| name | card-sorting-generate |
| description | Generate materials for card sorting studies. Creates detailed lists of content items (cards) for user research and information architecture validation. |
| required_roles | {"scribe":"roles/scribe.viewer"} |
| personas | ["information-architect","ux-researcher","content-strategist"] |
Generate Card Sorting Materials Skill
Prepare the materials necessary for a card sorting study. This skill analyzes content within a directory to generate a list of "cards" representing topics or pages, which can be used in open or closed card sorting exercises to validate categorization.
Inputs
PATH - The content source directory (e.g., "/help-center")DEPTH - (Optional) Depth of directory traversal to select cards (default: 2)SAMPLE_SIZE - (Optional) Maximum number of cards to generate (default: 50)OUTPUT_FORMAT - (Optional) Output format: "csv", "json", "print-ready" (default: "csv")
Workflow
Step 1: Content Scanning
Scan the PATH to identify potential content items.
- Filter out administrative files or non-content assets.
- Focus on "leaf" nodes (actual pages) or significant section headers.
Step 2: Card Selection
Select a representative sample of content items.
- If total items >
SAMPLE_SIZE, use a sampling strategy (e.g., top traffic, strategic importance, or random distribution) to reduce the set.
- Ensure coverage across different sections.
Step 3: Card Formatting
Prepare the data for each card.
- Label: Clean, user-friendly title of the page/topic.
- Description: Short summary or snippet (for context).
- ID: Unique identifier (path or number).
Step 4: Output Generation
Format the list into the requested OUTPUT_FORMAT.
- CSV: Compatible with tools like OptimalSort or Maze.
- JSON: Structured data for custom apps.
- Print-Ready: Formatted for printing and cutting (Markdown/HTML).
Required Outputs
A CARD_SORT_DATASET in the specified OUTPUT_FORMAT.
Example (CSV):
ID,Label,Description,Url
1,How to Reset Password,Instructions for account recovery,/auth/reset
2,Pricing Plans,Overview of subscription tiers,/pricing
3,API Keys,Managing developer credentials,/settings/api
Quick Reference
- Purpose: Prepare for user research to understand how users mentally model information.
- Types: Open Sort (users create categories) vs. Closed Sort (users sort into fixed categories).
- Ideal Size: 30-60 cards for an effective study.
