A way to understand users
Card sorting involves users of a website 'sorting' cards into groups that make the most sense to them. The cards represent content on the website. This process provides insight into how users think about information.
Open and closed card sorts?
An open sort is where users define the groups they put cards into. They also come up with names to call these groups. An open sort is used to help create an information architecture. In a closed sort, you define the groups that users must put the cards into. A closed sort tends to be used to test or validate an existing design.
Running a successful card sort:
Why card sorting?
Screenshot of the user interface. Click to enlarge.
Screenshot of results from a closed card sort. Click to enlarge.
Screenshot of the administration tool. Click to enlarge.
Get user feedback, quickly and easily.
- Card sorting is a great way of getting good inexpensive feedback
- Card sorting is quick, easy and accurate with OptimalSort
- Setup an OptimalSort project in minutes and generate a link
- Participants click on a link you send them
- They complete the card sort, you get the results immediately
- Have 10 or 1000 participants complete your card sort
- Survey your participants to understand who is responding
Useful results. Immediately.
- OptimalSort presents results online and as downloads
- See all the labels participants used to name their categories
- See what cards were placed under each category label
- View individual sorts, or view results by participant type
- Export data to a spreadsheet to manipulate or use our results templates
- See which category "won" (for closed card sorts)
Set up a card sort project in minutes.
- Even if you're new to card sorting - setup is quick and easy
- Customise your welcome message
- Add survey questions (optional)
- Modify the instructions for participants to suit your project
- Add your cards and categories (we can help you pick these)
- Tailor your thank-you message and collect contact details
- Launch the project and invite participants
- Copy from our many examples and templates
Try OptimalSort.
Take part in our demonstration card sorts.
- Users have to put cards into pre-defined categories
- Used to test information architecture designs.
- Provides evidence to support or defend design decisions
- Feedback on how effective your selected category labels are
- Users create their own categories to put cards into
- Used for creating information architecture
- Feedback on what content users group together
- Understand what labels are used to describe content
Looking for help with your project?
We've designed OptimalSort to enable you to run card-sort projects yourself. But we know the value of experience and another person to bounce ideas off.
If you're looking for help to set up a card-sort project or provide advice on your information architecture, feel free to contact us. Unless it takes a lot of our time, we'd be happy to give free advice to get you going.
However, if you know you need something more substantial, we also provide consulting services.
Contact us for advice
