Information architecture

Information architecture is the science of figuring out what you want your site to do and then constructing a blueprint for the web before you call designers and programmers. It’s more important than you might think, whether it is an enterprise information architecture or a small business architecture of Information. It determines your true User Experience.

To begin with, your Information Architect defines your site’s goals, collects the owner’s ideas and opinions and assembles them into a coherent, weighted order of importance. During this process everything is documented to enable all parties to keep up-to-date.

The next step defines who your audiences will be. With this defined, the Information Architect organizes your future site into pages of content and functions to ensure that the site meets its objectives.

The next stage is to build a skeleton form of the site, map out its navigation and wireframes. Then it’s time to look at the graphics, come up with layout grids, design sketches, mock-ups, and get ready to program!

Why is Information Architecture so important?

It is the foundation for good Web design – a blueprint of the site upon which all other aspects are built – form, function, navigation and interface, interaction, and visual design. Initiating the information architecture process is the first thing you should do when planning a site.

Clients who skip IA often find themselves re-doing development time and time again. Te IA process saves both time and money in the long run by clarifying the bigger picture of what your site will do. You don’t need to be an expert to use it to your advantage.