Successful Information Architecture - the art and science
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The document presents an overview of information architecture (IA), emphasizing its importance for user experience and effective content management. It outlines key characteristics of successful IA, common mistakes, and tools for implementation, alongside methods for understanding user needs. The author, Ivelin Andreev, provides insights into creating intuitive access to information while considering emotional design to enhance user trust and engagement.
![¨Knowledge is power¨
Information is [what] ?
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Successful Information Architecture - the art and science
- 1. Successful Information Architecture The Art and Science behind Successful Information Architecture
- 2. About me Ivelin Andreev The art and science behind a successful IA • Project Manager @ o 11 years professional experience o .NET Web Development MCPD o SQL Server 2012 (MCSA) • Business Interests o Web Development, SOA, Integration o Security & Performance Optimization o Horizon2020, Open BIM, GIS, Mapping • Contact me o ivelin.andreev@icb.bg o www.linkedin.com/in/ivelin o www.slideshare.net/ivoandreev
- 3. Agenda • Information Architecture (IA) • Information seeking behaviours • Understand users • Successful IA • Top 10 IA mistakes • Emotion and IA • Tools & patterns Ivelin Andreev The art and science behind a successful IA
- 5. Still Wondering what IA is? • In•for•ma•tion ar•chi•tec•ture n. (www.iainstitute.org) 1. Structural design for intuitive access to content 2. Organization, labeling and navigation to support usability and findability 3. Bring principles of architecture and design to IS
- 7. What isn’t IA • Graphic Design: How it looks (Art) • Interface Design: How it looks before I touch it (Science) • Interaction Design: How it works after I touch it • Web Design: How it works in a browser • UX Design: How I feel about it • Information Architecture: How it's organized
- 8. Why care about IA? What is the cost: • Finding information slowly • Not finding information o Bad decisions o Duplicate effort o Lost customers • Maintenance • Training • Brand value
- 11. In Seek of Information • Consumers (Findability) o Critical success factor o Browse, search, ask… • Providers (Managibility) o Efficient content management o Clear policies and procedures • Researchers (Science & Art) o Ethnography, Usability Engineering o Ambiguity and complexity of human mind
- 12. Creativity Proficiency Usability Reliability Functionality The Maslow Model Translated Art Science
- 13. Eyes don’t lie
- 14. Eye Tracking • Measure eye activity o Cost: 5’000$ - 40’000$ • Process & visualize data • Interpret data o What is seen o Areas drawing attention o How quickly the eye moves o Path of gaze o Measure the Index of Cognitive Activity • Apply results
- 15. The F-Pattern “Eyetracking visualizations show that users often read Web pages in an F-shaped pattern” J.Nielsen
- 16. F-Pattern Implications • Write for the Web, not for print-out • Users do not read content thoroughly • The first two paragraphs must state the important • Start paragraphs and bullets with informative words
- 17. You Look Where They Look
- 18. How to (Methods & Deliverables) • Design for somebody, not everybody • Research rather than opinion Step How 1. Stakeholder & user goals Interview 2. Define content Headings, Sections 3. Organize content Card sorting 4. Label content Thesauri, dictionaries 5. Functional aids Search, Wizards, Progress indicators, Retrieval algorithms 6. Navigation Site maps, Site flow diagrams 7. Mockup templates Wireframes
- 19. Users spend most of their time on other websites Jakob's Law of the Internet User Experience http://moocnewsandreviews.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/MOOCresearchoneffectivehabitsofpowerusers.jpg
- 20. Characteristics of a Successful IA 1. Visibility of system status 2. Match between system and the real world 3. User control and freedom 4. Consistency and standardization 5. Error prevention
- 21. Characteristics of a Successful IA (2) 6. Recognition rather than recall 7. Flexibility and efficiency of use 8. Aesthetic and minimalist design 9. Help users recognize and recover from errors
- 23. Five Users are Enough! http://www.nngroup.com/articles/cardsortinghowmanyuserstotest/ • N (1-(1- L ) n ) o N – total number of usability problems o L – proportion of usability problems found by 1 user (typically 31%) o n – actual users
- 24. Top IA Mistakes 1. No structure 2. Search and structure not integrated 3. Missing category landing pages 4. Extreme polyhierarchy 5. Microsites poorly integrated with main site
- 25. Top IA Mistakes (2) 6. Invisible options 7. Uncontrollable navigation elements 8. Inconsistent navigation 9. Too many techniques for navigation 10. Fancy termed menu items
- 27. Levels of Visual Design Don Norman identified 3 levels:
- 29. Build UX for Emotion “Emotional design is your insurance to maintain users’ trust when things go wrong” Aaron Walter • Appealing Grab the user’s attention and influence perception. • Effective Guide the user’s attention, ensure he finds what he is looking for. • Pleasurable Allow the user to appreciate your website and have fun. • Memorable Build a relationship and ensure positive memory of you.
- 30. Tools & Patterns • Heatmap (Demo) o http://crazyegg.com • Design Patterns o http://ui-patterns.com/patterns • Sample Design Solutions o http://patterntap.com o http://www.smileycat.com/design_elements/ • How To Guides o http://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools o http://guidelines.usability.gov/
- 31. Takeaways • Books o “IA for the World Wide Web”, L.Rosenfeld & P.Morville o “Emotional Design”, Donald Norman /2004/ o “Design for Emotion”, Aarron Walter /2011/ • Articles o Nielsen Norman Group o www.nngroup.com/articles/ o IA Institute o www.iainstitute.org/library/ o UI Engineering o www.uie.com/articles/
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