Indexing Web Pages: Maybe Books Aren't Such a Bad Model After All!

One of our favorite cliches is that you can't use the printed book as a model for online information. Web-based information, which is following the same evolutionary progress as online help systems, has inherited this 'books are bad' philosophy. However, any statement we've begun to take for granted bears some re-examination, because unquestioningly accepting dogma undermines our efforts to improve communication.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Geoff-Hart.com (1999). Articles>Information Design>Indexing>Web Design

The Influence of Semantics and Syntax on What Readers Remember    

The objectives of the study presented here are to help writers and editors better allocate their efforts, increase the discipline’s knowledge about reader performance with technical documents, and examine many text variables in one study. For this study, participants read and recalled one of two technical texts. Results reveal that readers are more likely to recall more important versus less important information. Additionally, readers are more likely to recall information in clauses, in independent clauses, and in the first paragraphs of documents. The implication of these results for writers and editors is discussed.

Isakson, Carol S. and Jan H. Spyridakis. Technical Communication Online (1999). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Information Design

The Information Architect as Change Agent

Argues that IAs can do their jobs better if they understand organizational change management, even if they don't need to be change management specialists. I'll also suggest a variety of concepts and practices that can (hopefully) help IAs in their change agent role, and I promise to throw in something entertaining as well.

Clarke, Matthew C. Boxes and Arrows (2007). Articles>Information Design

An Information Architect's Manifesto

Information architects of the world, unite! The environment has changed. Now, so must we!

Morville, Peter. Argus Center (2001). Articles>Information Design

Information Architects and Their Central Role in Content Management

The process of content management begins when an organization comes to the realization that it needs a system to manage content. While the interpretation of the term content management (CM) can be as simple as a set of guidelines for organizing and maintaining content, more typically today it means a sophisticated software-based system. A full-featured content management system (CMS) takes content from inception to publication and does so in a way that provides for maximum content accessibility and reuse and easy, timely, accurate maintenance of the content base.

Warren, Rita. ASIST (2001). Articles>Content Management>Information Design>Content Strategy

Information Architecture

This lesson from the University of Texas at Austin discusses ideas associated with the phrase 'information architecture' and relates them to aspects of the library- and information-science (LIS) professions.

Wyllys, R.E. University of Texas (2000). Articles>Information Design

Information Architecture and Business Strategy

Information architects need a good understanding of business strategy and its relationship to information architecture.

Morville, Peter. Argus Center (2000). Articles>Information Design>Management

Information Architecture and Ulcers

Being an information architect can be stressful. There are certain points in the design process that are more stress-inducing than others.

Morville, Peter. Argus Center (2000). Articles>Information Design>Project Management

Information Architecture Challenges

Creating the information architecture for a site sounds like a science (and some people do study it as a science!) but for our purpose as Web Designers we just want to learn how to structure the information on a website to maximise the target users ability to find what they want.

Wikiversity. Articles>Web Design>Information Design

Information Architecture Concepts for the Technical Writer

Information Architecture (IA) as a discipline practiced by professionals in the information processing and development industry has many definitions and levels of understanding.

Gummaraju, Anupama. Indus (2005). Articles>Information Design>Writing>Technical Writing

Information Architecture Defined

Much like our real world namesakes, information architects design spaces for human beings to live work and play in. The big difference is the materials we work with: cement is replaced with thesauri, timber with hierarchies and steel with interaction flows. Confused? Let me tell it as a story. Oh, and to do so I’m going to have to reveal I’m a big dork. Hope this won’t slow you down.

Wodtke, Christina. SitePoint (2000). Articles>Information Design

Information Architecture for the Rest of Us

The purpose of this article is to explain information architecture in a very simple and clear manner. If you have been confused about information architecture and what it is all about, this is exactly the article you should read. An analogy is used to get at the core concepts and several useful examples are provided.

Rhodes, John S. WebWord (2002). Articles>Information Design>User Interface

Review: Information Architecture Library Quick Reference: Special Deliverable

In this column, you'll find an overview of three IA books from a deliverables point of view. The purpose of this article is not to say whether one book is better than another, or even to comment on the overall quality of the books, but to provide a guide to what kind of deliverables information you can find in each book, and where.

Brown, Dan. Boxes and Arrows (2003). Articles>Reviews>Information Design

Information Architecture of Content Management

When people think about content management, they generally think about it from a systems perspective, focusing primarily on tools and technology. While it is true that content management usually requires a technological solution, it also requires that content be designed for reuse, retrieval, and delivery to meet your authors' and customers' needs. Content management requires that tools be configured to support authoring, reviewing, and publishing tasks, but first, those tasks must be designed. Designing content and the processes to create, review, and publish it is what information architecture is all about. The Information Architecture section of The Rockley Report will focus on the different aspects of information architecture for content management. This article introduces you to some of the components of information architecture that we will cover in The Rockley Report over time.

Rockley, Ann. Rockley Bulletin (2004). Articles>Content Management>Information Design>Content Strategy

Information Architecture of the Shopping Cart

This white paper explores the principles of design for process-oriented information architectures by illustrating the best practices in the design of e-commerce ordering systems commonly referred to as 'shopping carts.'

Bidigare, Sarah. Argus Center (2000). Articles>Information Design>E Commerce

Review: Information Architecture With XML: A Management Strategy

Despite the plethora of books positioning Extensible Markup Language (XML) as the next software programming language for IT gurus to master, the XML specification is not a programming language. Instead, it is a set of strategically important data standards that, when implemented from a tactical point of view, can provide organizations with value unsurpassed by many of the technologies that have come before it.

Abel, Scott. STC Hoosier (2003). Articles>Reviews>Information Design>XML

Review: Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web

While there are many fine books that go into great depth on various aspects of the information architecture and design process, 'Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web' is, essentially, a primer on successful website design.

Olshavsky, Ryan. Boxes and Arrows (2002). Articles>Reviews>Information Design

Information Architecture: Contributing Strategically to the Success of Our Customers and Our Businesses    

Because information architecture is taking center stage in many different information development contexts, technical communicators must fully understand the impact that information architecture has on their customers and their business. This special section, and the breadth of areas considered and discussed in the articles, demonstrate this impact.

Ames, Andrea L. and Michelle Corbin. Technical Communication Online (2007). Articles>Information Design

Information Architecture: From Craft to Profession

Teaching information architecture as a profession in the process of being born, author and educator, Earl Morrogh, in his new book, 'Information Architecture: An Emerging 21st Century Profession' places information architecture in an historical context analogous to the history of architecture.

Morrogh, Earl. Boxes and Arrows (2002). Articles>Information Design>History

Information Architecture: On the Web, In Help, and In Print  

Today, a decade into an explosion of Internet-based communication, the web is like a vast and confusing hall of mirrors. It’s full of links to other links, graphic design that distorts rather than illuminates information, whizbang features, silly eye-candy, and dead-ends  all of which impede the progress of people searching for information.

Sisler, Paul, John Moreau and Catherine M. Titta. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Information Design>Web Design

Information Architecture: Organizing Chaos, Metadata, Taxonomy vs. Folksonomy, and the Dublin Core

An interview with Kevin Shoesmith about information architecture and the challenge of organizing complicated websites. Shoesmith explains about the importance of metadata, providing user-driven organization, taxonomy vs. folksonomy, the Dublin core, the usability of web menus.

Shoesmith, Kevin and Tom H. Johnson. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Information Design>Metadata>Podcasts

Information Architecture: The Key to HTML Email Optimization

Over the years, email has established itself and still remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools to promote new offers, maintain regular dialogue with customers and generate demand for online and offline channels. However, with today’s epidemic of email overflow, email marketers face an instant verdict by the recipients.

Hurol Inan (2005). Articles>Information Design>Email

Information Architecture: You Do It, You Just Don't Know It  

As we await the beginnings of an economic recovery, it’s more important than ever to optimize rather than to innovate. Business is slower and budgets are smaller. Projects are more often about evolving a process or product rather than starting from scratch. As an information architect, I have seen a shift in the kinds of Web development projects that my clients request.

Haynes, Mir G. Intercom (2003). Articles>Information Design

Review: Information Dashboard Design

Stephen Few's Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data defines the state-of-the-art of information dashboard design. Few, who is an expert in data visualization for the communication and analysis of quantitative business information has provided a complete, practical, and illuminating guide to dashboard design. If you are designing front-ends for executive information systems for Business Performance Management (BPM) or for monitoring and analyzing the performance of sales, marketing, or information systems, Information Dashboard Design provides all you need to know to ensure your dashboards communicate efficiently and effectively.

Gabriel-Petit, Pabini. UXmatters (2007). Articles>Reviews>Information Design>Web Design

Information Design: The Key to Reuse  

Discusses the problems with poor information design: no consistent suite of information, no consistent structure, or idea how customers use their information.

Hedlund, Tina. ComTech Services (2002). Articles>Information Design