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UX Atlas
Plate TOOL·021 · ToolGrid E3 · Rev. 2026-08-14

Optimal Workshop

The standard toolkit for card sorting, tree testing and first-click studies.

ToolCraft conventionFoundational

Definition

A suite of information architecture research tools, including open and closed card sorts, tree tests and click tests, with analysis built for each method.

Craft convention. True because the industry converged on it. Breaking it costs familiarity, not correctness.

On this plate
  1. 1Definition
  2. 2Local chart
  3. 3Continue from here

Good for

  • Card sorting
  • Tree testing
  • Information architecture validation

Watch out for

Specialist tooling. If you are not doing IA research, most of it goes unused.

Local chart

TOOL·021 · Region VII · Grid E3

This entry and the entries it is stated to connect with. Each line is labelled with what the connection means.

Card SortingRES·005 · OFTEN USED WITHInformation ArchitectureRES·015 · OFTEN USED WITHTree TestingRES·006 · OFTEN USED WITH

Continue from here

Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.

Often used with

These usually appear in the same screen or the same decision.

Nearby in the Atlas

Adjacent territory, found through shared tags rather than a stated link.

axe DevToolsChromaticLookback