What is an Information Architect?
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What the heck is an Information Architect? (and more importantly, why do I care?)
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Transcript of What is an Information Architect?
What the heckis an
Information Architect?
(and more importantly, why do I care?)
What?
THEM: What do you do…?
ME: Um, well, I’m an Information Architect.
(pause)
THEM: So… uh…
Do you…
Make itpretty?
Do you…
Make itpretty?
Do you…
No, that’s a Web Designer
Do you…
Write the code?
Do you…
Write the code?
Do you…
No, that’s a Developer.
THEM:
Uh…
OK…
So…
Do you…
Manage thatbackendSTUFF?
Do you…
Manage thatbackendSTUFF?
Do you…
No, that’s a Data or Systems Architect.
THEM:
Wait…
So what DO you DO?
And I tell them…
Information
Architect
Website
Information
Architect
Architect
Website
Information
Architect
Architect
Website
Information
Architect
Building
Just to be clear…
But this really is mine…
Back to the
building analogy…
Idea
4bed/3bath
Idea
4bed/3bath Blue Prints
Idea
4bed/3bath
Currency
Transfer
Blue Prints
Idea
4bed/3bath
Currency
Transfer
Blue Prints
Wireframes
And why do you care?
Because…
an
Information Architect
can make your life easier.
•BA/PM/Planner:An IA can help you consider and plan for all scenarios.
•Dev:An IA can help answer your questions about what was intended.
•QA:An IA can help you determine test scenarios.
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
Idea
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting Wires
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting Wires Art
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting Wires Art
UI Spec
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting Wires Art
UI Spec
Dev
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting Wires Art
UI Spec
Dev QA
Process(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting Wires Art
UI Spec
Dev QA
IA’s Artifacts/Deliverables
1. Wireframes (Wires) & Flow Diagrams
2. UI Specification Document
Wireframes (wires)
Wireframes (wires)
Wireframes (wires)
Wireframes (wires)
Wireframes (wires)
•Determine hierarchy of data and functionality
•Consider where you want eyes to go
•Predict user behavior
•Plan for permutations
•Consider process flow
•Based on Biz Reqs
UI Functional Specs
UI Functional Specs
Idea
UI Functional Specs
Idea
Biz Req
UI Functional Specs
Wires
Idea
Biz Req
UI Functional Specs
WiresArt
Idea
Biz Req
UI Functional Specs
WiresArt
Specs
Idea
Biz Req
UI Functional Specs
•Call out specific behavior
•Provide IF/Then scenarios
•Account for errors
•Accounts for permutations(that may not be present in original art
•Helps fill in any holes that might exist from original planning.
UI Functional Specs
Process Recap(as seen from an IA perspective)
IdeaBiz Req
vetting Wires Art
UI Spec
Dev QA
Stuff for us to figure out together:
When to engage an IA
How this process
marries into your existing
processes
How IA deliverables
can be tweaked to be more useful
to you
Where do docs live
When’s lunch
QA
