items at once, making it the optimal range for top-level navigation categories.

How deep should a website's navigation hierarchy be?

Ideally, you should aim for a maximum of three levels. Deep hierarchies (5+ levels) often lead to user confusion and higher abandonment rates.

What is the primary goal of Information Architecture (IA)?

The goal of IA is to organize and label information environments so users can find information and complete tasks with minimal cognitive friction.

When should I use card sorting versus tree testing?

Use card sorting early in the design process to discover how users naturally group information. Use tree testing later to validate if your proposed navigation structure is effective.

Information Architecture Design

Name: Information Architecture Design
Author: lev-os

bylev-os

0•

设计工具

Organizes content and navigation structures using research-driven methodologies like card sorting and tree testing to ensure intuitive information findability.

This skill provides a comprehensive framework for designing the structural organization of digital environments, including websites, intranets, and complex software applications. It guides users through a multi-step process—from initial research and mental model mapping to taxonomy definition and navigation system design—to minimize cognitive friction and maximize usability. By applying principles from cognitive and library sciences, it helps create invisible architecture that allows users to navigate effortlessly while avoiding common pitfalls like organizational silos, deep hierarchies, and choice overload.

主要功能

01Findability validation using tree testing and search log analysis

02User-centric labeling system development to eliminate internal jargon

03Mental model mapping via open and closed card sorting techniques

04Hierarchy design based on the 7±2 rule and optimal depth principles

05Multi-step IA design workflow including research, card sorting, and taxonomy definition

060 GitHub stars

使用场景

01Restructuring navigation for content-heavy documentation sites or internal knowledge bases

02Auditing existing site structures to identify and fix navigation-related bounce rate issues

03Designing the initial information hierarchy for a complex new SaaS application

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add lev-os/agents information-architecture

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill