1. Information Architecture The science of figuring out what you want your Web site to do and then constructing a blueprint before you dive in and put the thing together

2. Session overview Basic concepts of Information Architecture The process The importance of collaborative planning and design prior to any production

3. Learning outcomes At the end of this session, you will be able to: Define Information Architecture (IA) and list the sequence of events in an IA process Prepare the Design Document for a Web project Choose strategies for facilitating collaboration at each stage of the IA process

4. What is Information Architecture? The art and science of organizing information to help people effectively fulfill their information needs Information architecture involves the design of organization, labeling, navigation and searching systems that helps people find and manage information more successfully.

5. Why is IA important? IA is the blueprint of the site Can save money and time in the long-run Works for small or large sites… little time or lots of time to design Each step of the process forms sections of the IA Design Document –decisions are documented (guidelines) –road map for site’s construction

6. Components of IA Organization systems - the ways content can be grouped Labeling systems - what you call those content groups Navigation systems - menus and site maps to help you move around and browse through the content Searching systems - help you formulate queries that can be matched with relevant documents

7. Most important thing to remember… Good information architecture makes a web site easy to use. :)

8. Sequence in IA process 1.Goals 2.Defining the User Experience 3.Content and Functions 4.Structure 5.Visual design

9. Before you start... To ensure organisational consensus: Everyone in the organisation to be involved, but not everyone making decisions. –Determine who will be the decision makers Time management and scale of the project –Decide: formal or informal process

10. 1. Goals Define the site’s goals Ask questions: –What is the mission or purpose of the organization? –What are the short- and long-term goals of the site? –Who are the intended audiences? –Why will people come to your site? Filter the answers

11. Design Document 1 Goals

12. 2. User Experience Define the audience Create scenarios Competitive analysis

13. Design Document 2 User Experience 2.1 Audience Definition 2.2 Scenarios 2.3 Competitive Analysis Summary Appendix A: Competitive Analysis

14. 3. Content and Functions Site content Content and Functional Requirements Group and label content

15. Design Document 3 Site Content 3.1 Content Grouping and Labelling 3.2 Functional Requirements Appendix B: Content Inventory

16. 4. Site structure Metaphor exploration Set it in stone Define navigation

17. Design Document 4 Site Structure 4.1 Site Structure Listing (or Summary) 4.2 Architectural Blueprints 4.3 Global and Local Navigation Systems Appendix C: Site Structure Listing (optional)

18. 5. Visual design Layout grids Design sketches Page mock-ups

19. Design Document 5 Visual Design 5.1 Layout Grids 5.2 Design Sketches 5.3 Page Mock-ups 5.4 Web-based Prototype (screenshots)

20. Summary In this session we have covered: IA definitions and concepts A process and framework for IA Strategies for engaging collaboration through IA All it takes to be a true information architect is a lot of practice.