Information Architecture Design
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Information architecture (IA) design describes the detailed structure and content of an information product, rather than the appearance of the user interface or the presentation of content. Typically, IA design follows an information architecture evaluation and consequently focuses on both user needs and the nature of the information.
While an IA evaluation seeks to identify a high-level organization and navigation scheme for an information product, an IA design provides more detailed design specifications. An IA design for a website might include:
- Several blueprints showing the organization of information at two or more levels.
- Wireframe diagrams of the home page and basic page types for the site, showing the organization of information on particular pages.
- Recommendations for content metadata (information about information, such as the information owner ID, a web page’s expiration date, and subject keywords for improving search).
- Recommendations for controlled vocabularies (standardized terms used to provide consistency across a website).
- Recommendations for indices and thesauri (to assist users in browsing for information).
- Recommendations for user personalization of content.
- Recommendations for dynamic content.
When to Choose This Method
An IA design is most useful following an IA evaluation. The IA design completes the work initiated with the IA evaluation and helps to provide detailed specifications for the content of a documentation set, application, or website.
IA design focuses on structure and content rather than the appearance of the user interface and the presentation of content. Although an IA design specifies what should appear on a website or web page, it does not specify how the information should appear or what it should look like. IA design diagrams show the levels at which functions or areas of content should appear, but do not include information or instructions about what colors, fonts, or widgets the interface should use. Visual design is used to provide solutions for effective presentation of interfaces and content.
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For help with defining an information architecture design project or if you have questions about Tec-Ed’s services, please contact Tec-Ed at inquiries@teced.com.
