Information Architecture
From: Information Achitecture Resource Pack
Information Architecture involves the organisation of information into a structure that helps people find the information they need. To achieve this on a website, the designer needs to consider:
- The purpose of the website
- How the website content can achieve this purpose
- How to organise the content to ensure it is easy to navigate
- How to ensure that the website content can be easily maintained
Developing website Information Architecture is an important early step in the overall design and development process.
Identify Content Needs
identify the strategic intent or goals of the website and then identify the information required to meet these goals. This information should then be categorised into a schema or structure appropriate for inclusion into a website.
- Strategic Intent
The strategic intent of a website can be defined as the goals or purpose of the website.
There are many reasons why a client may decide to build a website, for example:- The website may be seen as a marketing tool
- To provide e-commerce facilities for international customers
- To communicate with customers or suppliersAt the end of the requirements analysis stage of systems development, a Requirements Report is produced which should identify the business opportunities and functions that the website will perform.
- Information RequirementsOnce the strategic intent or goals of the website have been identified, it is possible to determine what information needs to be included in the website. For example if the website is a brochure site, the content is likely to include pictures and details about the products. If it is an e-commerce site, the content may include product information, plus a privacy policy and forms for capturing payment and delivery details.
- What are the long and short term goals of the site?
- Who are the intended audience?
- What types of interaction needs to occur?examples
See further: Information Achitecture Resource Pack