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![IA Tools
• Wireframing
– Pen, Pencil & Graphing Paper
– BalsamIQ [source / demo]
– PowerPoint
• Online Whiteboards
– GE Imagination Cube [source]
– Scriblink [source]
– Skrbl [source]
– Thinkature [source]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/informationarchitecture-dontmakemethink2012-010-01-121001085228-phpapp02/85/Information-Architecture-Don-t-Make-Me-Think-16-320.jpg)
![IA Tools
• Word Usage
– Google Adwords [Account Required]
• Keyword Tool
• Contextual Targeting Tool
– Bing Search Suggestions
– Web Site Search Results
• Card Sorting
– UXSort [source]
– WebSort / PlainFrame [source]
– Excel](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/informationarchitecture-dontmakemethink2012-010-01-121001085228-phpapp02/85/Information-Architecture-Don-t-Make-Me-Think-17-320.jpg)
Uploaded byKerry Dirks MCPS MS
Information Architecture - Don't Make Me Think
This document provides an overview of Kerry Dirks' experience and expertise in information architecture (IA). It discusses key IA concepts like structure, organization, labeling, search, and navigation. It also addresses the importance of IA, some common challenges, and how IA can be measured and improved over time with tools like wireframing, online whiteboards, keyword analysis, and card sorting. The goal is to help translate business objectives and user needs into an effective information design.
Information Architecture - Don't Make Me Think
- 1.
- 2. About Me • Experience 28+Years In IT • Roles Developer, Business Analyst, Systems Analyst, Application Manager, SharePoint Solutions Specialist • Products Microsoft .Net/Sharepoint, Oracle/PeopleSoft, Adobe Products, Bluebeam PDF • Industries Insurance (Mutual of Omaha), Real-Time Data (Telvent/DTN), Credit Card Systems (First Data), Architecture/Engineering (HDRInc) Twitter @kerdirks LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrydirks Blog http://kerdirks.wordpress.com
- 3. IA Context Elements ofUser Experience IA is the lynchpin between ... • the original vision and objectives of the site owner AND • the first impression of your site from the perspective of the target audience Source: Jesse James Garrett
- 4. IA Importance • Costof finding (time, frustration) • Cost of not finding (bad decisions, alternate channels) • Cost of construction (staff, technology, planning, bugs) • Cost of maintenance (content management, redesigns) • Cost of training (employees, turnover) • Value of education (related products, projects, people) • Value of brand (identity, reputation, trust)
- 5.
- 6. IA Concepts • Relativeto Interpretation – each statement is vague – each person would have their own interpretation and experience for each • Relative to Expectations – my definition of each varies • Relative to Perspective – role, position, hierarchy
- 7. IA Concepts • Relativeto Experience – historical background – current process • Relative to Usage – how I use the information varies from others – step 14 is different from step 25 (assembly line)
- 8. IA Solutions Inspector Gadgetv2.1 Hyper Flex Quadro Angled Super Slicer iPhone 5 Touch Pinch Snip Snap Drag Drop Swipe Hand Held Gizmo
- 9. IA Definitions Information Architecture(IA) • structural design of shared information • is the art and science of organizing and labeling ... for usability • combination of organization, labeling, search and navigation systems Source: Wikipedia
- 10.
- 11. IA Perspectives Office WorkEnvironment
- 12. IA Perspectives Garage WorkEnvironment
- 13. IA Maturity Best Practices •Research / Analytics • Strategy • Management • Relationships • Organization • Navigation Source: UXMatters
- 14. IA Progress Steps • communicatevision & objectives • identify targets and steps ahead • maturity varies by org, group, audience , role • establish stages of learning & expectations • measure results • show continuous improvement
- 15. IA Metrics Context Content Users IA Context ContentUsers IA Overall Usability Improves In Direct Correlation With IA • better audience personas • better content metadata, options, views, filters • better context through awareness training
- 16. IA Tools • Wireframing –Pen, Pencil & Graphing Paper – BalsamIQ [source / demo] – PowerPoint • Online Whiteboards – GE Imagination Cube [source] – Scriblink [source] – Skrbl [source] – Thinkature [source]
- 17. IA Tools • WordUsage – Google Adwords [Account Required] • Keyword Tool • Contextual Targeting Tool – Bing Search Suggestions – Web Site Search Results • Card Sorting – UXSort [source] – WebSort / PlainFrame [source] – Excel
Editor's Notes
- #2 9/16/12 When we talk about IA, there is an underlying perception that this perfect nirvana is effortless and that anyone can do it. There is a prevailing mindset in our corporate culture [from the Business User, Manager, CIO, maybe even yourself] that IA can magically create the perfect solution that IA just happens That an IT Professional, with no help from the end user can whip up a solution that will make their head spin with joy That has never worked in the past AND it still won’t work well into the future.
- #6 So, Why IA? Do Any of these statements look familiar Have you heard them spoken by your clients or business users Maybe you have project requirements that look like these Maybe your CIO wants you to meet all of these objectives Each one of those statements leads to one conclusion ...
- #9 You need a simple solution that will solve everyone’s problems You need the Inspector Gadget v2.1 Hyper Flex Quadro Angled Super Slicer iPhone 5 Touch Pinch Snip Snap Drag Drop Swipe Hand Held Gizmo Each of these devices may solve one or more problems ... easily. In the right place, at the right time with the right problem ... these devices will make your life better. So, how do we get from where we are ... to where we need to be? And, what does IA have to offer along the way?
- #10 You need a simple solution that will solve everyone’s problems You need the Inspector Gadget v2.1 Hyper Flex Quadro Angled Super Slicer iPhone 5 Touch Pinch Snip Snap Drag Drop Swipe Hand Held Gizmo Each of these devices may solve one or more problems ... easily. In the right place, at the right time with the right problem ... these devices will make your life better. So, how do we get from where we are ... to where we need to be? And, what does IA have to offer along the way?
- #11 When we think of IA; it is usually demonstrated with 3 circles where IA is the intersection Context this involves not only the current ideas and understands but also the history Content type of content (documents, pictures, etc.) structure Users identifies who they are their roles their processes Let’s look at a few real life scenarios
- #12 From your perspective, answer these questions organized intuitive 3 clicks away relevant easy to find aesthetically pleasing consistent look & feel Your answers to the above questions are simply your opinion as you look from the outside in. Why? Because you are not the User you do not own the Content you do not have the proper Context Your answers are simply Opinions.
- #13 From your perspective, answer these questions organized intuitive 3 clicks away relevant easy to find aesthetically pleasing consistent look & feel Your answers to the above questions are simply your opinion as you look from the outside in. Why? Because you are not the User you do not own the Content you do not have the proper Context Your answers are simply Opinions.
- #14 The organization level of IA Maturity is directly proportional to the intentional execution of its Best Practices IA Research & Analytics *methods for creating and assessing the performance of the IA user behavior contextual inquiry content analysis IA Strategy *identify IA fit with pre-existing IA strategy alignment with enterprise objectives single, multi or cross domain strategies IA Management *processes and rules to enforce and preserve the effectiveness of the IA metadata guidelines ownership empowerment IA Relationships *how do we define the information for flexibility and extensibility content model metadata domain model IA Organization *how should we group the information taxonomy content matrix dictionary or thesaurus IA Navigation *identify retrieval methods for finding information search hierarchal menu user feedback or recommendations
- #15 The organization needs to be intentional and get everyone on board Make the vision and objectives visible to the organization Go after low hanging fruit (biggest bang for the buck) Establish awareness & training program target content by audience Maturity variances
- #16 Success depends on what is measured and the results of those measurements. The objective of IA is to improve upon the user experience through better audience personas better content metadata, views, filters better context through understanding of the historical as well as the now (training)