Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Information architecture? Dinosaurs explain.

I've just started in UB's graduate program in Interaction Design and Information Architecture (IDIA) - one of the few in the country in this growing field. I've told several friends and relatives over the last week, only to be met with frowns and confused looks when I tried to explain what "information architecture" is. So I went to the Information Architecture Institute (IAI) website for help.

Turns out I'm not the only one who has this problem. IAI tries defining the field (part science, part art) and offering descriptions and even elevator pitches, which come in handy at cocktail parties and, of course, short elevator rides. So for my fellow classmates, potential students and the curious, with credit to the IAI, here goes:
  • Information architecture is about finding things that matter. It allows people to spend more time acting on information than searching for it. It eliminates frustration and allows for greater productivity.
  • It's about structuring information to make it easy to find. If it's easy to find products on a website, people will buy more. When it's easy to find information on an intranet, employees will be more efficient and productive.
  • It's about a person finding the right information at the right time. You can't use it if you can't find it.
Attesting to this continuing challenge, the IAI even co-sponsored "Explain IA: A Contest" last month with cash prizes going to the best descriptions of information architecture and those who practice it. Check out the Grand Prize winner: A Dinosaur Family Explains Information Architecture and Best Video award winner: IAs Are Like Robin Hood. I'm sharing these links with my friends and relatives so they'll FINALLY get it. Or if not, at least be mildly entertained.

5 comments:

Spencer said...

That is very interesting, from my time on the internet I had a pretty good idea this field existed, but had no idea it was its own separate field, or that so much went into it.

Having said that, while the dinosaur video was cute, I think your explanation made it much clearer. That video just left me scratching my head.

giordana segneri said...

*Now* I understand it. ;) Thanks, Carol! Welcome aboard!

michelle said...

hahahah the dinosaur video was awesome. might have been full of a little too much information, but definitely fun. sounds like a really interesting field

Marcus_Dane said...

That video really explained what web services architecture is.

charles said...

Dinosaurs FossilsI feel a lot more people need to read this, very good info!