Questions it can answer
- How should we design our product structure and navigation?
- How do users think about and group information?
- What parts of the product should we put close together and what should be far apart?
What is card sorting?
Card sorting is a research method that ensures people looking for information can find what they need. The method involves participants arranging pieces of information, topics or pages into groups that they think relate to each other. These groups can either be pre-defined (closed sort) or created by the participant (open sort). By observing how people group related items we can understand how they think about topics to make finding information easy.
When to use it. Card sorting is best conducted during the very early stages of the design process when the information architecture and navigation of the product is being developed. This typically happens before starting work on any visual components such as wireframes.
Related guide: For the full method, including analysis, see our card sorting guide.
Do it faster with a Claude skill: Screener builder. Builds a first draft of this study in Claude that you can edit before you send it.
Advantages
- Simple and quick method to understand mental models
- Easy way to ensure the underlying structure and navigation of the product is right
- No design artifacts will interfere with the results
Limitations
- Ignores that users will be focused on achieving a task when they use the product
- Lacks any ability to assess how visuals support with navigation
- Analysis can take time, especially with large or complex data sets
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between open and closed card sorting?
In an open sort, participants group cards and name the groups themselves. In a closed sort, you give them the category names and they place cards into them. Use open sorts to discover categories and closed sorts to check categories you already have.
How many cards should a card sort have?
Enough to cover the content you are organising without tiring participants. Many teams keep it to a few dozen cards; if you have far more, sort a representative subset.
Can I run card sorting in Great Question?
Yes, on the Enterprise plan. Card sorting, tree testing and focus groups are not included in self-serve.