This document provides an introduction to an information architecture and design workshop. It begins with an introduction by Robert Stribley where he provides some background about himself. It then outlines the agenda for the workshop, which will cover concepts like user research, competitive reviews, personas, card sorting, conceptual design, grids, navigation and wireframes. The document discusses some of these concepts in more detail, such as defining information architecture, the design process, conducting user research and competitive reviews. It also provides examples of personas created for the workshop project. The overall summary is that this document outlines the agenda and introduces some of the key concepts that will be covered in an information architecture and design workshop.

1. Introduction to Information Architecture & DesignSchool of Visual Arts | Fall 2010Robert Stribley

2. Introduction

3. Introduction Aussie-Style Liquorice

4. Apples, Food Shed, Market, Brooklyn

5. Mailboxes with Paper Planes, Anthropologie Store

6. Soap

7. Intro Introduction Robert Stribley I’m an senior information architect at Razorfish, writer of music and arts reviews, producer/promoter for a variety show, photographer of various things

8. Intro Robert Stribley I’ve worked with clients such as, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Wachovia Boston Scientific, Nasonex Choice Hotels Computer Associates, EMC Ford Nextel Red Cross Travel Channel, Women’s Wear Daily Introduction

10. Intro Introduction Goals of this workshop Understand the basic concepts of user experience design Experience the general process and techniques used on a design project

11. Butterfly on the New York City Highline

12. Pattern Recognition: In cognitive psychology, the ability to identify familiar forms within a complex arrangement of sensory stimuli Butterfly on the New York City Highline

13. Butterflies at the American Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Conservatory.

14. Butterflies at the American Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Conservatory.

15. Owl butterfly at the American Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Conservatory.

16. Prints from EuropasbekanntesteSchmetterlinge(ca. 1895), by Dr. F. Nemos

17. Agenda

18. Agenda Agenda Morning Background Design Process Our Project User Research Competitive Review Personas Lunch

19. Agenda Agenda Afternoon Card Sorting Conceptual Design Grids Navigation Sketches Wireframes Q&A

20. Background

22. The structural design of an information space to facilitate task completion and intuitive access to content.

23. The art and science of structuring and classifying web sites and intranets to help people find and manage information.

24. An emerging discipline and community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.Navigation Interaction Art/Science Discipline/ Community Information Architecture for the World Wide Web (1st Edition), p . 4, Rosenfeld and Morville

25. Background Background: Defining IA The Information Architecture Institute defines information architecture as “the art and science of organizing and labeling websites, intranets, online communities and software to support usability.”

26. Background Background: Defining IA "It's hard to say who really is an information architect. In some sense, we all are.” — Alex Wright, Author Glut

27. Background: Defining IA context IA users content

28. Background: Defining IA interface information architecture

29. Background: Defining IA skin (sexy) skeleton (supportive)

30. Design Process Background: Defining IA metaphor: architectural plans Flickr.com: Cornell University Library

31. Background: History A Brief History of IA 1975 Richard Saul Wurman coined the term “information architecture” to describe the field now more likely described as “information design” 1994 Formation of Argus Associates in Ann Arbor, WI, the first firm devoted to IA 1998 First edition of Peter Morville and Lou Rosenfeld’s Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, affectionately known as “The Polar Bear” book

34. Design Process

35. Design Process The goal of user experience (or user centered) design Communicate a message that allows users to accomplish their goals easily, simply, and rapidly. Design Process

36. Design Process Design Process Discovery Design Definition Development

38. Business requirements

39. Competitive & comparative audits

40. User research

42. Content & meta data audits

43. Card sorts

44. Use cases

45. Mood boards

46. Sketching

47. Creative brief

49. Task flows

50. Wireframes

51. Stakeholder reviews

52. Prototypes

53. Usability testing

55. Quality assurance

57. Background Deliverables IA Deliverables discover design define requirements document sketches site map comparative/competitive review personas wireframes feature/functionality inventory user flows prototype experience brief use cases visual design

58. Our Project

59. Our Project What to do?

60. Our Project Events.comwants to revamp its website to become the go-to online resource people wanting to both attend and promote events across the United States. Our Project

61. Discover

62. User Research User Research in Copenhagen’s Elderly Homes

63. User Research “Through research, we aim to learn enough about the business goals, the users, and the information ecology to develop a solid strategy.” Louis Rosenfield & Peter Morville Discovery: User Research

64. User Research Discovery: User Research Flickr.com: yandle

65. User Research Methodology Focus Groups Surveys Interviews Goals Identify patterns and trends in user behavior, tasks, preferences, obstacles. Discovery: User Research

66. User Research Class Exercise: Survey Questions How do you learn about events in NYC? What type of events are you interested in? What’s more important to you: Price Type of Event Location Date How often do you attend the events? Do you ever need to promote an event? Do you ever invite people to an event? Discovery:User Research

67. Competitive Review image by brandonschauer

68. Discovery: Competitive Audit “This type of assessment helps set an industry ‘marker’ by looking at what the competition is up to, what features and functionalities are standard, and how others have solved the same problems you might be tasked with.” Dorelle Rabinowitz Discovery: Competitive Review

69. Competitive Review Discovery: Competitive Review Methodology Usability Criteria Scorecard Heuristic Evaluation Goals Review and analyze competitor sites according to particular criteria Draw key findings, which can influence and guide IA through the design phase Also: Comparative Reviews

70. Competitive Review Discovery: Competitive Review Competitors

71. Competitive Review: Flavorpill Discovery: Competitive Review Flavorpill “ Flavorpill loves culture. We embrace the high-brow, low-brow, underground, mainstream, and everything in between — as long as it's good. A city guide for those who like to go out, Flavorpill publishes a daily update of worthwhile cultural-event listings, from art exhibits and readings to concerts, plays, and festivals. ” http://flavorpill.com/about

72. Competitive Review: Flavorpill Discovery: Competitive Review Home Page Search Recent Activity Our Pick What’s Happening Today Events calendar Featured Venue Featured Events Giveaways New York Guide

74. Today

75. Editor Picks

76. Giveaways

77. Venues

78. Daily Dose

80. SignUp/ Profile

81. Follow Us (RSS, Facebook, Twitter)

83. Calendar

84. Filtering

85. Google maps

86. Comments

87. ProfileCompetitive Review: Flavorpill Discovery: Competitive Review Functionality

88. Going.com Competitive Review: Going.com Discovery: Competitive Review “ Going helps you find fun things to do and fun people to meet. Ever wish there were one place where you can find all the events around town? Want to know whether an event is worth going to and see who else likes it? Looking to meet some new people who are up for doing fun things? We felt the same frustration and decided to do something about it. The result is Going: we now have hundreds of events a day and thousands of people who are up for doing fun things. ” http://newyork.going.com/about_site

89. Home Page Post an Event Search Inbox Organizer Tools What’s Popular this Week City Feed Recession Busters Top Searches (tag cloud) Photo Booth Competitive Review: Going.com Discovery: Competitive Review

91. Places to Go

94. Inbox

95. Post an Event

96. Search

97. Settings

99. Calendar

100. Profiles

101. Picture rating

102. Who likes it?

103. Comments

104. Event posting and promoting

105. RSVP online

106. Buy tickets

107. Event filtering

108. Link to Google MapsCompetitive Review: Going.com Discovery: Competitive Review Functionality

109. Discovery: Competitive Review NYCgo.com “ NYC & Company is New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization. Our mission is to maximize travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, build economic prosperity and spread the dynamic image of New York City around the world. ” http://nycgo.com/?event=view.footerArticle&id=49568 Competitive Review: NYCgo.com

111. This Week carousel

112. NYC Highlights

113. Events calendar

114. Recent News

115. Plan Your Trip

116. Deals & Offers

117. Filter by borough

119. What to Do

120. Where to Stay

121. Plan Your Trip

122. Deals

123. Broadway

124. NYC Restaurant Week

126. Meeting Planners

127. Membership

129. Language Selector

130. Temperature

131. Follow: Twitter, Facebook, EmailCompetitive Review: NYCgo.com

133. Google maps

134. Calendar

135. Find an event

136. Filtering

138. Clear need for and emphasis on filtering of events

139. Calendars provide obvious benefit but are handled with varying degree of success

140. Maps also prove helpful, especially to out-of-towners

141. Profiles and community features are also common, but handled with varying degrees of detail, success

142. Free events often highlighted/bubbled up

143. Event detail pages vary, may have maps, RSVP, sharing, rating, commenting functionality

145. What are the strengths of these sites?

146. What are their weaknesses?

147. How might another event site differentiate itself from these sites?Discovery: Competitive Review

148. Define

149. Personas

150. Definition: Personas

151. Personas “Personas summarize user research findings and bring that research to life in such a way that everyone can make decisions based on these personas, not based on themselves.” Steve Mulder Definition: Personas

152. Personas Characteristics of Effective Personas Varied and distinct Detailed Not weighed down with minutiae Tied into business-specific goals Backed by data Definition: Personas

153. Personas Methodology Cluster Analysis Goals Create a narrative based on real data to illustrate user behavior, motivations, goals Definition: Personas

154. Definition: Personas Big Budget Promoter Planner Small Budget

155. Personas Definition: Personas Sabrina, 27 The party planner Location: Gramercy Park Attitude: Organized, outgoing Financial Perspective: Generous, bit of spendthrift Online Habits: Avid user of social networking sites, Twitter, Facebook, etc Quote: “I love getting bunches of friends together to attend all these NYC events. There’s so much great stuff to do in this city!” Big Budget Planner Promoter Small Budget

156. Definition: Personas Jerry, 44 The out-of-towner Location: Cincinnati, OH Attitude: Casual, yet adventurous Financial Perspective: Moderate spender Online Habits: Utilitarian use of the Web to research trips, read about the arts and pay bills Quote: “I’m visiting the Big Apple with my wife and we want to check out some art-related events.” Big Budget Planner Promoter Small Budget

157. Personas Definition: Personas Donny, 38 The local comedian Location: East Village Attitude: Laidback, loosely organized Financial Perspective: Frugal, paycheck to paycheck Online Habits: Spends time networking, promoting his act online, haunts comedy sites Quote: “I land a few comedy gigs around the city and I want to promote them better.” Big Budget Promoter Planned Small Budget

158. Personas Definition: Personas Jenny, 33 The professional promoter Location: Williamsburg Attitude: Busy, disciplined, professional Financial Perspective: Healthy budget for promotions and advertising Online Habits: Heavy use of social networking sites both professionally and personally, shops online Quote: “I manage a few bands and DJs and I have to ensure they’re listed in the right, targeted places.” Big Budget Planned Promoter Small Budget

160. Goals

161. Obstacles/pain pointsDetermine 3 tasks your persona might attempt to complete on Events.com Select a spokesperson to share your findings with us Definition: Personas

162. Lunch Break

163. Agenda Afternoon Card Sorting Conceptual Design Grids Navigation Sketching Wireframes Q&A Agenda

164. Card Sorting

165. Card Sorting Definition: Card Sorting “There are often better ways to organize data than the traditional ones that first occur to us. Each organization of the same set of data expresses different attributes and messages. It is also important to experiment, reflect, and choose which organization best communicates our messages.” Nathan Shedroff, Experience Strategist

166. Methodology Grouping and labeling with index cards, post it notes Two types: Open – participants sort cards with no pre-established categories – useful for new architectures Closed – participants sort cards into predetermined, provided groups – useful for fitting content into existing architectures Goals Organize content more efficiently Find names for groups of content based on users’ perspectives Self Study: Want to know more? "Card sorting: a definitive guide" by Donna Spencer and Todd Warfel, Boxes and Arrows, 2004/04/07 Definition: Card Sorting

167. Class Exercise: Card Sorting As individuals: Take 5 minutes to think of all the events a person could attend Write each event you come up with on a Post-It note Definition: Card Sorting

168. Class Exercise: Card Sorting Now: Take 2 or 3 minutes to organize your events into categories (group & label them) Then we’ll share some categories Definition: Card Sorting

169. Design

170. Design Concepts Design Concepts Donald Norman, Co-Founder, Nielsen Norman Group

171. Design Concepts Key Concepts Affordance Mapping Constraints Visibility Feedback Design Concepts

172. 88 Design Concepts Affordance “Perceived properties that determine how a thing is used [and] provide strong cues to the operations of things.” - Donald Norman

173. Design Concepts Design Concepts Mapping Relationship between two things http://flickr.com/photos/annavsculture/441610821/

174. Design Concepts Design Concepts Constraints Limitations that constrain possible interactions http://flickr.com/photos/hippie/2561854165/

175. Design Concepts Design Concepts Visibility “Just the right things have to be visible: to indicate what parts operate and how, to indicate how the user is to interact with the device.” - Donald Norman http://flickr.com/photos/huladancer22/530743543/

176. 92 Design Concepts Design Concepts Feedback “Sending back to the user information about what action has actually been done, what result has been accomplished.” - Donald Norman

177. Conceptual Design

178. Conceptual Design Design: Conceptual Design Home Page Category Page Details Page

179. Grids

180. Grids Design: Grids “The true benefit of using a grid is that as you learn how to use a grid, you start to think systemically about the solutions you design. You start to try and see how various details can echo one another, how different regions of the canvas can be reused or used for similar things, how like elements can be grouped together.” KhoiVinh, design Director, NYTimes.com

181. Grids Design: Grids

182. Grids Design: Grids

183. Grids Design: Grids

184. Grids Design: Grids 12 column grid

185. Grids Design: Grids 3 columns of 4 units

186. Grids Design: Grids 4 columns of 3 units

187. Grids Design: Grids 6 columns of 2 units

188. Grids Design: Grids Variations of the 12 column grid

189. Grids Design: Grids Self Study: Want to know more? Learn more about design by grids: 960 Grid System 960.gs Design by Grid www.designbygrid.com Hashgrid www.hashgrid.com

190. Navigation

192. Local – left nav/right nav

194. Dropdown

195. TabsSelf Study: Want to know more? Adapted from Atsushi Hasegagwa’s The 7 Navigation Types of Web Sites

196. Sketching

197. Design: Sketching Sketching Through the Ages 1485-1487 Ornithopter by Leonardo da Vinci 2005 Schematic representation of the major components of a helicopter by Richard Wheeler

198. Sketching Design: Sketching “There are techniques and processes whereby we can put experience front and center in design. My belief is that the basis for doing so lies in extending the traditional practice of sketching. ” - Bill Buxton

199. Sketching Design: Sketching

200. Sketching Design: Sketching

201. Sketching Design: Sketching Any guesses as to what this is a sketch of?

202. Twitter.com “twttr sketch” Sketching Design: Sketching Twitter [This sketch] has very special significance – it's hanging in the office somewhere with one other page. Whenever I'm thinking about something, I really like to take out the yellow notepad and get it down. – Jack Dorsey, Twitter

204. Timely

205. Inexpensive

206. Disposable

207. Plentiful

208. Clear vocabulary

209. Distinct gesture

210. Minimal detail

211. Appropriate degree of refinement

212. Suggest & explore rather than confirm

213. AmbiguityBill Buxton Sketching User Experiences

214. Sketching Design: Sketching Methodology Draw Limit your time Don’t worry about mistakes or style Goals Benefit from the participation of your colleagues Quickly generate ideas and refine through iterations

215. Design: Sketching Class Exercise: Sketching In teams, sketch your ideas. Event Detail Page Design: Sketching

216. Design: Sketching Class Exercise: Sketching In teams, sketch your ideas. 1) Event Detail Page 2) Create & Promote an Event Design: Sketching

217. Design: Sketching Class Exercise: Sketching In teams, sketch your ideas. 1) Event Detail Page 2) Create & Promote an Event 3) A Homepage Design: Sketching

218. Wireframes photo & sculpture by polly verity

219. Design: Wireframes Wireframes What are wireframes? Web site wireframes are blue prints that define a Web page’s content and functionality. They do not convey design – e.g. colors, graphics, or fonts. - fatpurple

220. Design: Sketching Wireframes Design: Wireframes - Examples wireframe by Mike Rohde

221. Design: Sketching Design: Wireframes - Examples wireframe by matthieumingasson

222. Design: Sketching Design: Wireframes - Examples wireframe by spaceboxru

223. Design: Sketching Design: Wireframes - Examples wireframe by matthieumingasson

224. Design: Sketching Design: Wireframes - Examples

225. Design: Sketching Design: Wireframes - Examples

226. Wireframing/Prototype Tools: Adobe InDesign Axure Omnigraffle (Mac) Microsoft Visio Mockingbird (online, free) Info Design: Wireframing Tools

227. Design: Sketching Class Exercise: Final Wireframe In your teams, create your final deliverable. Assign one of the following to a team member: 1) Event Detail Page 2) Create & Promote an Event 3) A Homepage As an individual now, you’ll create a final wireframe, which incorporates your team mates’ designs and feedback. Design: Wireframes

228. Design: Sketching Design: Wireframes Develop Wireframe & Prototyping Tools Axure Dreamweaver InDesign Visio

229. Dieter Rams: 10 principles of good design Good design is… Good design is innovative.Good design makes a product useful.Good design is aesthetic.Good design makes a product understandable.Good design is unobtrusive.Good design is honest.Good design is long-lasting.Good design is thorough down to the last detail.Good design is environmentally friendly.Good design is as little design as possible. © Dieter Rams, amended March 2003 and October 2009

231. A List Apart

233. Interaction Designers Association (IxDA)

235. The Information Architecture Institute

236. The IA Summit

237. Pratt – Course in Information Design

238. Nielsen Norman Group

239. Rosenfeld Media

241. Slideshare address: http://www.slideshare.net/stribs Additional credit: Thanks to Anh Dang Info Additional Info

242. The End