Candy Sort was my first hands-on exercise in information architecture class, and it turned out to be an incredibly engaging and insightful experience. It offered me a unique opportunity to explore the fundamentals of organizing information in a fun and tangible way
Description:
The Candy Sort activity is a hands-on exercise in information architecture that involves grouping and categorizing various types of candy based on shared characteristics. This activity illustrates the principles of organizing information, emphasizing how structure and categorization can influence understanding and user experience.
What did we do:
The class was divided into groups of four or five, with each table receiving an assortment of candies to sort into distinct categories.
The objective was to create category names that clearly conveyed the type of candy each group represented, ensuring the categories were intuitive and informative.
For our next attempt at categorization, we decided to sort the candies based on their country of origin. This required some additional research, as the origins of certain candies weren’t immediately obvious.
The first set of category names we came up with was names based on the texture/vibe that the candies give. For instance, the gummies were put into the “chewy bites” section, and the chocolates were named “dreamy bites”.
Next Step:
Next, we invited classmates from other groups to review our categories and sort the candies based on the labels we had created.
We quickly realized that our categories were not as intuitive or easy for others to understand as we had hoped. For example, many struggled to identify chocolates under the label "Dreamy Bites," highlighting that our personal associations with chocolate didn't resonate with others in the same way.
Additionally, when sorting candies by origin, classmates found it challenging to place some candies into the correct categories since the packaging often lacked clear information about their country of origin.
Reflections:
Through this exercise, we learned the importance of clear categorization and user-centered design. For instance, when classmates found certain category names confusing, it highlighted the need to consider diverse perspectives and ensure labels are intuitive for a broad audience.
Similarly, challenges with incomplete information—like unclear candy origins—mirrored real-world scenarios where ambiguous naming system can make navigation more difficult.