# Information Architecture

> Restructured product navigation for a global e-retailer using research and card-sort data.

Canonical URL: https://debye.io/projects/information-architecture/

Timeline: Early 2014

Type: research

## Role

Information Architect

## Overview

[Rakuten Global Market](https://global.rakuten.com/) was an international e-commerce site operated by Rakuten, a Tokyo-based company. This Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) graduate project focused on reorganizing the site's product navigation for users in the North America region.

## Challenges

Rakuten Global Market was difficult to navigate and search because of its deeply nested menu structure. Product categories were also inconsistent, making it harder for users to understand where items belonged.

## Process & Solution

After evaluating the existing Rakuten Global Market navigation, the team:

- Completed a content audit to inventory the site’s existing navigation and menu structure.
- Recruited eight participants for card sorting to understand how target users grouped available navigation items.
- Created a sitemap for the proposed navigation structure.
- Drafted high-level wireframes showing the revised site organization.
- Included separate wireframes for two core tasks to illustrate how the recommendations would work in context.
- Presented the findings and recommendations in a comprehensive [Information Architecture report](/docs/IA_Report_DebyeLeong.pdf).

## Methods & Tools

- Research & IA Content audit, card sorting, sitemap, wireframes
- Tools [Optimal Workshop](https://www.optimalworkshop.com/), Adobe Photoshop, draw.io