Why sitemaps?

So, you're starting on a new product journey? That's awesome! Today, I wanna chat about something you might not have given much thought, but trust me, it's a game-changer in the early stages of product design. I'm talking about sitemaps.

Imagine this, you're embarking on a road trip. You have your snacks, your tunes, and your best buds. But what happens if you forget the map? You'd probably end up lost, right? That's exactly what a product without a sitemap looks like - a road trip without directions!

But what's a sitemap, you ask? Simply put, it's the architectural blueprint of your product. It’s the tool that shows how your screens/pages link and interact with each other. Think of it as a family tree, but for your website or app.

Why are sitemaps crucial? They're like our north star in the product design universe. They provide a clear vision of the product's layout, set the navigation's foundation, and establish a logical flow between different parts of the app or website. Without them, we risk designing an experience that feels disjointed and confusing to our users.

In the early stages, sitemaps also help foster fruitful conversations with stakeholders. They get everyone on the same page about the product's structure before we dive into the design details. This saves us from countless revisions and misunderstandings down the line.

But most importantly, sitemaps keep us focused on the user. They force us to think about the journey we're crafting for them. What steps will they take? What paths are available? How can we make their experience seamless? When we build our sitemap with the user in mind, we're already halfway to creating a product they'll love.

So, there you have it - the skinny on sitemaps. They might not be the glitziest part of product design, but they're the hidden heroes that set the stage for a smooth and intuitive user experience. Before you jump into your next design project, make sure you've got your sitemap handy. You'll thank yourself later!

Happy Designing!