Information architecture patterns

About me • User experience (IA, IXD, user research, content etc etc) for 10+ years • Freelance in Canberra, Australia • UX Australia (late August, in Melbourne) • 3 books Card sorting How to write great copy A practical guide to for the web information architecture

IA patterns A pattern is an emergent A pattern is an emergent p answer to a common problem

Hierarchy

Hierarchy • Good for:  Small sites – little need for anything else  When you are guiding, allowing people learn more and more detail • The relationship between content chunks is naturally hierarchical  b d broader and narrower d

Database

Database • Content chunks are independent  There are relationships, but not dependent on each other • Good for:  Single ‘product’ with consistent structure  Storing content once, display it in many ways

Hypertext

Hypertext • No planned structure • Content is linked together in context • Good for:  Content not known in advance  Developing content domains  Collaborative work • Main challenge ‐ knowing what is available to link to

Linear

Simple hierarchy & database

Simple hierarchy & database • Very common pattern • Good for a wide range of medium sites that have a need for some database‐style content

Catalog

Sub-sites

Subsites • Good for big organisations with lots of separate topics/responsibilities • Subsites may have a consistent structure/pattern or vary • Need to decide how often people need to cross between subsites

Focused entry points

Why do patterns matter • Help you choose an appropriate way to structure your content • Provide an overall concept

Questions & thanks • http://maadmob.com.au/ htt // d b / • +61 409‐778‐693 • donna@maadmob.net donna@maadmob net • Twitter etc: maadonna

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Information architecture patterns

by Donna Spencer

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