Information architecture: Definition, tips, and best practices Inside Design Blog

Here we’ll explore some effective information architecture examples, and what types of deliverables can help shape the IA behind a website or product. You can also learn with your fellow course-takers and use the discussion forums to get feedback and inspire other people who are learning alongside you. You and your fellow course-takers have a huge knowledge and experience base between you, so we think you should take advantage of it whenever possible.

Data models help visualize how that new data will work within the structure. Hierarchical models show information in a hierarchy from most to least important. In this model, every page has equal importance, and they all have the same priority in the navigation.

Why is information architecture important in UX design?

Besides providing 10 results for your search query, it also includes a “People also ask” box. Ideally, you’d include a short headline and a sentence of description to try to convince visitors to opt in, and that’s it. If they do opt in, you might redirect them to a landing page or https://baravik.org/topic/921/ send a welcome email with more information, but only at that step. According to this principle, only disclose what is necessary for the user to understand what they’ll find next and make a decision. Information architects should consider these attributes to best use that content.

An Event Apart advertises itself as the design conference for more than just designers and developers. “IAs, UX pros, project managers, writer/editors, marketers, and, yes, clients attend as well.” And it’s true. Though AEA offers some sessions too heady for anyone not steeped in HTML and CSS, they offer just as many talks that cross fields and job titles. For information architects learning more about design, or designers learning more about IA, An Event Apart is an event worth attending. In our Complete Beginner’s Guide to Interaction Design, we also referenced cognitive psychology as a common methodology. Cognitive psychology is the study of how the mind works, and what mental processes take place there, so it’s not surprising that it influences both the interactions we design and the way we architect information.

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Since a website’s content structure depends on the specific needs of the user, no structure will look exactly the same. The IA of an ecommerce store can look completely different from a blog and still meet users’ needs. According to the principle of multiple classification, users should have many ways to browse the content on your site.

• Users comprise the audience, tasks, needs, experiences and how they seek information.
• In many ways, information architecture is one of the clearest connections between the daily work of UX and UI designers.
• Better understand the practice of information architecture in relation to UX design.
• According to Peter Morville , the purpose of your IA is to help users understand where they are, what they’ve found, what’s around, and what to expect.

The IAI also puts together World IA Day, and a publication, the Journal of Information Architecture. For information architects looking to test their hierarchy and find out how well users can find information, Treejack is a great tool. Billed as an “information architecture validation software,” Treejack lets IAs input a site hierarchy, set up tasks, and recruit users. Then they can see the results of the unmoderated test, and share or download the results.