your mother is an information architect

63
Your mother is an information architect Eric Reiss @elreiss UX Salon, 6 April 2014 Tel Aviv, Israel What is it? Why should we do it? How do we do it?

Upload: eric-reiss

Post on 11-Aug-2014

3.397 views

Category:

Design


3 download

DESCRIPTION

Information architecture – the science of defining internal relationships between physical or informational “objects”, is one of the linchpins of user-experience design. Yet more and more, people assume that the information architect must be a highly trained professional, preferably with a background in information- or library-science. It is time to kill off this myth. Your mother is an information architect. So is the man at the fruit stand. And your local bartender. We all practice information architecture, but most of us don’t think of it as such. Perhaps we should…

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Your mother is an information architect

Your mother is aninformation architect

Eric Reiss@elreiss

UX Salon, 6 April 2014Tel Aviv, Israel

What is it?Why should we do it?

How do we do it?

Page 2: Your mother is an information architect

מה

Page 3: Your mother is an information architect

The Information Architect will organize information and design strategies using data from usability testing on how users interact with a company’s communications systems. Information Architects must be able to translate user behavior into media structure, craft interactive experiences, produce workflow diagrams and other production materials, as well as organize information into site maps, to name few job duties. They also must be able to coordinate with Web Producers and creative and production departments to implement their strategies. An understanding of web production software, such as Visio, Dreamweaver, Office and Photoshop is required. A degree in information technology, MIS, MLS, or Engineering is generally preferred for the Information Architect position. A strong portfolio is also considered beneficial.

A job description - 2013

Page 4: Your mother is an information architect
Page 5: Your mother is an information architect

Don’t try thisat home.

She is atrained

professional.

Page 6: Your mother is an information architect

Information architecture Model ver. 0.01(synthesis of ~900 terms, 8 April 2000)

Information

InformationArchitect

Information

UserIA Goals•Meet user-needs•Mediation•Usability•Added value

•Navigate•Search•Browse•Evaluate

•Design•Implement•Structure•Tag/index

•Analysis•Model•Classify•Evaluate

•Create•Own•Edit•Manage

Standards

DisciplinesPolicies

Technology

Page 7: Your mother is an information architect

This is what it looks like

Home page

About usProducts

Sales

History

Red products

Mission

Green products

Blue products

Dealer addresses

Data sheet

Search Contact

Page 8: Your mother is an information architect

It can also look like this

Page 9: Your mother is an information architect

Or even this

Source: wiki.collectionspace.org

Page 10: Your mother is an information architect

And IAs use big words...� Ontology� Taxonomy� Faceted classification

Page 11: Your mother is an information architect

Is informationarchitecture

scary?

It shouldn’t be!

Page 12: Your mother is an information architect
Page 13: Your mother is an information architect

The Information Architect will organize information and design strategies using data from usability testing on how users interact with a company’s communications systems. Information Architects must be able to translate user behavior into media structure, craft interactive experiences, produce workflow diagrams and other production materials, as well as organize information into site maps, to name few job duties. They also must be able to coordinate with Web Producers and creative and production departments to implement their strategies. An understanding of web production software, such as Visio, Dreamweaver, Office and Photoshop is required. A degree in information technology, MIS, MLS, or Engineering is generally preferred for the Information Architect position. A strong portfolio is also considered beneficial.

IA job description - 2013

Page 14: Your mother is an information architect

The Driver will be responsible for planning, and performing transportation services based on time-to-destination, the need to view scenic attractions, fuel economy, or a combination of these strategies using data from maps, global positioning satellites, and empirical knowledge of the terrain and prevailing traffic conditions. The Driver must also be fully capable of propelling a motorized vehicle on a variety of surfaces, including cement, asphalt, wood, gravel, sand, and dirt, each under a wide range of meteorological conditions. The Driver must be able to avoid physical interaction with objects of any nature, both stationary and moving while operating the vehicle. Moreover, a detailed knowledge of current rules and regulations is an absolute requirement, as is a valid driver’s license. A clean driving record is also considered beneficial.

Driver job description - 2014

Page 15: Your mother is an information architect

Sitemap

Home page

About usProducts

Sales

History

Red products

Mission

Green products

Blue products

Dealer addresses

Data sheet

Search Contact

Page 16: Your mother is an information architect

Sitemap

Page 17: Your mother is an information architect

Outline

Page 18: Your mother is an information architect

Outline

Page 19: Your mother is an information architect

Wireframe

Source: wiki.collectionspace.org

Page 20: Your mother is an information architect

Wireframe

Page 21: Your mother is an information architect

And what about the big words?

� Ontology� Knowing the vocabulary

� schlemiel, schlemazl, schnook, schnorrer

� Taxonomy� A hierarchy

� Yiddish > Ashkenazic Yiddish> American Yiddish

� Faceted classification� Alphabetical order� Type of word/phrase (e.g. insults, greetings)

Page 22: Your mother is an information architect

The simple definition of IAThe arrangement and labeling of data and physical objects so people find what they’re looking for quickly and with the least possible effort.

Page 23: Your mother is an information architect

למה

Page 24: Your mother is an information architect

Raise your hand when you find theAce of Hearts

Page 25: Your mother is an information architect
Page 26: Your mother is an information architect
Page 27: Your mother is an information architect

Information architecture createsvalue through organization

Page 28: Your mother is an information architect

We take things and:

� Gather them so they create value� Call them something recognizable� Put them where they can be found

And everyone does this

in one form or another

(including your mother!)

Page 29: Your mother is an information architect

Gather them so they create value

Page 30: Your mother is an information architect

Call them something recognizable

Page 31: Your mother is an information architect

Put them where they can be found

Page 32: Your mother is an information architect

She even understands interface design!

Page 33: Your mother is an information architect

In fact, everyone practicesinformation architecture

Page 34: Your mother is an information architect
Page 35: Your mother is an information architect
Page 36: Your mother is an information architect
Page 37: Your mother is an information architect
Page 38: Your mother is an information architect
Page 39: Your mother is an information architect
Page 40: Your mother is an information architect
Page 41: Your mother is an information architect

איך

Page 42: Your mother is an information architect

How in a nutshell� Define your goals� Understand your users’ goals� Organize stuff to meet both goals (IA)

Page 43: Your mother is an information architect

Let’s practice...

Page 44: Your mother is an information architect

Meet the client - background� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

Page 45: Your mother is an information architect

Meet the client - goal� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

� I want people with money to give me money

Page 46: Your mother is an information architect

Why people give money� Pity� Guilt� Empathy� Need to feel superior

Page 47: Your mother is an information architect

Meet the client - strategy� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

� I want people with money to give me money

� I want to stand out from other homelessby demonstrating humour

Page 48: Your mother is an information architect

Meet the client – tactics (the brief)� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

� I want people with money to give me money

� I want to stand out from other homelessby demonstrating humour

� Can I make giving money fun for people?

Page 49: Your mother is an information architect
Page 50: Your mother is an information architect

The elements of good IA� Understanding who the client is

� Beggar, alcoholic, Berlin

� Understanding the client’s goals� I want people with money to give me money

� Understanding the target audience(s) goals� Pity, guilt, empathy, need to feel superior

� Understanding the strategy� I want to stand out from other homeless by

demonstrating humour

� Understanding the brief (the tactics)� Make donating fun

Page 51: Your mother is an information architect

The key is understanding.You can’t guess your way to success.

(And you are not the best judge of your own company)

Page 52: Your mother is an information architect

Talents you need� Knowledge of:

� Cataloging and indexing techniques� Database design� Code

� Curiosity/empathy� Cultural literacy� Communication skills

Page 53: Your mother is an information architect

Wurman’s 5 ways to organise stuffL – Location

Tel Aviv is a city in IsraelA – Alphabet

Tel Aviv starts with the letter ”T”T – Time

Tel Aviv was founded in 1909C – Category

Tel Aviv is a coastal cityH – Hierarchy

Tel Aviv is Israel’s second-largest city

Page 54: Your mother is an information architect

Some typical problems(as seen through the users’ eyes� Too much information

� Confusing

� Too little information� Frustrating

� Not the right information� Irritating

� An inappropriate hierarchy

Page 55: Your mother is an information architect

Five online answers to:“things to do in Tel Aviv”

Page 56: Your mother is an information architect

Too much

Page 57: Your mother is an information architect

Too little

Page 58: Your mother is an information architect

Wrong info

Page 59: Your mother is an information architect

Inappropriate IA

Page 60: Your mother is an information architect

Not bad!

Page 61: Your mother is an information architect

Show me how you organise your stuffand I will tell you who you are.

Coding is the easy part.The thinking behind the code is hard!

Need help?Ask your mother!

Page 62: Your mother is an information architect

שלום

Page 63: Your mother is an information architect

You can (usually) find Eric at:The FatDUX Group ApSStrandøre 15DK-2100 CopenhagenDenmark

Office: (+45) 39 29 67 77Mobil: (+45) 20 12 88 44Twitter: @[email protected]