Testing the hierarchy and labels

A good motto for an information architect is "test early and often." Getting user feedback early in the process, when changes are inexpensive to make, has a high return on the time and effort invested.

The goal of the testing the hierarchy and labels should be determining how easily users can find information. You get the highest quality feedback testing real users (or potential users) of the site; if this is not feasible you can alternatively get feedback by recruiting some co-workers who have not been involved with the design. You should plan to test about six users, a number that has shown to be reliable in identifying major usability problems with a design (Nielsen).

To conduct the test, use paper mock-ups of the menu lists at each level in the hierarchy. Ask users to identify the menu items they would choose to find a particular item or function. Record any errors and watch for any emerging patterns with the first few users. If the first users fail to find the same item, you should take the opportunity to apply a fix to the problem so that with the next set of users you can test to effectiveness of the fix.

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