3 information architecture

© 2004 Ken Baldauf, All rights reserved.

Information Architecture

CGS2826 Web DesignProgram in Interdisciplinary ComputingFlorida State University

From Web Style Guide, Chapter 3: Information Architecture


“If the underlying organization of a site and its content is poorly constructed, usability goes down the toilet, regardless of the quality of the visual design and user interface.”


Information Architecture (IA)

the overall conceptual models and general designs used to plan, structure, and assemble a site

encompasses a broad range of design and planning disciplines


Information Architecture (IA)

the boundaries among information architecture, technical design, user interface, and graphic design are necessarily blurred by the need for all of these communities of practice to cooperate to produce a cohesive, coherent, and consistent experience for the site user.


Information Architecture (IA) Organizes the site content into taxonomies and

hierarchies of information Communicate conceptual overviews and the overall

site organization to the design team and clients Research and design the core site navigation

concepts Set standards and specifications for handling site

markup and format Design and implement search optimization

standards and strategies


5 Steps to IA Nirvana

1. Inventory your content

2. Establish a hierarchical outline, and create a controlled vocabulary for major content areas

3. Chunking: Divide your content into logical units

4. Draw site diagrams that illustrate site structure and navigation links

5. Test and Analyze the organization interactively with users


Hierarchy

A hierarchy organizes website content from the most general to the most specific, and illustrate the relationships between the content.


Taxonomy

The science and practice of classification through a controlled vocabulary.

Information can be organized by category, time, location, alphabet, and/or continuum.


Tools for Organizing Content

Card sorting Whiteboard Brainstorming Sessions


The Value of Chunking

Short chunks of information are useful in that they:

1.are easy to read on computer screens

2.are convenient to place in a linked structure

3.provides a modular layout consistent throughout a site

4.provide good page layout


Site Structure A site structure should match user expectations, be

logical and predictable, and utilize consistent methods and terminology.

A user’s mental model of a site should be clear, not confusing.


“The goal is to build a hierarchy of menus and content pages that feels natural to users and doesn’t mislead them or interfere with their use of the site.”

Too shallow Too deep


“In a larger site, with maybe hundreds or thousands of pages of content, web search is the only efficient means to locate particular content.”


Site Structural Themes


A Hierarchical structure should not force the user to back out to access another branch.


Site Structural Themes

Web structures are best suited for small Websites


Site Diagrams

The pattern of directories and subdirectories of the site files should mirror the major content divisions and structures as shown on the site diagram.


Wireframes Wireframes force teams to stay focused on the information

architecture and structural design without getting sidetracked by the distraction of the visual layer.


Canonical Form(presenting info)