Information Architecture

1
Information Architecture

• Weinman, chapter 6
• What is Information Architecture?
• Process
• Categories
• Labels
• Case Studies

2
What is Information Architecture?

• OBJECTIVE is to organize site so content is easy
  to find and use
• ORGANIZATION of site information includes the
  following tasks
• Outline site structure
• Define categories and labels
• Decide where information should be placed
• Decide sequence of information

3
Organizational systems

• Non-web examples
• Libraries Dewey Decimal System
• Books table of contents, chapters, index
• Common systems
• Alphabetical
• Geographical
• Chronological
• By topic
• By importance to developer or user

4
Navigational Systems

• Hierarchical
• Linear - sequential
• Hub and spokes return to central page to go
  other pages
• Hypertext no start and end
• Navigation can be shallow or deep

5
Process

• List out main page topics
• Use index cards or sticky notes to group topics
• Use groupings to determine category names
• Structure can be represented electronically
  (Visio, Inspiration, Illustrator, Freehand, Corel
  Draw)

6
How many Categories??

• Rule of thumb fewer than 8
• People have strong opinions about this
• Can increase the number of links by offering
  different groupings of categories
• Browse related sites for ideas

7
Labels

• Use labels that make sense to the user
• Avoid insider or cutesie language
• It is useful to talk to users
• Keep labels consistent throughout site

8
Summary

• Information architecture has to do with how you
  organize the site
• Categorize based on user needs
• Choose labels with the user in mind test your
  choices!