Sometimes it is difficult to keep up with the speed, so catching up with the digest articles :-)
This week will be about information architecture.
Information architecture is actually how you structure and organize information in the application. An application with a good information architecture is structurally sound.
At first an information architect has to define the nouns and verbs to have the naming of the objects and actions the user can do in an application. These objects and actions are organizes into certain patterns.
This article gives an excellent overview over the types of content structures: hierarchical (visual hierarchy), sequential (path for users) and matrix (users choose the way of navigation on their own).
The organization schemes for content classification are alphabetical, audience groups, chronological and according to the topic.
The content organization models can be described as following: single page model, flat model, index model, strict hierarchical model, co-existing hierarchy model and daisy model. It reflects how the users can be guided through the pages of the application and from which place they can access which pages.
This article provides a very goof overview over the process and principles of information architecture. The eight principles of information architecture is a great starting point for designers to consider while developing the architecture.
And finally, in this article there is a great overview of the components of the IA and methods for IA discovery with users which can be applied during user tests- card sorting and tree testing.
