Information Architecture

1
Information Architecture Design

• Week 10 Schedule
• Construction of IA and Web
• Rosenfeld Chapters 17 18
• IA Tools
• Presentations

2
IA Methodology
Planning
Analysis
Design
Verification
Construction
Maintenance
3
The Construction Phase

• Construction is building the product.
• Using all of the information from the preceding
  phases to make a product suited to the users and
  their environment.
• Following structured information engineering
  principles to provide rigor and metrics.

4
Construction

• Developing Content
• Organizing Content
• Version Control
• Conventions
• Construction Methods
• Templates
• File Names
• Cooperative Development
• Backups
• Revision to Project Plan

5
Construction Tips

• Dont Use Bad Tools
• Interfaces
• Functionality
• Import Exports File Formats
• Dont Rely on Tool-Generated Markup
• Fine-Tune Generated Markup
• Save Multiple (All) Versions
• Prepare Different Formats
• Backups
• Coordination
• Version Control
• Serial Development
• Communication

6
Construction Resources

• http//www.dynamicdrive.com/
• http//perso.wanadoo.fr/ablavier/TidyGUI/
• http//builder.cnet.com/webbuilding/0-7600.html
• http//www.webdeveloper.com/
• http//www.ddj.com/topics/xml/
• http//info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/contents.html

7
More Construction Resources

• http//www.apple.com/developer/
• http//msdn.microsoft.com/
• http//devedge.netscape.com/
• http//www.w3.org/Style/CSS/
• http//oreilly.com/
• http//www.onjava.com/
• http//www.onlamp.com/
• http//sourceforge.net/
• http//www.w3.org/

8
Constructing the IA Product

• Planning and Designing Are Over Whats Next?
• Construction (Depending on Size) Uses the Most
  Project Resources
• Time
• People
• Selling the Project
• Making the Case To Management
• Business Strategy for Developers IA Project
  Team
• IA Is A Resource

9
Making the Case for IA

• The Methods Save Resources
• Less Design Errors
• Faster Construction
• Following the Plan
• Over 90 of Software Projects Are Never Completed
• Requirements Arent Tracked for Subsequent
  Versions

10
IA ROI (Construction Goals)

• Find Information Faster
• Find Information (!)
• Make Sense of Information Found
• Less Time Searching for Documents
• More Completed Purchases
• Fewer Navigation Errors
• Better Understanding of Information (Context and
  Content)
• Fewer System Resources
• Less Technical Support
• Higher Quality Final Design
• Difficult To Verify and Measure

11
IA Value ( Design) Checklist

• Reduces the Cost of Finding Information
• Reduces the Cost of Finding Wrong Information
• Reduces the Cost of Not Finding Information at
  All
• Provides a Competitive Advantage
• Increases Product Awareness
• Increases Sales
• Makes Using a Site A More Enjoyable Experience
• (IAv2 p 344-5)

12
IA Value Checklist, Part Two

• Improves Brand Loyalty
• Ease of Use
• Strong, Unique Design
• Reduces Reliance on Documentation
• Reduces Maintenance Costs
• Sensible IA Structures
• For the User
• For the Developers
• Reduces Training Costs
• Reduces Staff Turnover
• Better Development Methods
• Comments
• File Sharing
• Backups

13
IA Value Checklist, Part Three

• Reduces Organizational Upheaval
• Design Goals are Explained and Agreed Upon Early
• Good Development Reduces Surprises
• Reduces Organizational Politicking
• Improves Knowledge Sharing
• Group Communication
• File Sharing
• Development Standards
• Templates
• Tools
• Reduces Duplication of Effort
• Solidifies Business Strategies
• (IAv2 p 344-5)

14
IA Business Strategy

• Business Goals vs. IA
• IA Exposes Business Goals
• New Models for Organizing Information
• New Tasks With Old Information
• New Ways of Working
• The IA Project Plan as a Business Plan
• Focus on the Users/Customers
• Focus on Goals (in addition to Tasks)
• Corporate Sponsorship
• Business Needs
• Executive Clarity

15
Presentations
16
Lets Talk about IA Tools

• What Are You Using?
• HTML/XML
• Graphics
• Navigation
• Image Maps
• Javascripts
• Forms
• Site Maps
• Directories

17
Class Work IA Tools for the Future

• Search Engine (For a Web Site)
• Thesaurus Management
• Portals
• Web Analytics
• Diagramming
• Integrated HTML/CSS/XML Editors
• Site Management

18
Web Design Critiques

• www.ischool.utexas.edu
• www.utexas.edu
• news.google.com
• Graphic of Current Page
• Re-Design Graphic of Current Page
• Text Commentary on Changes and Why
• Use Callouts
• Use Class Readings to Make your Points
• Use Design Ideas from other Sites to Make your
  Points
• Be Creative Innovate
• Build on These Ideas