Information architecture (IA)

Information architecture (IA) - a detailed blueprint of the experience you are going to create.

Our approach is based on established principles for experience design and, perhaps more importantly, a real-world understanding of how customers use digital environments. We deliver site maps, wireframes and content guidelines providing a detailed structure for design and build.
 

Here’s an outline of the typical approach to web information architecture (IA):

• An experience design workshop will explore the respective needs of the customer and your business and create some initial ideas about how information should be organised and presented to maximise customer engagement.
• One or two concepts will be developed in sketch form and shared with target customers in either depth interviews or focus groups. If we need a more detailed exploration of how users expect information to be organised we’ll include a card sort exercise at this stage.
• Next, we’ll draw up a definitive site map of the experience, develop templates for important pages and create wireframe journeys for the most important tasks.
• This will be iterated through user research and usability testing until you have both a wireframe prototype of the experience and a thoroughly documented, annotated IA.
• The information architecture design can be used to brief graphic designers, copywriters and technical people to move the experience to the next stage of development.

IA can be as light or as detailed as you need for your project – but it’s always essential. Without methodical consideration and documentation of the proposed experience your design process will be chaotic: like trying to build a house without plans.

It’s also essential to share it with representative users in some form of iterative customer research. We’ve never been involved in a project where views and feedback from target customers failed to add significant value to the final delivery. Testing also takes the stress out of high profile design projects: if you have talked to end-users little-and-often throughout design you will feel a lot more relaxed the night before your new experience goes live.

Find out more about information architecture services, get in touch.