The Anatomy of an Information Architecture Chapter 4 Information Architecture for the World Wide Web Andrea Wiggins

Visualizing Information Architecture Why visualize?

Why visualize?

Visualizing Information Architecture Why visualize? Seeing is believing

Why visualize?

Seeing is believing

Visualizing Information Architecture Why visualize? Seeing is believing IA is abstract

Why visualize?

Seeing is believing

IA is abstract

Visualizing Information Architecture Why visualize? Seeing is believing IA is abstract Need to “sell” IA work to the client

Why visualize?

Seeing is believing

IA is abstract

Need to “sell” IA work to the client

Visualizing Information Architecture Why visualize? Seeing is believing IA is abstract Need to “sell” IA work to the client First two reasons make sense because good IA is often invisible. Third reason is a practical reality.

Why visualize?

Seeing is believing

IA is abstract

Need to “sell” IA work to the client

First two reasons make sense because good IA is often invisible. Third reason is a practical reality.

Visualizing Information Architecture Why visualize? Seeing is believing IA is abstract Need to “sell” IA work to the client First two reasons make sense because good IA is often invisible. Third reason is a practical reality. Let’s see some examples…

Why visualize?

Seeing is believing

IA is abstract

Need to “sell” IA work to the client

First two reasons make sense because good IA is often invisible. Third reason is a practical reality.

Let’s see some examples…

Navigation Search Navigation Search & Navigation Organization Labeling Navigation Example: Architectural Components

Navigation

Search

Navigation

Search & Navigation

Organization

Labeling

Navigation

Example: Answering User’s Questions Where am I? Where else can I go in this site? Where am I within this site? How much caffeinated beverage will kill me? Are there other fun ways to overdose on caffeine? What have other people said about death by caffeine? I know what I’m looking for; how do I search for it? Where can I find past posts about caffeine-induced mortality? What other types of information can I find here?

Where am I?

Where else can I go in this site?

Where am I within this site?

How much caffeinated beverage will kill me?

Are there other fun ways to overdose on caffeine?

What have other people said about death by caffeine?

I know what I’m looking for; how do I search for it?

Where can I find past posts about caffeine-induced mortality?

What other types of information can I find here?

Information Architecture Components Morville & Rosenfeld Style

Information Architecture Components Morville & Rosenfeld Style Organization Systems: How we categorize information

Organization Systems: How we categorize information

Information Architecture Components Morville & Rosenfeld Style Organization Systems: How we categorize information Labeling Systems: How we represent information

Organization Systems: How we categorize information

Labeling Systems: How we represent information

Information Architecture Components Morville & Rosenfeld Style Organization Systems: How we categorize information Labeling Systems: How we represent information Navigation Systems: How we browse or move through information

Organization Systems: How we categorize information

Labeling Systems: How we represent information

Navigation Systems: How we browse or move through information

Information Architecture Components Morville & Rosenfeld Style Organization Systems: How we categorize information Labeling Systems: How we represent information Navigation Systems: How we browse or move through information Searching Systems: How we search information

Organization Systems: How we categorize information

Labeling Systems: How we represent information

Navigation Systems: How we browse or move through information

Searching Systems: How we search information

Information Architecture Components An Alternate (but Equivalent) Universe

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site Information Architecture Components An Alternate (but Equivalent) Universe

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site Search Aids: creates customized results to user-defined queries Information Architecture Components An Alternate (but Equivalent) Universe

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site

Search Aids: creates customized results to user-defined queries

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site Search Aids: creates customized results to user-defined queries Content & Tasks: user destinations, not how they get to them Information Architecture Components An Alternate (but Equivalent) Universe

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site

Search Aids: creates customized results to user-defined queries

Content & Tasks: user destinations, not how they get to them

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site Search Aids: creates customized results to user-defined queries Content & Tasks: user destinations, not how they get to them “ Invisible” Components: key background processes Information Architecture Components An Alternate (but Equivalent) Universe

Browsing Aids: present users with pre-defined paths through a site

Search Aids: creates customized results to user-defined queries

Content & Tasks: user destinations, not how they get to them

“ Invisible” Components: key background processes

Browsing Aids Site-wide Navigation Systems (A) Local Navigation Systems (B) Contextual Linking Systems (C) Organization Systems (D) Sitemaps/TOCs (E) Site Indexes Site Guides* Site Wizards*

Site-wide Navigation Systems (A)

Local Navigation Systems (B)

Contextual Linking Systems (C)

Organization Systems (D)

Sitemaps/TOCs (E)

Site Indexes

Site Guides*

Site Wizards*

Search Aids Search Interface (1) Query Language Retrieval Algorithms Search Zones (2) Search Results (3)

Search Interface (1)

Query Language

Retrieval Algorithms

Search Zones (2)

Search Results (3)

Content & Tasks Identifiers (1) Lists (2) Chunks (3) Embedded Links (4) Headings Embedded Metadata Sequential Aids

Identifiers (1)

Lists (2)

Chunks (3)

Embedded Links (4)

Headings

Embedded Metadata

Sequential Aids

“Invisible” Components Controlled Vocabularies Thesauri Rule Sets

Controlled Vocabularies

Thesauri

Rule Sets