Updated

SJSU SLIS LIBR287 Updated 01/21/2005

IA Information Architecture
Syllabus / Schedule / 1st Assignment / _{Study
Modules} / Projects / Blackboard

Define Understand Analyze Shape _Create Value

Create architecture prototypes with user-focused foundations.

Now that we understand what IA is, are firmly focused on the user, and understand the iterative basics of usability testing and the power of finding and organizing tools, and now that have some understanding of the basic shaping tools and how to represent them in an architecture, we can move beyond our preliminary infrastructure prototyping and begin considering subsidiary systems, such as navigation and iconics.... and perhaps even begin adding a little style!

This module will help you produce a "working blueprint" of your IA project, and prepare you to "hang" the graphical style that will bring your project to visual life, making it suitable for "sneak preview" presentation to prospective clients.

Create Assignments:

Building on the simple one page "tools" paper prototype for you back end organization that you created in the last study module, we are now going to create a more elaborate "working blueprint" of our prototype project's architecture, one that develops its structural layers and brings together all the "hidden" architectural elements. You are free to use any creative method you like. Refer to the Tufte books in the Texts & Readings for creative inspiration and for examples of working IA blueprints.

By now, you should have worked through all the assignments and exercises in your IA Workbook, and created and posted documents from it that are relevant to your project in your project blackboard space. Most of your bases are covered.   The model you will build in this study model should show how the individual elements of your project come together: it should map hyperlinks, demonstrate navigation principles (minimum three clicks deep) and clearly illustrate the "layers" of your architecture and how your components interact. Developing this more elaborate prototype is "drawing board" work, and will help you think through and work out the details and "bugs" in your project, (no stylizing yet, please ..that comes next!)

Remember, the documents you will create are for someone else to use and follow as they construct your project.

Your blueprint should rest firmly on the foundation of your understanding about IA and your project (...what approach are you taking? ...what is your project's vision, mission, goals, objectives; who are your users, what are their needs, do you have a theoretical underpinning, particular focus, etc.); what is the nature of the information you're architecting? what organizational tool supplies the core framing? Does your choice of organizational tool still serve? Will you need additional tools to accomplish your projects objectives? What are they?

What support systems (navigation schemes, search functions, database interfaces, feedback loops) will your project require? What approach will they take? Have you mapped feedback loops? Will you have a help function?

Does your navigation scheme leave your users at dead ends? Does navigation flow intuitively? Does your architecture assure accessibility? Will your core architecture make intuitive sense to your user group?

Once you have added all the necessary subsidiary systems, and are confident that you've built in all the functionality required for project success, its time to begin arranging graphical elements.

Working from the project blueprint you've created, create a simple, one page prototype showing the graphical elements, or interface, of your project. Show how the generic graphical elements will interface with the structural elements of your project.

If you are ready, and it is appropriate for your project at this time, you may also choose a color scheme, icon set, and other core design aspects. You may either actually produce a prototype web and publish it online, or create a paper-based representation of your project.   Post your blueprint in your project space, and create a discussion thread for your prototype in the Create forum, and cultivate its discussion. Read and comment on other students' posts.

As always, seek out and synthesize other relevant web and scholarly resources relevant to this topic, and your project, and share.

Create Links

Design

The delicious tension of "the new media"
Usability Experts [Information Architects] are from Mars, Graphic Designers are from Venus
http://alistapart.zeldman.com/stories/marsvenus/index.html

thoughts and observations about design, information architecture and design history http://www.emdezine.com/designwritings/artifacts.shtml

Eye Candy from the Underground
http://www.lab404.com/dan/index.html

The hypertext garden: 7 lessons on the limits of structure
and the virtue of irregularity
http://www.eastgate.com/garden/

The psychology of Colors
http://www.newriders.com/articles/art_demers-07272001.cfm?topic_id=2

Tim Berners-Lee's (W3C) Design Issues: Architectural and philosophical points
http://www.w3.org/DesignIssues/

The consummate design center
http://www.tcdc.com/default.htm#philosophy

Yellow Fever
http://www.webreview.com/1997/06_13/strategists/06_13_97_3.shtml

IA Information Architecture
Syllabus / Schedule / 1st Assignment / Study Modules / Projects / Blackboard