Extend the Walls - Information Architecture
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This guide provides information on the current and proposed information architecture for the NCMH. The current taxonomy has some overlaps and inconsistencies. The proposed taxonomy aims to address these issues by organizing information into 8 main sections with equal hierarchy and consistent nomenclature. It will be presented as a series of posters to allow for easy review and modification. Both the physical and digital spaces will benefit from the new clear and coherent information system.
Extend the Walls - Information Architecture
- 1. MUSEUM & INFORMATION A Guide to “NCMH Information Architecture: Current & Proposed” This Guide and all associated materials curated, written, and designed by Alexandria Jarvis. Spring 2011 + NCSU Master of Graphic Design, under the direction of Santiago Piedrifita For more information contact Alexandria at aij1129@gmail.com SCALE AXIS CHARACTERISTICS PRESENTATION FORMAT The taxonomy is ordered in terms of scale with many variations in it’s The characteristics which empower the new taxonomy include: I chose to present this information in a series of 11x 17 because I believe representation. A representation can vary by the amount of displayed or • an information taxonomy with 8 main sections that the taxonomy is only an initial draft and should be crafted with understood in layers of nested information. (The maximum amount of large sections which a person can digest is 10) museum staff. The taxonomy should act as a backdrop for a structure which reflects the museum as a cohesive and authentic entity. The map can main sections with be pinned up as a poster or the pieces can be stacked and converted into Main Section • equal hierarchy a booklet. They are modular in order to afford easy storage and to make it Main Section > Category ex: Is Capital Area Visitors as important as Exhibits, Are Exhibits easy to review on a desktop. Main Section > Category > Sub-Category as important as History Highlights? In the physical information Main Section > Category > Sub-Category > Item desk is the exhibit map and a brochure of programs as important DIGITAL + PHYSICAL as a community flyer and brochures for previous exhibits? Though many examples point to the digital experience of information the • equal spans of information taxonomy characteristics apply to the physical information space and also The next steps in these breadcrumbs in some cases would be Content. This ex: The span of information associated with the Museum Shop is the managerial/back-end information space. On the proposed informa- activity is not displayed on the new information architecture because to not equal to that of Education or Planning A Visit tion architecture chart there are a series of categories and subcategories include all the content would cloud the discernible structure for the sake of • consistent nomenclature marked which either should or have been present in the physical museum this representation. It should also be noted that in some cases, especially ex: Jr. Historians or Tarheel Jr. Historians? space. This map focuses on information can act as a backdrop to consider when the span of information is larger, often the next breadcrumb in after • congruent nomenclature scenarios of information retrieval and interaction with consideration of the item could very well be a sub-item, and series of smaller sub-sub-items, ex: Planning A Visit and What’s Going On are action oriented phrases, other research areas such as communication, the virtual experience, social or any slew of systems within systems. This fact conversely demonstrates Education and Exhibits are objective titles, History Highlights, For Kids interaction, and the museum building program or building layout. With all the increasing span from left to right. See diagram below... Only and Our Sister Museums are nuanced catchy names. of these research lenses there emerges the possibility to create a clear and  consistent information system which can be experienced through the main sections without physical space. • unexpected overlaps ex: Teacher Resources and Tour Information are both in Planning A Visit and Education on the website • hidden sections smaller span of information families ex: In the virtual and physical experience of the museum is it possible to -> larger span of information families that certain sections of information vary in their availability? An ex- ample is the support section on the website
- 2. All parts of the proposed taxonomy can be traced back to the current taxonomy. current Any text while is not colored but black means that it is part of a new category which has been created taxonomy PLANNING A VISIT EXHIBITS JR HISTORIANS Membership Volunteer Adopt an Artifact General Information (MAILING LIST, SHOP HOURS) Current 2011 Contest Information Ie: Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina For Teachers (EDUCATION?) Scenes from 2010 THJHA Annual Convention Learn more (extended description in press releases)/ Teacher Guide MUSEUM SHOP 2010-2011 Teacher Resource Guide (included in previsit material resource guides)/ Podcast  Membership Benefits Tours Ie: A Call to Arms  Grades K–3 Who Can Form a THJHA Club? Podcast  / Gallery Activities (same as Freds Finds in Previsit Mate- (X, Y Z & RESOURCE GUIDES) Organizing a New Club rial and Gallery Activities in Family)  Grades 4–8 OUR SISTER MUSEUMS  Grades 4–12 Upcoming How to Join  All Grades What’s Going On? Previous Previsit Materials for Tours (TOO CONFUSING SHOULD BE AT- Exhibit XYZ THJHA Message Board TACHED TO TOUR LISTING) Learn more / Website Museum of the Albemarle North Carolina Museum of History Exhibit Map Publications Previsit Letter to Teachers and Chaperones Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex North Carolina History Spotlight Tour THJHA Promo Video! WHATS GOING ON Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center North Carolina History Self-Guided Tour Tar Heel Junior Historian Magazine Order Form North Carolina History Highlights Tour North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort American Indian Discovery Tour North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport Making Music in North Carolina Discovery Tour ARTIFACTS Upcoming Programs Hands-On-Heritage Discovery Tour (all programs some for kids and some for adults, bad notifying job) Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum Museum Quest Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour Part 1, Part 2 North Carolina Museum of History Press Releases Writing in Museums Observation Guide Analyzing an Artifact Upcoming Festivals Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina Teacher Guide (Why cant these be under programs and just highlighted better) Collections Management Section Fred’s Finds: A Call to Arms Fred’s Finds: In Search of a New Deal: Images of North Carolina, 1935-1941 Fred’s Finds: North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame In the News Bits of History Podcasts (these are like academic extensions of the museum, scholarship (How to manage artifacts) North Carolina Division of State History Museums Outgoing Loan Policy (a form) North Carolina Division of State History Museums Collections Man- VOLUNTEER Tour-Planning Checklist (simple checklist should be embedded related to exhibits and history related to the museum) agement Policy (a form) FACILITIES RENTAL somewhere else) How Can I Donate an Artifact to the Museum? North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial Artifact Wish List: What Is the Museum Looking For? (outside link) Can the Museum Appraise Objects for Me? Family Fun (should be somewhere else) Family Programs (where else are these programs?) Curation Section (This is telling us all the artifacts which the museum has) Special Events Portfolio EDUCATION  February  March Conservation Section Approved Catering List  April (This category has many overlaps) (How to conserve and care for artifacts) Rental Rates Tours General Information Search the collection NEW Self-Guided Tour for Groups of Ten or More Policies (repeat) Gallery Activities SEARCH the collection OLD Event Pictures Family Fun Backpacks (consolidate to on site activities) (repeat family ) Gallery Activities CONTACT US Homework Help HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS (for young students) For Kids Only Internships (put under volunteer, not for young students) Facilities Rental (THIS SHOULD NOT BE HERE) (should be under something else, designed with students in mind, Student Essay Contest Winner CAPITAL AREA VISITORS learn more or scholarship section) (news?, is this reoccuring?) Related Links (ATTACH TO SISTER MUSEUMS AS ASSOC. ORGANIZA- Did You Know? North Carolina TIONS) Craft Activities (for anyone) North Carolina Historical Time Lines (for big groups, under tours) For Teachers Scheduling a tour ABOUT US 2010-2011 Teacher Resource Guide FOR KIDS ONLY Information needed to schedule a group tour Tours Pre-visit Materials Sites Director’s Welcome Tour Checklist Tips for a safe and well-planned trip to Raleigh Online Teacher Workshops & Teacher Institute (new) Mission Statement North Carolina History Resources Database New security procedures Museum History North Carolina Museum of History Associates (OUTSIDE LINK) North Carolina Museum of History Foundation, Inc. (OUTSIDE Videos on Demand History-in-a-Box Kits & Educator Notebooks Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Distance Learning Classes SUPPORT Financial donations LINK) Add current SPONSORS? (shows on teacher page)
- 3. 1 proposed span of information families taxonomy + ABOUT US + EXHIBITS LEARN MORE/ EXPLORE layers of nested info + SUPPORT (Affiliations/Related Organizations) 1 + TOURS + FOR TEACHERS EVENTS/CALENDAR (What’s Going On) main section + FOR STUDENTS
- 4. 2 + ABOUT US General Information + EXHIBITS Current LEARN MORE/ EXPLORE About the COLLECTION / ARTIFACTS CONTACT US / Staff directory + Previous About the exhibits Director’s Welcome + upcoming About history + Mission Statement + EXHIBIT MAP Museum History FOR TEACHERS main section > category North Carolina Museum of History Associates North Carolina Museum of History Foundation, Inc. Facilities Rental Press Releases + TOURS TOURS - General Public, Self Guided Tour for Groups of Ten or More Educational resources for the MUSEUM VISIT Educational resources for the CLASSROOM In the News TOURS - FOR SCHOOLS (For Teachers) Educational opportunities for the STUDENT + MUSEUM SHOP + Capital Area Visitors Professional development for the teacher + SUPPORT (Affiliations/Related Organizations) Financial donations + EVENTS/CALENDAR (What’s Going On) Upcoming Programs & Festivals + FOR STUDENTS K-12 students (maybe a packet for them) + SPONSORS (SHOWS ON TEACHER PAGE) North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial High School Students + Membership College Students + Volunteer Adopt an Artifact Our Sister Museums Related Links Participating in Collection Management
- 5. 3 + ABOUT US General Information + EXHIBITS Current LEARN MORE/ EXPLORE About the COLLECTION / ARTIFACTS + x: Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina: Learn more (extended description in press releas- E Collections Management Section (How to manage artifacts) CONTACT US / Staff directory es)/ Teacher Guide (included in previsit material resource guides)/ Podcast Curation Section (Categories of artifacts) Director’s Welcome + Ex: A Call to Arms: Podcast / Gallery Activities (same as Freds Finds in Previsit Material and Gal- Conservation Section (How to conserve and care for artifacts) + Mission Statement lery Activities in Family) Search the collection NEW + Upcoming SEARCH the collection OLD Museum History + Previous About the exhibits North Carolina Museum of History Associates (Direct or Repeat Exhibit Information) + Ex: Knights of the Black Flag Learn more / Website North Carolina Museum of History Foundation, Inc. + EXHIBIT MAP About history Facilities Rental Bits of History Podcasts Special Events Portfolio History Highlights Approved Catering List Did You Know? North Carolina main section category sub-category TOURS Rental Rates North Carolina Historical Time Lines Policies Event Pictures FOR TEACHERS Press Releases + TOURS - General Public, Self Guided Tour for Groups of Ten or More TOUR activities Backpacks Gallery Activities (Family Fun) In the News TOURS - FOR SCHOOLS (For Teachers) + MUSEUM SHOP Tours for Grades K–3 Educational resources for the MUSEUM VISIT Tours for Grades 4-12 2010-2011 Teacher Resource Guide Tours for All Grades (Could repeat tour info, previsit materials, and guides OR could direct to the tour- SUPPORT (Affiliations/Related Organizations) All Pre-visit Materials schools section of the site) Tour Checklist Educational resources for the CLASSROOM + Capital Area Visitors North Carolina History Resources Database + Financial donations Scheduling a tour Videos on Demand Information needed to schedule a group tour History-in-a-Box Kits Educator Notebooks + SPONSORS (SHOWS ON TEACHER PAGE) Distance Learning Classes Sites + Membership Tips for a safe and well-planned trip to Raleigh History Highlights + Volunteer New security procedures Educational opportunities for the STUDENT Jr. Historians Adopt an Artifact Professional development for the teacher EVENTS/CALENDAR (What’s Going On) Our Sister Museums Online Teacher Workshops Teacher Institute (new) Museum of the Albemarle Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center + FOR STUDENTS Upcoming Programs Festivals North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort February North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport March Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum April North Carolina Museum of History + K-12 students (maybe a packet for them) North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial For Kids Only Related Links, (related organizations) Jr. Historians Participating in Collection Management Homework Help How Can I Donate an Artifact to the Museum? History HIghlights Artifact Wish List: What Is the Museum Looking For? Craft Activities Can the Museum Appraise Objects for Me? High School Students Internships, etc. College Students Student Essay Contest Winner
- 6. 4 + ABOUT US General Information + EXHIBITS Current LEARN MORE/ EXPLORE About the COLLECTION / ARTIFACTS + x: Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina: Learn more (extended description in press releas- E Collections Management Section (How to manage artifacts) CONTACT US / Staff directory es)/ Teacher Guide (included in previsit material resource guides)/ Podcast North Carolina Division of State History Museums Outgoing Loan Policy (A FORM) Director’s Welcome + Ex: A Call to Arms: Podcast / Gallery Activities (same as Freds Finds in Previsit Material and Gal- North Carolina Division of State History Museums Collections Management Policy (A FORM) + Mission Statement lery Activities in Family) How Can I Donate an Artifact to the Museum? Artifact Wish List: What Is the Museum Looking For? Museum History + Upcoming Can the Museum Appraise Objects for Me? North Carolina Museum of History Associates + Previous Curation Section (Categories of artifacts) + Ex: Knights of the Black Flag Learn more / Website Conservation Section (How to conserve and care for artifacts) North Carolina Museum of History Foundation, Inc. + EXHIBIT MAP Search the collection NEW Facilities Rental SEARCH the collection OLD Special Events Portfolio About the exhibits Approved Catering List (Direct or Repeat Exhibit Information) TOURS Rental Rates Policies About history Event Pictures Bits of History Podcasts History Highlights Press Releases + TOURS - General Public, Self Guided Tour for Groups of Ten or More Did You Know? North Carolina TOUR activities Backpacks Gallery Activities (Family Fun) In the News North Carolina Historical Time Lines main section category sub-category item TOURS - FOR SCHOOLS (For Teachers) + MUSEUM SHOP Tours for Grades K–3 Tour X Related Pre-visit Material Tour Y Related Pre-visit Material Tour Z Related Pre-visit Material FOR TEACHERS + SUPPORT (Affiliations/Related Organizations) Financial donations Tours for Grades 4-12 Tours for All Grades All Pre-visit Materials North Carolina History Self-Guided Tour Educational resources for the MUSEUM VISIT 2010-2011 Teacher Resource Guide (Could repeat tour info, previsit materials, and guides OR could direct to the tour- North Carolina History Highlights Tour schools section of the site) + SPONSORS (SHOWS ON TEACHER PAGE) American Indian Discovery Tour Educational resources for the CLASSROOM + Membership Making Music in North Carolina Discovery Tour North Carolina History Resources Database + Volunteer Hands-On-Heritage Discovery Tour Videos on Demand Museum Quest Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour Part 1, Part 2 History-in-a-Box Kits Educator Notebooks Adopt an Artifact Writing in Museums Observation Guide Distance Learning Classes Our Sister Museums Analyzing an Artifact History Highlights Museum of the Albemarle Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina Teacher Guide Educational opportunities for the STUDENT Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Fred’s Finds: A Call to Arms Fred’s Finds: In Search of a New Deal: Images of North Carolina, 1935-1941 Jr. Historians Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center Fred’s Finds: North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame 2011 Contest Information North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort Tour Checklist Scenes from 2010 THJHA Annual Convention North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport Membership Benefits Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum + Capital Area Visitors Who Can Form a THJHA Club? North Carolina Museum of History Scheduling a tour Organizing a New Club Related Links Information needed to schedule a group tour How to Join Sites What’s Going On? Participating in Collection Management Tips for a safe and well-planned trip to Raleigh THJHA Message Board How Can I Donate an Artifact to the Museum? New security procedures Publications Artifact Wish List: What Is the Museum Looking For? Can the Museum Appraise Objects for Me? THJHA Promo Video! Tar Heel Junior Historian Magazine Order Form + EVENTS/CALENDAR (What’s Going On) Professional development for the teacher Online Teacher Workshops Teacher Institute (new) FOR STUDENTS Upcoming Programs Festivals February March April K-12 students (maybe a packet for them) North Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial + For Kids Only Jr. Historians (Repeat Above) Homework Help History HIghlights Craft Activities High School Students Internships, etc. layers of College Students Student Essay Contest Winner nested info + Denotes information which should / is directly available in physical museum space