Your mother is an information architect

Your mother is aninformation architect

Eric Reiss@elreiss

UX Salon, 6 April 2014Tel Aviv, Israel

What is it?Why should we do it?

How do we do it?

מה

The Information Architect will organize information and design strategies using data from usability testing on how users interact with a company’s communications systems. Information Architects must be able to translate user behavior into media structure, craft interactive experiences, produce workflow diagrams and other production materials, as well as organize information into site maps, to name few job duties. They also must be able to coordinate with Web Producers and creative and production departments to implement their strategies. An understanding of web production software, such as Visio, Dreamweaver, Office and Photoshop is required. A degree in information technology, MIS, MLS, or Engineering is generally preferred for the Information Architect position. A strong portfolio is also considered beneficial.

A job description - 2013

Don’t try thisat home.

She is atrained

professional.

Information architecture Model ver. 0.01(synthesis of ~900 terms, 8 April 2000)

Information

InformationArchitect

Information

UserIA Goals•Meet user-needs•Mediation•Usability•Added value

•Navigate•Search•Browse•Evaluate

•Design•Implement•Structure•Tag/index

•Analysis•Model•Classify•Evaluate

•Create•Own•Edit•Manage

Standards

DisciplinesPolicies

Technology

This is what it looks like

Home page

About usProducts

Sales

History

Red products

Mission

Green products

Blue products

Dealer addresses

Data sheet

Search Contact

It can also look like this

Or even this

Source: wiki.collectionspace.org

And IAs use big words...� Ontology� Taxonomy� Faceted classification

Is informationarchitecture

scary?

It shouldn’t be!

The Information Architect will organize information and design strategies using data from usability testing on how users interact with a company’s communications systems. Information Architects must be able to translate user behavior into media structure, craft interactive experiences, produce workflow diagrams and other production materials, as well as organize information into site maps, to name few job duties. They also must be able to coordinate with Web Producers and creative and production departments to implement their strategies. An understanding of web production software, such as Visio, Dreamweaver, Office and Photoshop is required. A degree in information technology, MIS, MLS, or Engineering is generally preferred for the Information Architect position. A strong portfolio is also considered beneficial.

IA job description - 2013

The Driver will be responsible for planning, and performing transportation services based on time-to-destination, the need to view scenic attractions, fuel economy, or a combination of these strategies using data from maps, global positioning satellites, and empirical knowledge of the terrain and prevailing traffic conditions. The Driver must also be fully capable of propelling a motorized vehicle on a variety of surfaces, including cement, asphalt, wood, gravel, sand, and dirt, each under a wide range of meteorological conditions. The Driver must be able to avoid physical interaction with objects of any nature, both stationary and moving while operating the vehicle. Moreover, a detailed knowledge of current rules and regulations is an absolute requirement, as is a valid driver’s license. A clean driving record is also considered beneficial.

Driver job description - 2014

Sitemap

Home page

About usProducts

Sales

History

Red products

Mission

Green products

Blue products

Dealer addresses

Data sheet

Search Contact

Sitemap

Outline

Outline

Wireframe

Source: wiki.collectionspace.org

Wireframe

And what about the big words?

� Ontology� Knowing the vocabulary

� schlemiel, schlemazl, schnook, schnorrer

� Taxonomy� A hierarchy

� Yiddish > Ashkenazic Yiddish> American Yiddish

� Faceted classification� Alphabetical order� Type of word/phrase (e.g. insults, greetings)

The simple definition of IAThe arrangement and labeling of data and physical objects so people find what they’re looking for quickly and with the least possible effort.

למה

Raise your hand when you find theAce of Hearts

Information architecture createsvalue through organization

We take things and:

� Gather them so they create value� Call them something recognizable� Put them where they can be found

And everyone does this

in one form or another

(including your mother!)

Gather them so they create value

Call them something recognizable

Put them where they can be found

She even understands interface design!

In fact, everyone practicesinformation architecture

איך

How in a nutshell� Define your goals� Understand your users’ goals� Organize stuff to meet both goals (IA)

Let’s practice...

Meet the client - background� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

Meet the client - goal� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

� I want people with money to give me money

Why people give money� Pity� Guilt� Empathy� Need to feel superior

Meet the client - strategy� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

� I want people with money to give me money

� I want to stand out from other homelessby demonstrating humour

Meet the client – tactics (the brief)� I am a beggar on the streets of Berlin

� I am an alcoholic

� I want people with money to give me money

� I want to stand out from other homelessby demonstrating humour

� Can I make giving money fun for people?

The elements of good IA� Understanding who the client is

� Beggar, alcoholic, Berlin

� Understanding the client’s goals� I want people with money to give me money

� Understanding the target audience(s) goals� Pity, guilt, empathy, need to feel superior

� Understanding the strategy� I want to stand out from other homeless by

demonstrating humour

� Understanding the brief (the tactics)� Make donating fun

The key is understanding.You can’t guess your way to success.

(And you are not the best judge of your own company)

Talents you need� Knowledge of:

� Cataloging and indexing techniques� Database design� Code

� Curiosity/empathy� Cultural literacy� Communication skills

Wurman’s 5 ways to organise stuffL – Location

Tel Aviv is a city in IsraelA – Alphabet

Tel Aviv starts with the letter ”T”T – Time

Tel Aviv was founded in 1909C – Category

Tel Aviv is a coastal cityH – Hierarchy

Tel Aviv is Israel’s second-largest city

Some typical problems(as seen through the users’ eyes� Too much information

� Confusing

� Too little information� Frustrating

� Not the right information� Irritating

� An inappropriate hierarchy

Five online answers to:“things to do in Tel Aviv”

Too much

Too little

Wrong info

Inappropriate IA

Not bad!

Show me how you organise your stuffand I will tell you who you are.

Coding is the easy part.The thinking behind the code is hard!

Need help?Ask your mother!

שלום

You can (usually) find Eric at:The FatDUX Group ApSStrandøre 15DK-2100 CopenhagenDenmark

Office: (+45) 39 29 67 77Mobil: (+45) 20 12 88 44Twitter: @elreisser@fatdux.comwww.fatdux.com