T.I.E.R. Digital Framework©: A Universal Model to Evaluate Any Website or App

Why Every Digital Platform Can Be Analyzed Through the T.I.E.R. Digital Framework©

Digital products are built with a purpose. Some aim to sell, others to inform, connect, or simply deliver seamless experiences. But how do you evaluate whether a digital platform truly fulfills its intended function? That’s where the T.I.E.R. Digital Framework© comes in.

This model allows you to analyze any website or app—regardless of sector or format—through a structured 4-layer lens. Why is it universal? Because these four layers are always present. What changes is the relative weight of each one.

Let’s explore the framework:

T.I.E.R. stands for:

• Transactional
• Informational
• Experiential
• Relational

Each layer represents a value dimension that contributes to the platform’s overall performance and effectiveness.

The 4 Layers Explained

All of them respond to a user’s intent when interacting with a website or mobile application. Anyone who lands on a page is looking for something. That “something” can take many forms — information, action, connection, or experience — and it is precisely in response to that need that the four layers are structured.

1. Informational
   Content that educates and informs: product details, FAQs, blog posts, technical specs, company values.
2. Transactional
   All actions tied to business outcomes: purchases, bookings, sign-ups, forms—anything measurable and goal-driven.
3. Relational
   The human connection: community features, feedback loops, customer support, and loyalty mechanisms.
4. Experiential (Transversal)
   The user experience layer that flows across all others. It’s not just about design—it’s about removing friction, ensuring coherence, and making every interaction feel natural.

Scoring template to apply the T.I.E.R. Digital Framework©

To make the practical application of the T.I.E.R. Digital Framework© easier, this model is complemented by a downloadable scoring document that allows you to apply the framework and evaluate any website or app in a structured way. This resource comes with the PDF version of the model and serves as an operational guide to help you score each dimension, identify areas for improvement, and prioritize optimization actions objectively. You can download the Excel file directly from this article and start using it today.

Why This Model Matters

Whether you’re running an e-commerce site, a B2B landing page, a healthcare app or a social network—the T.I.E.R. Digital Framework© helps answer a simple but critical question:

Is this platform serving the purpose for which it was created?

By mapping and weighing each layer, you can:

• Validate strategic alignment with your goals
• Detect imbalances (e.g. too much focus on content, too little on conversion)
• Prioritize UX improvements where they matter most
• Justify redesigns or shifts in digital strategy

One Model, Infinite Applications

Here are three examples of how the weight of each layer varies:

• E-commerce:
  Heavy on Transactional, supported by Informational (product specs) and Relational (reviews, loyalty).
  → The Experiential layer ensures smooth navigation and checkout.
• B2B Corporate Site:
  Dominantly Informational (whitepapers, case studies), with light Transactional (lead capture forms) and Relational (trust-building content).
  → Experience is key to keeping users engaged long enough to convert interest into contact.
• Social Network:
  Strong in Relational, secondary in Informational and Transactional.
  → The Experiential layer drives retention and frequency of use.

A Diagnostic and Strategic Tool

The true power of the T.I.E.R. Digital Framework© is that it doesn’t just describe your platform. It helps you evaluate it—objectively and holistically. Whether you’re doing a post-launch review or planning a redesign, this model gives you clarity on what’s working, what’s missing, and where to go next.

This framework and methodology has been developed by its author, Oriol Guitart, and is available for download in .pdf format. All rights reserved, with the duration and extension established by the Intellectual Property Law. Its reproduction, dissemination, public communication and/or total or partial transformation is strictly prohibited without the express written authorization of the author, who must in any case be recognized as such in any subsequent use. Special thanks to Jordi Guitart for his valuable help in creating the scoring template that complements this framework.