Q: What is information architecture?
A: It’s basically a rather grand name for planning and organising web sites. Before a web site is built someone has to architect what it’s going to do and vaguely what it will look like. This is the job of an information architect.
The job has some similarities with a real architect, but not many.
July 24th, 2008
Whitney Hess’s recent post about the user experience of a staircase reminded me that user experience design is everywhere and affects us everyday. Don Norman’s seminal work The design of everyday things analyses the design of many objects, such as telephones and doors. I came across this terrible design recently and had to share it here. Read more »
July 9th, 2008
Since I started I draw boxes I’ve realised that I’d like to have more on my website than just information architecture resources. Which leads me to wonder what the best way to structure my site is. Read more »
July 7th, 2008
A fundamental question for me relating to the information architect role is how we fit in to and interact with the wider web team, and to what extent IAs should be involved throughout the web process. Read more »
June 19th, 2008
I’ve spent the afternoon installing and reading about Axure web prototyping software. It takes Visio functionality to the next level, by adding the ability to define and output complex interactivity and AJAX-style controls. Read more »
June 16th, 2008
The title of this article should really be: IA documentation is simply a facilitator for discussions. And the key point is this: in a web project we’re all (as a team) trying to develop a set of complex shared understandings about what this product will be and how it will work. As long as the IA documentation helps us do this in the most effective way, that is all that matters. Read more »
June 16th, 2008
I am truly baffled by the existence of the rel=nofollow attribute on wordpress comments. Even more so by that fact that it is enabled by default, and can only be disabled by installing a plugin.
It seems to me that inter-linking between blogs is exactly what the web is about. Democracy of content, freedom of speech and sharing opinions. Why shouldn’t a commenter on a blog get some search engine ‘credit’ from the page they have chosen to enrich by commenting on? Read more »
June 16th, 2008
Two books that have changed the way I look at design. Read more »
June 12th, 2008
Today I came across a dropdown menu in a web form for a yes/no question, and it didn’t sit well with me. Far too much for the user to think about when making their choice.
To enable the user to express a preference in this way you could use:
- Radio buttons
- A checkbox
- A dropdown menu
Read more »
June 2nd, 2008
A few ideas for blogs I could write Read more »
May 30th, 2008
So this is my first post…
I’m not sure what this site will develop in to - if anything (useful). But I’ve created it because I think it’s important to share ideas relating to making and planning web sites. Information architecture is such a new and evolving discipline, I wanted to get involved in the community to let other know what it is to me, and to find out what it is to them. Read more »