Information Architecture & Design
Tuesday 6:30–9:30pm SZB 546http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~i385e
A. Fleming Seay
School of Information, Fall 2007
University of Texas
Course Overview
SyllabusRequirements & PreferencesIA & Design ReadingsGroup ProjectsDo’s and Don’tsIA OverviewWhat is IA?Information Architect as a Profession
Syllabus and Topics Overview
Weekly WorkReadings
PrimarySecondary
Class WorkDiscussions in class
Participation is the key to getting something out of this course
Cooperation & Collaboration with others in class
Assignments
DiscussionsClass discussions
PresentationsIA TopicSite design (your final assignment)
IA WorkSmall assignments due every other week
Site critiqueExamine a Web site for information structure, design, navigability, general usability & underlying design technology
Rules for Assignments
Assignments due at the absolute beginning of classDo not be late to class
Late assignments are penalized 20% per 24 hour periodYou are responsible for making sure the assignment is received
E.g. Due at Noon today, turned in tomorrow at Noon = -20%. Turned in a week later = 0.
Arrangements can be agreed upon for known issuesTravel, Serious Illness or Work
Rules for Assignments (continued)
Do not mail attachments to me unless agreed upon
Make assignments Web accessibleWhen required, notify class of your assignment via class listserv
Posting or sent email times count as submission times
For Web pages, DO NOT use MS Word or FrontPage No “Save As…”Learn to use Web markup tools & see the XHTML code
Class Work
Mailing list (listserv) Go to https://utlists.utexas.edu/sympa/info/inf385e . Log in or create an account Click subscribe in left margin. Follow instructions. To post a message to the mailing list, address your email to: [email protected]
IA Course Requirements
Use Fundamental IA ToolsHTML EditorsGraphics EditorsSite Mapping ToolsSite Organization Tools
Learn and Use IA MethodologyWork Through the Phases of the IA ProcessCreate and Maintain a Design SpecificationUse Structured Development Techniques
IA Course Preferences
IA TechnologiesHTML, XHTML, XMLJavascript and Databases
Innovative Design using:ContentInterfacesOrganization schemes (“architectures”)
Work on a Real ProjectDeveloping RequirementsDefining and Implementing DesignsDealing with changes & deadlines
Do’s and Don’ts for IA1
Do turn in assignments at the very beginning of class.
Don’t be late for class.
Don’t use Microsoft Word’s “Save As…” feature or FrontPage to build any Web pages.
Do try new Web designs.
Do use Web dev tools you haven’t used before.
Do embrace different aspects of the IA roles.
Introductions
Where are you from?
What program are you in and what year?
How much experience in building pages/sites?
Information Architecture Overview
What is Information Architecture?
What Do Information Architects Do?
Approaches to Information Architecture
Information Architecture Process
Design and Information Architecture
Designers and Information Architects
Information as Product
What is Information Architecture?
Builds on Skills, Methods & History of ArchitectureIA is not just an analogyIA is Process-Oriented
IA is both Art & ScienceBuilt upon Theory (Knowledge & Experiments)Realized in Practice (Skills & Experience)
IA is a Dynamic DisciplineTechnologies are continually changingPeople have accelerating needs & expectations
What defines Info Architectures?
Convey organization & information
Provide a logical, understandable structure for current (& future) information
Seem well-designed (perception)
Provide Just in Time information
Support reference & retrieval
A picture worth a thousand wordsAn architecture to find those 1,000 words & moreNot always a simple picture
DNA is information, now this is IA
This IA is useful too
IA has Density
Communicate structure
Where to goWhere you’ve beenHow much is there
Site Maps
Not just graphics
Tables of contentIndexShelves of BooksList of links
What Do Info Architects Do?
Use Tools and Methods
Apply Experience & Understanding of Users
Manage the IA Process
Roles IncludeApplication DevelopmentContent DevelopmentDesignMISEducationProduct Management
What Do Info Architects Do?
Work through an IA MethodologyPlanAnalyzeDesignConstructVerifyMaintain
Iterate the process
Adapt to technology, information & customer needs
AKA IA?
Experience DesignExperience Modeling (X-Mod)User ModelingUsability EngineeringWebmasterInteraction DesignMultimedia DeveloperInstructional DesignerWeb DeveloperThe Visio job search…
Information Architecture is …
Proactive Strategic for Information SystemsTactical for TechnologiesProfitable for the OrganizationCentral to BusinessApplicable to Any EndeavorNot just Web sitesInformation & Process
FluidIndispensable
IA in Context
Learning
Information Seeking
Information Retrieval
Analytical Strategy
BrowsingStrategy
Information Architecture
Approaches to IA
Mediator of the Design ProcessInterpreter of User Needs and UsesApplying Theory to Practice (Top-Down)Designing & Extending from Examples (Bottom-Up)VisionaryProducer, DirectorArtist or ScientistObjective / Subjective
Project Lead – IA – Designer – Usability - QA
What about Design?
Design as Problem SolvingView of the world as an information spaceImproving the information space
Products that solve these problemsInformation as ProductConnections & Organization as Product
Processes that solve problemsEducation (eLearning)Business Transformation (Web 2.0)
Information Architecture is critical for good Application Design
Design & IA
Creating & managing information
Visualization alone isn’t enough
Users. Content. Context.
Design is an Attitude
View of the world as a problem space
Improving the problem space
Solving problems that no one even knew existed
Creativity put to use
Applying solutions from one domain to another (synthesis)
Designers & Information Architects
Focus on the UsersApply TheoryUnderstand the systemUse tools proficientlyExtend the systemCreate new systemsSolve problems
Our IA Methodology
PlanningAnalysisDesignTechnology IndependentTechnology Dependent
ConstructionVerificationMaintenance
IA Methodology
Analysis Design
Verification Construction Maintenance
Planning
Principles of UI Design & IA
Allow feedback controlExpose the UI functionalityMake functionality clear & distinct
Reduce working memory loadShow progress & context of task
Support experts & novicesLet user select the right interfaceReveal UI & system functionality in phasesAmount of information shown, preferred
What about Visualization & IA?
Interactive GUIs are a good startGraphical views of information can provide an
overviewIs a picture (of an action) worth 1000 words?Is a picture of a dataset worth more?Graphics help with abstraction, how can they
represent specifics?Visual metaphors may be one keyNavigation as a mechanism for interpretation
Types of Visualization Interaction
Windows, Icons, Menus & PointersDesktops, dialogs & formsColors & HighlightingPanning & ZoomingFocus-plus contextMagic Lens, Fisheye lens
Web Categories
Drill down selection in a GUI
Visual Clustering
GUIs are good for users
But let’s not go overboard.“Although intuitively appealing, graphical
overviews of large document spaces have yet to be shown to be useful and understandable for users. In fact, evaluations that have been conducted so far provide negative evidence as to their usefulness.”
Jef Raskin’s Humane Interface
Well architected information makes GUIs better
The information structure(s) should guide the interface
Deliverables for next week
Sign up for the listserv
Course readings & discussion
Tools Tutorials & Review in two weeksUsing your iSchool account (FTP)Visio & OmniGraffleDreamWeaver
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