University website card sort template

University sites fail when every department adds pages and the global nav tries to serve prospective students, current students, staff, and researchers equally. Card sorting shows which tasks people think belong together before you draw a mega-menu.

Recruit participants who match your priority audience for the project. A sort run only with faculty will not tell you if applicants can find tuition information.

Use results to challenge org-chart navigation. If every participant groups Library and IT Support separately from Academics, the org chart should not be the sitemap.