This document summarizes key topics from a class on information architecture, including discussing how users seek information through searching, browsing and asking. It outlines the importance of user research and provides examples of research methods like analytics, card sorting and surveys. The document concludes by assigning future class work, which involves evaluating information architecture strategies and software tools.

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The User Part
SI 658
Information Architecture
Marti Gukeisen

2. The User Part
Related Readings
Information Architecture for the World Wide Web 3
rd
Edition (The Polar Bear Book)
Peter Morville & Louis Rosenfeld
ISBN 978-0-596-52734-1
 Ch 3 User Needs and Behavior
 Ch 10 Research
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How They’re Look for It
you’ve got it. they want it. I N F O R M A T I O N
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4. The User Part
The Bad Model
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user asks
question
black
magic
user
receives
answer
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5. The User Part
(A quick caveat)
Users don’t only need “information” these days
They may instead need:
 To complete a task
 To be entertained
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6. The User Part
Why do we care?
Why does it matter for an information architect how
people look for information?
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7. The User Part
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Ways People Seek Information
the
perfect
catch
lobster
trapping
driftnetting
Moby Dick
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8. The User Part
Information Seeking Behaviors
searching
browsing
asking
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9. The User Part
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The Good About the Bad Model
user asks
question
black
magic
user
receives
answer
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10. The User Part
Yo, Berries
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Q1 I want
something
to eat
Q2
something
natural to
eat
Q3
something
natural &
sweet to
eat
I want
something
natural,
sweet, and
juicy to eat
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11. The User Part
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You may also like pearl building
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12. The (Waterfall)
Project Process
cause it’s like the project is
riding down a waterfall
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13. The User Part
The Project Process
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Research
Strategy
Design
Implementation
Administration
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14. The User Part
at Enlighten (where I work)
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Define Design Build
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Research Approach
User stuff, business stuff, all the stuff you need to know first.
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16. The User Part
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Figure 10-2. A balanced approach to
research
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17. The User Part
Figure 10-3. Tools and methods for
research
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18. The User Part
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Hello, I am X, I do Y. I would love to hear
your perspective about Z.
Man, I am
buying what
you’re selling.
It’s great to be
heard.
Now that’s
what I call
BUY IN.
Word.
IA
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19. The User Part
The Beauty of Collaboration
This is how I understand “the backend”
servers, configuration, CMS capabilities, etc.
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black
magic
But I know it’s important, so I rely on our engineering
team for this part of the discovery process
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20. The User Part
the deliverables I love to hate
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21. The User Part
Benchmarking
 Who’s doing it best?
 best job in channel
 best job in web for that process/functionality
 Don’t reinvent the wheel
Considering something new? It better be so good
it’s worth the effort of learning a NEW paradigm.
 Before and After.
You have to start before. Expect the dip.
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22. The User Part
Google Analytics
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23. The User Part
Search Term Analysis
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 Internal  External
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24. The User Part
More Techniques with Users
 Contextual Inquiry
 Card Sorting
 Focus Groups
 Surveys
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25. Project Time
With your whole team
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26. The User Part
the first group assignment
 Due at the end of class next week, Jan 30.
 the what & how brief
 anatomy of as-is IA
 elevator pitch
 business model canvas
♪
 back it up to “volume zero”
 template linked to from ctools
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Presentation Time
the part where you teach
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28. "Earning your Masters in
Library and Information
Science is beautiful."
Wrap Up
More stuff for you to do.
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29. The User Part
For next week
Due TUES Jan 29th at 11 pm.
50-300 words responding to the following:
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Polar Bear
Ch 11 Strategy
Ch 18 Business Strategy
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30. The User Part
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Rockstar & Software Eval presentations
next week
Remember:
 Tool evaluation sheets are available on ctools.
 If you signed up to present Jan 30, get ready!
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Laters
Questions?
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