Design And Documentation

Design and Documentation Information Architecture

Diagramming an IA • Information architects are required to present the product of their work using visual representations. • Guidelines: – Provide multiple views – Develop those views for specific audiences

Tools for representing an IA • Blueprints • Wireframes • Content mapping inventory • Content Modeling • Controlled Vocabularies • Design sketches • Web-based prototypes

Blueprints • Blueprints, a.k.a. “sitemaps”, are diagrams that represent relationships between pages and other content components. • They show the organization, navigation and labeling systems.

Blueprints • High-level architecture blueprints – are usually created during the top-down information Architecture process. – They are most useful for exploring primary organization schemes and approaches. – See examples: • http://www.elasticspace.com/interaction/liftarchitectu • http://www.elasticspace.com/interaction/animatearch

High Level Blueprint M a in g a te w a y M e d ia C areer P r im a r y S e le c t f ir m A bout us C e n te r ce n te r acce ss B y s e r v ic e B y co u n try B y in d u s tr y B y la n g u a g e B y to p ic By nam e G lo b a l F ir m s it e s c o n te n t r e p o s ito r y

Blueprints • Detailed Blueprints – Detailed blueprints map out the entire map so that the production team can implement your plans. – They must present complete information hierarchy from the main page to the destination pages – They must show details of the labeling and navigation systems

Wireframes • Wireframes are use to depict how an individual page would look from the architectural perspective. • Wireframes force you to consider: – Where the navigation system can be located – What components should be included – Decide how to group content components

Wireframes • Types: – Low fidelity wireframes • No graphic elements and no real content – Medium fidelity wireframes • Include several aspects of content, layout and navigation – High fidelity wireframes • Close approximation to the actual web page • Examples: • http://bobulate.com/documents/arch_two.pdf • http://iawiki.net/uploads/WireFrames/if.com.au.pdf

Wireframes • Guidelines – Consistency is key – Visio and other standard charting tools support background layers that you can export to your web page – Use callouts for providing notes about functionality – If more that one person is creating wireframes make sure to establish procedures for developing, sharing, and maintaining common wireframes

Low Fidelity Wireframe Name of the Site Logo Global Navigation Label Content Area Footer Area

Medium Fidelity Wireframe LOGO Name of the Site Global Navigation Section Tile: Contribute Page Contribute URL Contribute Paper Contextual Links Contribute URL + Short Info Contribute Bibliography Footer

High Fidelity Wireframe

Content Mapping • Content mapping involves breaking down or combining existing content into chunks that are useful for inclusion in you web site. • Content mapping table is used to match chunks of contents with their respective destinations in the web site.

Content Mapping • Content Mapping is the framework used by information designers to combat information overload and turn unstructured information into manageable and re-usable document-like content objects, ready for multiple purposes. • Ex - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/guide/contentmap.html

Content Mapping ID Name Type Content Topics Notes Location 0.0.0 Home Home Page World map, slogan News, slogan, world map image Index.asp 1.1.1 About Category Over of web site statement, vision, purpose of About.asp Home Page web site 1.2.1 Dedication Subcategory Dedication of web site Information on who and why this Dedication.asp About Page site was dedicated 1.1.1 Contribute Category Contribute content to the web Option to contribute a URL, Contribute.asp Home Page site article, short essay 1.2.1 URL Subcategory Contribute an URL Form to fill out to submit an URL Form URLsubmit.asp Contribution Contribute Page 1.2.2 Article Subcategory Contribute an Article Form to submit a journal article Form Articlesubmit.asp Contribution Contribute Page 1.2.3 Essay Subcategory Contribute an Essay or own Form to submit an essay or own Form Essaysubmit.asp Contribution Contribute Page information information 1.1.1 Search Category Search for information Search options for the web site Form Search.asp Home Page 1.2.1 Search Results Subcategory Search Results Displays search results for Searchresults.asp Search Page entered search criteria 1.1.1 Discussion Category Discussion Board Allows users to carrying on a Dicussion Board /Discussionboard/ Board Home Page conversation about diversity Application index.asp topics 1.2.1 Boards Subcategory View discussions List of all discussions /Discussionboard/ Dicussion Board list.asp 1.2.2 Add response Subcategory Add response or new Add response or new discussion Form /Discussionboard/ or discussion Dicussion Board discussion add.asp 1.1.1 Contact Info Category Contact Information How to contact web site owner / Form Contact.asp Home Page form to request info 1.2.1 Faculty Bio Subcategory Faculty information Faculty information and short bio Faculty.asp Contact Info Page

Content Modeling • Content models are micro information architectures targeted to improve access to the most valuable parts of the content.

Content Modeling • A content model specifies: – What types of chunks we are working with – Relations between these chunks – What kind of metadata is used for describing them

Content Modeling • Types of relationships between chunks: – Sequencing: Chunks can be placed together in sequence. – Co-location: Chunks can be placed in the same document – Linking: Chunks can link to other chunks – Shared meaning: even if chunks are not explicitly linked they can share semantic characteristics that ensure they are co-located in an ad-hoc manner

Content Modeling Basics • Based on patterns revealed during content inventory and analysis • What makes up a content model? 1. Content objects 2. Metadata (attributes and values) 3. Contextual links • Applies to many levels of granularity – Content objects – Individual documents – Document collections (e.g., web sites)

Content Modeling

Content Modeling across silos

Content Modeling • Condition for using content modeling: – The content has an inherent structure that can be teased out and capture as a content model – This content model will have value for many users – Small volume of content (for manual implementation) or explicit structure (can be automated) – You can afford the time, staff, resources and technology required for content modeling.

Controlled Vocabularies • Products to facilitate the development of controlled vocabularies: – Metadata matrixes – Applications for managing vocabulary terms and relationships

Controlled Vocabularies • A metadata matrix summarizes the different types of vocabularies needed and the level of effort necessary to develop them. • It also facilitates discussion about prioritization of vocabularies.

Controlled Vocabularies Vocabulary Description Examples Maintenance Subject Terms that Home Difficult describe networking; networking servers Product type Types of Hubs; Modems Moderate products that 3Com sells Product name Names of PC Digital Difficult products that Webcam 3Com sells Product brand Brands of HomeConnect; Easy product htat SuperStack 3Com sells

Controlled Vocabulary Vocabulary Description Examples Maintenance Subject Terms that describe Diversity Diversity, culture, customs Moderate Faculty Faculty responsible for this site Ellision, Dr Ellision Easy Areas List of some areas covered , Greek, Asian, Italian, etc. Moderate Page Titles Short text with keywords Management in Diversity – Cultures,Customs Easy

Controlled Vocabularies • For building vocabularies you will need to choose a database solution to manage terms and term relationships: – Thesauri or ontology development tools for sophisticated thesaurus. – A word processor, spread sheet, or database for simple vocabularies with only preferred term variants.

Design Sketches • Design sketches are used to put together the work of the three teams involved in the design (Graphic design, technical team, Information architect). • It is easier to build “rough design sketches” that can be used for the interaction than to us actual HTML code.

Web-Based Prototypes • These prototypes show how the site will look and function. • This is the official end of conceptual design and the beginning of production.

Architectural Style Guides • An Architectural style guide is a document that explains: – How the site is organized, – Why it is organized that way, – How the architecture should be extended as the site grows

Architecture Style Guide • Contents: – Documentation of Mission and vision for the site – Information about intended audiences – Description of the content development policy – Blueprints, wireframes and other documentation – Guidelines for adding content, extending the organization, labeling, navigation, and indexing systems – Graphic design style guide – HTML templates

Point-of-Production Architecture • At this point your Information Architecture is implemented. • Many implementation decisions would be made. • You should balance your client’s requests against sanity of your production team, budget and timeline.

Design And Documentation

by Miles Price on Nov 30, 2007

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Design And Documentation — Presentation Transcript