Rachel works for a marketing agency and is designing a new website for a client. She’s trying to create the site navigation, but is having trouble figuring out which items to include and where to place them. How should Rachel start tackling this problem?
Explanation: The selected answer, ‘Perform an open card sort with a group of users,’ is correct because it involves directly involving users in the process of organizing and categorizing the website’s content, ensuring that the navigation structure reflects users’ mental models and preferences. An open card sort involves asking participants to organize a set of content items into categories that make sense to them, providing insights into how users naturally group and prioritize information. By conducting this exercise with a diverse group of users, Rachel can gather valuable feedback on potential navigation structures, identifying common patterns and preferences among the target audience. This user-centered approach ensures that the website’s navigation is intuitive, user-friendly, and aligned with the needs and expectations of its intended users. Additionally, involving users in the card sorting process fosters a sense of ownership and engagement, increasing the likelihood of user acceptance and satisfaction with the final navigation design. Therefore, performing an open card sort with a group of users is an effective method for Rachel to start tackling the challenge of designing the website navigation for her client.