Information Architecture vs. User Experience Design
Tags: User Interface, Information Architecture, UX Design

What is the difference? The fields of Information Architecture (IA) and user experience design (UXD) are often confused. However, there are important distinctions and it is useful to understand where to draw the line.

If your website or app is difficult to use, users will probably be frustrated and move on to something else, so it’s important to understand how different elements of user experience fit together!

To explore the crucial differences between the two fields, you could also visit Nick Babich’s beginner’s guide to information architecture for UX designers: https://theblog.adobe.com/a-beginners-guide-to-information-architecture-for-ux-designers/, as well as Darren Northcroft’s comprehensive overview of the difference between IA and UXD: https://www.uxbooth.com/articles/the-difference-between-ia-and-ux-design/

Below are some of my personal thoughts regarding the two disciplines:

What is information architecture?

How is IA different from user experience design?

Do the two fields have common elements?

What is the focus and overarching objective of each of these fields?

· What is information architecture?

Information architecture is the foundation or skeleton of a design. Before a product can effectively engage a user, it needs to be planned and structured visually. By organizing and labeling information first, it will later become simple for a user to focus on completing tasks and not on merely finding their way around! Being able to navigate through complex sets of information swiftly, clearly and logically, is essential for a smooth experience! Information architecture’s sole purpose is therefore, to make a product find-able and usable.

· What is user experience design?

User experience design is concerned with how a user meaningfully engages with a product, system or service. It is therefore not only about usability or find-ability but has a sharper focus on a user’s natural behavior, actions, emotions and psychology. Once the designer understands the user, products can be made effectively customized for a personal experience! User experience design comprises the full spectrum of elements from both interaction design and visual design. A well-designed product should ultimately leave a user with a sense of bewilderment!

· How do information architecture and user experience design differ? Think specifically along the lines of focus, method, and objective.

User experience design is focused on keeping the user’s needs at its core, so not only does it consider a product, system or service’s structure, but it is aimed at meaningfully connecting with its user. Designers conduct user research (and testing), create personas, wire frames and interactive prototypes. The goal of a user experience designer is to create an experience that is relevant to the user and leaves them with a lasting impression.

Information architecture concerns the foundations of an efficient user experience. The information architecture is more task-driven and does not necessarily concern user emotion. Information architects use methods to organize, and label information, conduct usability tests, and user research, as well as create user flows, and wire frames. The main objective of information architecture is to help users find and use information to complete a task.

· How do information architecture and user experience design inform each other? In other words, how do they relate?

Information architecture and user experience have similar methods: cognitive psychology, research, hierarchy, navigation creation, labeling, wire framing. Their objectives, however, are slightly different! Both disciplines focus on making the user’s experience simple, however, information architecture mostly lays the groundwork for an all-round pleasant user experience. An information architect could complete their work without considering the user experience, whereas a user experience designer would use information architecture as a tool to build on a better experience!

To sum it all up, Information architecture (IA) involves the way a website/app is structured and how the content is organized. The goal is to help users understand where they are , and where the information they want is, in relation to where they are! UX designers are primarily concerned with how the product feels, and to create the product’s “logic” via wire frames and prototypes. If your website or app is difficult to use, users will probably be frustrated and move on to something else. If they have a great experience, they’re more likely to come back and tell their friends how great your app is!