Case Study: Psychology-Informed IA & Search-First Systems

A deep dive into how user mental models dictate search behavior. I engineered a “Search-First” taxonomy designed to reduce cognitive friction in multi-user SaaS environments, prioritizing findability over traditional hierarchical constraints.

Project: Masters Thesis (FoodCreations.com) | Role: Information Architect & Lead Researcher

  • 1. The Strategy: Audience Segmentation

    Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, I architected the site’s hierarchy to align with three distinct user Jobs to be Done. By mapping navigation paths to specific user time-constraints and goals, I ensured immediate utility:

    • The High-Velocity Professional: Optimized for scannability and search-intent. I prioritized technical specs and written instructions for users needing immediate “on-the-job” answers.
    • The Foundational Learner: Engineered a “Techniques” taxonomy that functions as a prerequisite engine—linking fundamental skills to complex end-projects for progressive learning.
    • The Visual Discoverer: Designed a high-engagement “Scene Gallery” utilizing visual-first browsing to minimize cognitive load and drive exploration.
    A set of detailed user personas created for a Master’s thesis project, FoodCreations.com. The mockup displays diverse user profiles with specific goals, pain points, and mental models. Each persona is mapped to a search-first information architecture, illustrating how the digital system accommodates different cognitive approaches to food and recipe discovery.

  • 2. Information Architecture: Relational Content Mapping

    I moved away from flat folder structures to design a Relational IA where content assets serve as functional nodes:

    • Cross-Linking Logic: I mapped “Techniques” (e.g., Methods for Icing) as parent categories that feed into multiple “Tutorials” (e.g., Milkshakes, Cake Pops). This reduced content redundancy and improved SEO.
    • Navigation Nodes: Built four main pillars—Tutorials, Techniques, Scene Gallery, and About—to provide a clear roadmap regardless of how the user entered the site.
    A comprehensive website sitemap for FoodCreations.com, illustrating a multi-level information architecture. The diagram shows the hierarchical relationship between the global navigation, categorized taxonomy, and individual content nodes.

  • 3. Technical Implementation & Operations

    • CMS Selection: Chose WordPress for its robust categorization capabilities and ability to handle a high volume of multimedia assets.
    • Omnichannel Workflow: Established a “Single Source of Truth” strategy where YouTube served as the video engine, TikTok served as the discovery funnel, and the Website served as the detailed instructional archive.
    • Visual Design Systems: Developed a muted, cohesive color palette and rounded UI elements to balance the “boxy” nature of video embeds, creating a more professional and creative user feel.

  • 4. The Impact

    • Scalable Framework: Built a system that successfully housed 15 tutorials at launch with a pipeline designed to scale to 30+ without breaking the navigation logic.
    • User-Centric Design: By analyzing YouTube and TikTok search intent, I shifted the production focus to “Search-First” content, ensuring long-term organic traffic.

Real-World Application: While this project was a theoretical exploration of navigation logic, I successfully implemented these same relational architecture principles at scale for Nessy Learning. View the Case Study →