Information Architects Information Design

Information Architects Someone who organizes material, information. In most cases, this is for the Web. Problem: –IAs typically base their work on intuition, with limited scientific basis or systematic methodology.

Information Architects Specialize In User Needs and User Modeling. Quanitative and Qualitative Analysis. Business Analysis. User Interface Design & Evaluation.

Usability Engineers Someone that specializes in usability design and evaluation of products. Works more on the evaluation end.

Webmaster Someone who maintains a website. System Administrator. Problem: –Webmasters, try to do Information Architecture and design.

User Model vs. Conceptual Model IA must communicate with the user. Prototyping

Problem –Users get caught up in visual design and interactions. –Users don’t focus on information design. Solution –Separate visual “look and feel” from content.

Wire Frames Web pages with content only, no images. Place holders for images. Users interact with wire frames. Focus is on content not “look and feel”

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Wire Frames Graphic designers work independently of IA. Gives the users, Graphic designers, etc. a common framework to use.

Information Design Organize content according to user’s view. Database or relational design helps. Website’s organization should afford information relationships.