Open Card Sort Template: Card Lists to Copy
An open card sort lets participants create their own category names and groupings. Use this template when you are designing a new information architecture from scratch and want to discover how users naturally think about your content.
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.
When to Run an Open Card Sort
Run an open card sort when you are starting a new information architecture and have no existing structure, or when you want to challenge your assumptions about how content should be grouped. Participants create and name their own categories, revealing how users naturally think about your content.
Ready Card Lists
Copy these card lists to use as a starting point. Participants will create their own category names and groupings.
Content Library (Open)
Organize a content hub or knowledge base.
- Getting Started Guide
- Video Tutorials
- API Documentation
- Troubleshooting FAQs
- Best Practices
- Case Studies
- Webinar Recordings
- Product Updates
- Security Overview
- Pricing Information
- Community Forum
- Template Gallery
- Integration Guides
- Release Notes
- Contact Support
Copy the cards to paste into a spreadsheet, or download the CSV to import directly.
Online Course (Open)
Structure learning materials for a course.
- Course Overview
- Lecture Videos
- Reading Assignments
- Practice Quizzes
- Discussion Board
- Assignment Submissions
- Grading Rubric
- Study Guides
- Office Hours Schedule
- Peer Review Tasks
- Final Exam
- Certificate Download
Copy the cards to paste into a spreadsheet, or download the CSV to import directly.
Software Dashboard (Open)
Organize features in a software dashboard menu.
- Overview Dashboard
- Create New Project
- Recent Activity
- Team Members
- Reports
- Settings
- Integrations
- Data Export
- Billing
- Usage Analytics
- Notifications
- Help and Support
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- API Keys
- Audit Log
Copy the cards to paste into a spreadsheet, or download the CSV to import directly.
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.
Participant Instructions Script
Welcome! In this open card sort, you will see cards with labels. Your task is to group these cards into categories that make sense to you, and give each category a name.
- Read through all the cards first.
- Create groups by dragging cards together. You can make as many groups as you need.
- Give each group a short, clear name that describes what the cards have in common.
- Do not worry about making the perfect structure. We want to see how you naturally think about this content.
Once you have grouped all the cards and named your categories, click Submit. Thank you!
How to Merge Participant Labels
Participants will create many different category names for similar concepts. Your first analysis step is to standardize these labels by merging synonyms. For example, if five participants created groups called 'Help', 'Support', 'Customer Service', 'Assistance' and 'Get Help', merge them into one category called 'Support'. This lets you see the true grouping patterns when you unlock the full analysis with similarity matrix and dendrogram.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is an open sort different from a closed sort?
In an open sort, participants create their own category names and decide how many groups to make. In a closed sort, you provide the categories and participants place cards into them. Open sorts are better for discovery; closed sorts are better for validation.
How many cards should I include?
Aim for 20 to 60 cards. Fewer than 20 does not give enough grouping signal. More than 60 can tire participants and lead to rushed decisions. If you have more content, focus on the most important or most confusing items.
What do I do with all the different category names?
Standardize them by merging synonyms. Look for groups like 'Help', 'Support' and 'Customer Service' and treat them as one category. After merging, the full analysis (with similarity matrix and dendrogram) shows you the grouping patterns across all participants.
Related Templates and Guides
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.