A blog about information architecture and design, by Chris Sainsbury
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.
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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:
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 »
I’m working in London, UK as an information architect, and use this blog to share my thoughts on IA and design in general. CV/Bio
I draw boxes is a blog by Chris Sainsbury about information architecture, interaction design and user experience design.
It's a forum for discussion on the best ways of planning and organising web sites and other digital products.
Often this planning process involves drawing boxes on bits of paper and annotating them to communicate ideas. Hence the name.
Please read this site's raison d’être for more information.