Plan your Chunks!

@adellefrank (adellefrank.com)

2014 October 5

DrupalCamp Atlanta

Future-proofing your Site’s Information Architecture

2

A bit about me & about DrupalA bit about me & about Drupal

Hi, I’m drupal

I make websites …with help from Adelle

and YOU!

3

Who are Y’ALL?Who are Y’ALL?

4

OutlineOutline

*PRIZES for participation!

1.Why Plan your Chunks?

2.How to Plan?

3.Which Chunks to Plan?

5

Why Plan? Karen McGrane 2013 KeynoteWhy Plan? Karen McGrane 2013 Keynote

http://karenmcgrane.com/2013/05/23/drupalcon-keynote-video-and-talk-notes/

"It’s a war of blobs versus chunks: sloppy blobs of where there’s no distinction between content & form VS. clean, flexible, presentation-independent chunks.”

6

Why Plan? Zombie / Device ApocalypseWhy Plan? Zombie / Device Apocalypse

IA DEFINITION:

Designing and building

STRUCTURES

that make it easier to

FIND, USE, & MANAGE

shared information

on any DEVICE.

Photo Credits: hello world by Windell Oskay (https://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/472097903); Samsung Galaxy Gear by Hi-tech@Mail.Ru (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samsung_Galaxy_Gear_Comparison.jpg); Flat Screen LCD television by Vector Fresh (http://vector4free.com/vector/flat-screen-lcd-television)

7

When NOT Planning hurt YOU?When NOT Planning hurt YOU?

8

Why Plan? Change happens & is HARD: be KindWhy Plan? Change happens & is HARD: be Kind

• Changes

– Updates

– Migrations

– New web technologies

– My organization

• Easier to change in PLANNING than on LIVE site! (know system limitations & gotchas)

• Be nice to your future self, authors, & those who come after you.

9

How do YOU Plan sites?How do YOU Plan sites?

10

How to Plan?How to Plan?

• Think BEFORE you click

• Self-documenting, as you go

• Use simple tools (like Checklists)– Drupal Groups, Content planning checklist for a

Drupal site https://groups.drupal.org/node/144374

– John Walling, Drupal Project Check List https://checkvist.com/checklists/61331?simple=true

• Think in CHUNKS

11

Which Chunks to Plan? Drupalese 101Which Chunks to Plan? Drupalese 101

Drupalese 101:

http://drupalcampatlanta.com/node/154

@annikagarbers is a better explainer than me, but I’ll try!

12

Which Chunks to Plan? Mental MapWhich Chunks to Plan? Mental Map

http://druvision.com/content/drupal-information-architecture

13

Which Chunks to Plan? Imitate GurusWhich Chunks to Plan? Imitate Gurus

• Larry Garfield, Developing Drupal sites: Plan or Perish http://www.palantir.net/blog/developing-drupal-sites-plan-or-perish

• Jody Lynn, Semantic Site Architecture https://austin2014.drupal.org/session/semantic-site-architecture Older version of slides at: http://www.slideshare.net/jhamiltoorion/semantic-site-building-drupal-7

• Kristen Pol, Hook 42 Presentations at Stanford Drupal Camp http://www.hook42.com/blog/hook-42-presentations-stanford-drupal-camp

14

Questions?Questions?