! understanding !information architecture Presented
at Beyond The Edge 2014 by Dan Klyn

2

1998
2002
2006

2000
2002

http://www.kickerstudio.com/2008/12/the-disciplines-of-user-experience/

7.1a Store Locator Search Results
no no 7.1b Store Locator Search - No Results 10.0 Email Sign-Up yes 7.0 Store Locator Search 8.7 More In Stores no Valid Entry? Matched Location(s)? yes Valid Entry? yes 10.0.1 Email Sign-Up Confirmation 7.2 Store Detail

THE DESIGN OF LARGE SCALE
WEBSITES Information Architecture for the WWWW, 1998 - 2006

ORGANIZING THE INFO IN THE
WEBSITE “DOING THE NAVIGATION” Lots of people, 1998 - 2010

STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF MEANING ACROSS
CONTEXTS Jorge Arango, 2013

WHERE IS THE INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE?

KLYN’S MODEL® FOR UNDERSTANDING THE
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE " OF ANYTHING

Ontology! Particular meaning. ! Taxonomy!
Arrangement of the parts. ! Choreography! Rules for interaction among the parts. !

ANY ARCHITECTURE MAY BE DESCRIBED
AS A SITUATED ONTOLOGY - Me (Just Now)

Image pilfered from @inkblurt’s tweetstream

particularly ^ A SITUATED ONTOLOGY
“Fish In The World” “Fish To Certain Roman Catholics In A Particular Region”

WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN
WE SAY PANTS?

WHAT DO WE SAY WHEN
WE MEAN UNDERWEAR?

ONTOLOGY: WHAT DO WE MEAN
BY APP STORE?

…HOW ABOUT HERE?

First, the taking in of
scattered particulars under one Idea, so that everyone understands what is being talked about. ! Second, the separation of the Idea into parts, by dividing it at the joints, as nature directs, not breaking any limb in half as a bad carver might. ! -- Plato, Phaedrus (Notes on the Synthesis of Form by C. Alexander)

Ontology! Particular meaning. ! Taxonomy!
Arrangement of the parts. ! Choreography! Rules for interaction among the parts. !

The process or system of
describing the way in which different living things are related by putting them in groups.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emperley3/204872172/in/photolist-7AJhEB-8bGXNF-j72mQ-j72pR/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewedistrict/23110406/

http://abbytheIA.com

TAXONOMY: ARRANGING MEANING IN CONTEXT

TAXONOMY: ARRANGING MEANING IN CONTEXT

ONTOLOGY / TAXONOMY TANGO INTEGRITY
OF MEANING ACROSS CONTEXTS Labels Connections

TAXONOMY: ARRANGING MEANING ACROSS CONTEXTS

Ontology! Particular meaning. ! Taxonomy!
Arrangement of the parts. ! Choreography! Rules for interaction among the parts. !

Ontology Arrangement of the parts.
Particular meaning.! Rules for interaction among the parts.! Choreography

?