14. MIRUM AGENCY 2014
Why did we put the living room in the middle?
Questions
Why is the kitchen near the dining room?
Why did we put the family bedrooms upstairs?
Why is the playroom downstairs?
15. MIRUM AGENCY 2014
But wait, grandma has a bad back, she can’t go up
and down the stairs all day along…
What are we to do?
22. Navigation
Right
Left
Findability
Why do we need IA?
SEO
So users can find
your website
So users can find the
information they’re
looking for
So users know
where they are
http://www.slideshare.net/jrs76/what-is-information-architecture-and-how-can-it-help-my-website?related=1
23. MIRUM AGENCY 2014
Information Scent
Findability
Is an analogy that compares how humans
seek information with animals seeking food.
• Refers to the extent to which users can predict
what’s ahead (in a link or in an article)
• Information scents includes titles and links that
helps visitors find what they are looking for
• Users will feel duped if they don’t get sufficient
payoff from going down a path
http://www.slideshare.net/jrs76/what-is-information-architecture-and-how-can-it-help-my-website?related=1
24. MIRUM AGENCY 2014
It helps visitors know that your site is fertile hunting
grounds for the things they are looking for.
YOU’RE GETTING CLOSER
Information scent says to the user
Scientology
About
The Church
Book of
Scientology
Scientology
Beliefs
Church
History
Church
Hierarchy
Book of
Temptations
Book of
Prophets
Beliefs on
Marriage
Beliefs on
Paradise
http://www.slideshare.net/jrs76/what-is-information-architecture-and-how-can-it-help-my-website?related=1
25. MIRUM AGENCY 2014
• Search engines index (scan) your site hierarchically
• Pages higher in the hierarchy are given more weight
• SEO also make note of silos of info and relationships
• Well architected site makes information more findable
Scientology
About
The Church
Book of
Scientology
Scientology
Beliefs
Church
History
Church
Hierarchy
Book of
Temptations
Book of
Prophets
Beliefs on
Marriage
Beliefs on
Paradise
Most Weight
Least Weight
IA impacts heavily on search engine’s view of your site
http://www.slideshare.net/jrs76/what-is-information-architecture-and-how-can-it-help-my-website?related=1
26. MIRUM AGENCY 2014
• Help users know what’s available and find what they are looking for.
• Tell users where they are within the site
• Tell users how to use the site by quickly communicating features
• Give users a reference point
Sitemaps and Menus that reflect IA leads to greater findability
Use breadcrumbs let users
know where they are
Clear large title/heading
Active view on the menu item
VISUAL CUES
http://www.slideshare.net/jrs76/what-is-information-architecture-and-how-can-it-help-my-website?related=1