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: A Rose by Any Other Name...

The efforts to define our field and our role are understandable by-products of our economic times and of forces in our contexts of practice. What are the pressures behind this quest for definition? What are the options (and potential advantages) of refusing to pigeonhole ourselves?

Stott, Lynn. Boxes and Arrows (2004). Careers>Information Design>Professionalism

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, and Usability

What is the relationship between information architecture design and usability engineering? This is a loaded question, and I wade into dangerous waters by addressing it, but the answer has significant implications for a variety of audiences.

Morville, Peter. Semantic Studios (1999). Articles>Information Design>Usability

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 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: 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 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

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 Glossary

This glossary is intended to foster development of a shared vocabulary within the new and rapidly evolving field of information architecture. It should serve as a valuable reference for anyone involved with or interested in the design of information architectures for web sites, intranets and other information systems.

Hagedorn, Kat. Argus Center (2000). Resources>Information Design>Glossary

Information Architecture Institute Job Board  

The IAI Job Board lists job postings related to information architecture, as well as information design, interaction design, user experience, and HCI.

Interaction Design Association (2005). Careers>Job Listings>Information Design

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 Meets Usability

A discussion of the common pitfalls of web usability and information architecture, and the state of the web industry today.

Stewart, Bruce. O'Reilly and Associates (2003). Design>Information Design>Usability

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.

Rockley, Ann. STC Puget Sound (2005). Articles>Content Management>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>User Centered Design

The Information Architecture of Everyday Things  

Information architecture is as old as human communication. Where there's information, there's architecture.

Garrett, Jesse James. JJG.net (2002). Presentations>Information Design

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

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 Resources

A collection of online resources in information design and information architecture.

Garrett, Jesse James. JJG.net (2002). Resources>Information Design

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 Tutorial

Information architecture is the science of figuring out what you want your site to do and then constructing a blueprint before you dive in and put the thing together. It's more important than you might think, and John Shiple tells you why.

Shiple, John. Webmonkey (1999). Design>Information Design>Web Design

Information Architecture: Where Does It Fit?

It seemed five years ago that 'information architect' was becoming a popular, fancy name for tech writer. Have all of the information architects of the late '90s morphed into usability specialists with a special emphasis on the Web? Or have they gone back to being 'learning products engineers' and 'technical writers'?

Lizak, Samantha. STC Williamette Valley (2004). Careers>Information Design>Web Design