Information architecture, what is it and why is it important in UX?

Torresburriel Estudio
3 min readApr 10, 2024

Information architecture is a crucial aspect of designing a website or mobile application.

It refers to the process of organizing, structuring, and presenting information in a way that is easily understandable and accessible to users.

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Information architecture is essential for ensuring a satisfactory user experience and enhancing the accessibility of information.

What is information architecture in UX

Information architecture is the process through which information is organized and structured in a logical and coherent manner to facilitate users in finding the information they are looking for and understanding how to use the product.

This discipline is responsible for studying, analyzing, organizing, and structuring content in digital products.

It involves choosing how to share information and deciding on the best way to offer it in the interface.

Aspects to consider when creating information architecture

There are several aspects to consider when creating information architecture. Below are some of the most important ones:

The type of website

The type of website is an important factor to consider when creating information architecture.

There are different types of websites, such as blogs, online stores, portals, etc. Each type of website has its own needs and requirements in terms of information architecture.

It is important to define the scope of an information architecture project based on the type of website being created. For example, an e-commerce website will have different information architecture requirements compared to a news website.

Web architecture

Web architecture refers to how information is organized and structured on a website.

It’s important to consider the hierarchy of the information and how different elements relate to each other.

The most common types of web architecture are vertical, horizontal, silo, or AD Hoc (custom).

Web architecture must also take into account navigation and how users interact with the website.

Content structuring

Content structuring is essential to ensure that information is easily understandable and accessible to users.

It’s important to organize content in a logical and coherent manner, using titles, subtitles, and headings to divide content into sections so that information is easy to find and scan.

Here, it’s important to remember that content must be easy to find not only for users but also for Google, which means using the correct H1, H2… tags as needed.

User experience (UX)

User experience is a crucial aspect to consider when creating information architecture, and it is one of its fundamental pillars.

It’s important to ensure that information is presented in a clear and easy-to-understand manner, and that it’s easy to find and navigate.

This will help ensure that users have a satisfactory experience when using the website.

The importance of having good information architecture for UX

Having good information architecture is crucial to ensuring a satisfactory user experience. Effective information architecture will help ensure that content is clearly and coherently structured, and that it is easy to find and navigate.

This will help ensure that users have a satisfactory experience using the website, which in turn will improve the website’s effectiveness in terms of business objectives.

In conclusion, information architecture is a crucial aspect of website creation, as it helps ensure that information is logically and coherently structured, and that it is easy to find and navigate.

It is important to consider the aspects mentioned above, such as the type of website, web architecture, content structuring, and user experience, to create effective information architecture that enhances the user experience and the project’s reach.

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Torresburriel Estudio

User Experience & User Research agency focused on services and digital products. Proud member of @UXalliance